Taylor Frankie Paul’s season of “The Bachelorette” is set to premiere later this week, but she’s making headlines for a very different reason.

The reality star and her ex, Dakota Mortensen, are currently part of an “ongoing investigation,” three sources close to the matter told NBC News March 17. The sources, who commented on the condition of anonymity, declined to provide further information about the investigation.

Draper City Police Department told People on March 16 that Paul and Mortensen, who share a 1-year-old child, are connected to an open “domestic assault investigation.” (The department declined to confirm the report to NBC News, stating, “it is the practice of the department not to release details related to active investigations.”)

Paul, one of the stars of the Hulu reality series “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” is known as one of the creators of #MomTok, group of Utah moms who have amassed a massive following for their dance-based TikTok videos.

In 2024, a wider audience was introduced to MomTok when Hulu premiered a reality series that gave an inside look at the lives of the group’s members. Their spotlight only grew when cast members Jen Affleck and Whitney Leavitt competed in Season 34 of “Dancing with the Stars,” while Paul was announced as the Season 22 lead of “The Bachelorette,” which premieres March 22, just 10 days after Season 4 of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” dropped on Hulu.

Filming for Season 5 of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” has been halted amid the investigation, the three sources close to the matter told NBC News.

Here’s what we know about the investigation involving the mother of three and its impact on “The Bachelorette.”

Why Is Taylor Frankie Paul Part of an Investigation?

NBC News spoke with three sources, who commented on the condition of anonymity, and confirmed that Paul is involved in an “ongoing investigation.” The sources declined to provide further details about the investigation.

Representatives for Paul and Mortensen declined to comment to NBC News. Paul attended a press preview for her season of “The Bachelorette” on March 17 and called the situation a “heavy time” to People.

On March 16, a spokesperson for the Draper City Police Department in Utah told People there was an open “domestic assault investigation” related to Paul and Mortensen. The spokesperson said “allegations have been made in both directions” and “contact was made with involved parties on (Feb) 24th and 25th.”

Asked to confirm the report, the police department told NBC News, “The Draper Police Department respects the rights and privacy of all citizens. Without an immediate impact to public safety, it is the practice of the department not to release details related to active investigations.”

Disney, the parent company of Hulu and ABC — which air “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” and “The Bachelorette,” respectively — did not respond to NBC News’ request for comment on the investigation.

What Has Taylor Frankie Paul Said Amid the Investigation?

On March 17, Paul spoke with People about the ongoing investigation during a press preview for “The Bachelorette.”

“Honestly, just like, my heart hurts to see it, to go through it, especially at this time,” she said. “Just the timing is hard, and it’s a big deal. I feel like every premiere that I’ve experienced, I’ve never enjoyed fully, so this is another one… it’s extremely hard, and it took everything to get me here today.

“It’s a heavy time, and it’s unfortunate,” she added. “I’m struggling for sure, but also at the same time I feel like if I don’t show up, then I’m just giving these opportunities away and not enjoying what we’ve worked on and something super exciting that’s coming. I just feel like it was the right thing to do… show up even though it’s hard.”

In a separate interview with Entertainment Weekly, Paul said she has had “better days.” She also discussed the status of her co-parenting relationship with Mortensen.

“I actually took action about a few weeks ago,” she said. “I’m just doing third-party everything — pick-up, drop-offs, communication — so no contact right now for me.”

“I think that’s the best case, honestly, because clearly it’s just not to a point of us getting along, so I wanted to take the best action I could,” she added.

While speaking about the situation, Paul addressed the public nature of her life.

“I didn’t want to bring anything to the public eye, making it a bigger deal for the sake of my son, and just everything about to come out. But that wasn’t the plan for him,” she said.

Paul has three children. She shares daughter Indy, 8, and son, Ocean, 5, with her ex-husband, Tate Paul. Her son with Mortensen, Ever, turns 2 on March 19.

What Has Dakota Mortensen Said Amid the Investigation?

On March 18, a representative for Mortensen addressed the investigation in a statement shared with Entertainment Weekly.

“His number one priority here is protecting (their son), Ever,” the statement reads.

Mortensen’s representative also denied that he is responsible for the investigation going public.

“He knew there was a possibility it could come out, but he was not going to be the one to proactively do that because he has always wanted a decent relationship with Taylor. It’s been really hard to achieve that, but he wants to co-parent well,” the statement continues.

Per the reality star’s representative, Mortensen felt compelled to comment publicly given the gravity of the situation.

“He was just hoping that if he says nothing, as he usually does, it would go away. He’s never done any kind of sit-down interview about his side,” the representative said. “He kind of just lets it all happen to him, and I think he realizes with the severity of everything now that he just can’t do that.”

What To Know About Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen’s Relationship

Viewers of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” have followed Paul and Mortensen’s on-again-off-again relationship.

In 2023, Paul was arrested and charged with three misdemeanors: assault, criminal mischief and domestic violence in the presence of a child, according to Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office records obtained by NBC News.

Paul was arrested after a fight with Mortensen, which was documented in the first episode of “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.” She later reached a plea deal in her assault case, pleading guilty to aggravated assault in August 2023. The other charges against her were dropped, NBC affiliate KSL in Salt Lake City reported at the time.

Over the last few years, Paul and Mortensen have broken up and gotten back together on several occasions.

In Season 4 of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” Paul prepared for her “Bachelorette” journey and spent time apart from Mortensen. She even explored a romance with a new man.

During one episode, however, the exes slept together while the cast rented a house together in Los Angeles to support their co-stars while they filmed “Dancing With the Stars.” They had another tryst when Paul dropped their son off at Mortensen’s the night before she left to film “The Bachelorette.”

In an interview with Us Weekly, Paul said she and Mortensen had been stuck in a “cycle.”

“It’s been really hard to get out … It’s been so hard to remove myself from that,” she said.

When asked how she reassured the “Bachelorette” contestants that she was ready to move on from her ex, Paul said it was a “choice.”

“Ready, at the end of the day, is a decision. So I made the decision to leave for two months and try. I reassured them that was why I was here,” she said.

The publication also asked Paul if viewers may question if she was still “hung up on Dakota.”

“That’s completely valid to think that and to see that. It took me making those decisions (with Dakota) to be ready for something else. A lot of these decisions aren’t the best, but I think I’m so open with it and honest, and even as many times as I backtracked, I still am open. Something I’ve (also) learned over the course of time is being OK being misunderstood,” she said.

What’s Happening with ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’?

In the wake of the investigation involving Paul and Mortensen, filming for Season 5 has been paused, three sources close to the matter told NBC News.

Paul appeared on “Good Morning America” March 18 and was asked to confirm the pause in production.

“I don’t call the shots with production,” she said. “So as of now, I have gotten word that it also has been paused, but I do not call those shots. So as far as I know, it was, but I don’t know for how long and why.”

The investigation has also affected a collaboration for “The Bachelorette.” On March 17, Cinnabon, which had previously announced new items in connection with the show, said it plans to cut ties with both Paul and the ABC series.

“Cinnabon has made the decision to terminate its collaboration with ‘The Bachelorette’ and ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,'” the company said in a statement. “Recent developments and allegations surrounding the lead cast member led us to reassess this collaboration as it no longer aligns with our brand values.”