Hulu’s biggest reality headache is officially back in production. After weeks of radio silence and a messy domestic violence investigation that threatened to sink the entire franchise, cameras are rolling again on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Season 5. But don't expect things to look exactly like they did before the hiatus.
The show went dark in March 2026 when Taylor Frankie Paul and her ex, Dakota Mortensen, became the subjects of a Draper City Police Department investigation. Allegations flew in both directions. Since then, we’ve seen leaked footage, protective orders, and the high-profile cancellation of Taylor’s stint on The Bachelorette. Now that the District Attorney has declined to file charges, the "MomTok" machine is firing up again.
Honestly, the show is in a tight spot. Taylor is the engine that drives this train, but she’s currently not filming as she focuses on a complicated custody situation.
The Production Shutdown and the Investigation
The halt wasn't just a minor speed bump. Disney and Hulu hit the brakes hard when news broke of a "heated blow-up" between Taylor and Dakota during filming. This wasn't their first brush with legal drama—fans remember the 2023 chair-throwing incident that was literally the pilot episode's centerpiece—but the 2026 investigation felt different.
While the Draper City police looked into the claims, everything stopped. We're talking about a multi-million dollar production left in limbo because its lead star was embroiled in a legal battle that included:
- Dueling protective orders.
- A temporary loss of custody for Taylor.
- Leaked body cam and doorbell footage from multiple incidents.
On April 15, 2026, the Salt Lake City District Attorney’s Office confirmed Taylor wouldn't face charges for the February incident, citing a lack of evidence. That was the green light Hulu needed.
Who Is Actually Filming Right Now
Even though the show is back, the cast list for the start of Season 5 is looking a bit thin at the top. Reports from production insiders suggest that Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen are not currently filming.
Taylor’s legal team has made it clear her priority is her children. A Utah court commissioner recently ruled that she can only have eight hours of supervised visitation per week with her son, Ever. When your real life involves supervised visits and court-mandated domestic violence evaluations, "performing" for a camera crew probably isn't at the top of your to-do list.
The rest of the MomTok crew is picking up the slack. You can expect heavy storylines from:
- Jessi Draper and Jordan Ngatikaura: Their recent divorce filing is basically a gift to the producers.
- Mayci Neeley: Dealing with her own pregnancy journey and the fallout of being the one who "exposed" the Dakota cheating rumors.
- Whitney Leavitt: Always the polarizing figure, likely trying to claw her way back into the group's good graces (or just leaning into the villain role).
The Bachelorette Fallout
You can't talk about this season without mentioning the show that didn't happen. Taylor was set to be the first-ever divorced, Mormon Bachelorette. It was a massive crossover play for Disney. Then, TMZ dropped footage of a 2023 altercation where Taylor appeared to kick and throw barstools at Dakota while her daughter watched.
ABC pulled the plug on Season 22 of The Bachelorette immediately. That failure is going to be a massive plot point in Season 5 of Mormon Wives. We’re going to see the raw aftermath of Taylor losing a career-defining opportunity because of her toxic relationship. It’s the kind of meta-commentary on fame that reality TV usually tries to hide, but this show thrives on it.
Can the Show Survive Without Its Star
Some people think the "MomTok" brand is big enough to outlast any single member. I don't buy it. Without Taylor, the show risks becoming just another generic reality series about wealthy women in Utah. She's the "it" girl of the swinging scandal. She's the one who isn't afraid to look messy, unhinged, and desperately human on screen.
The current plan is to film the other women now and have Taylor join later in the season when her "personal matters" are settled. It’s a risky gamble. If the first half of the season is just Whitney and Jessi bickering over TikTok trends, the audience might check out before Taylor even makes her entrance.
What You Should Watch For
As production ramps back up in Draper and Provo, keep an eye on the filming locations. They’ve been spotted recently at local spots like Sunday’s Best and JZ Styles. If you see a camera crew at a rage room in Salt Lake City, there’s a good chance MomTok is there trying to "heal" their trauma through managed destruction.
If you’re following this for the drama, the real story isn't the production restart. It's the custody hearing scheduled for later this month. That will determine if Taylor gets back to full-time parenting and, by extension, full-time filming.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, follow the Draper City court dockets. The show's editors are fast, but the Utah legal system is where the real spoilers live. Don't expect a polished version of the truth when the show finally airs; look at the filings to see what’s actually happening behind the "soft-swinging" aesthetic.
