Liann May has publicly criticized her daughter Taylor Frankie Paul over a bath scene in the new season of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.”
May, Paul’s mother, posted a video to her official TikTok account after watching Season 5 of the Hulu reality series, where she called the footage “disgusting” and said it felt like she was looking at a stranger. The scene shows Paul, a social media personality and cast member of the show, taking a bubble bath alongside her ex-boyfriend Ben Lambert. During the moment, Paul leans over and drinks directly from the bathtub faucet, consuming New York City tap water while cameras rolled.
May’s objection centered not on the stunt itself but on what she saw as her daughter’s broader pattern of seeking male approval. She directed her comments squarely at Paul in the TikTok video, expressing concern about her daughter’s emotional state and choices.
“Just having him there and you getting validation from these men,” May said in the clip. “I know that you’re hurting, but it just wasn’t right, and so I hope that you can continue to progress like you’ve been, and I hope that you are a completely different person on season 6 if you decide that you want to do that.”
May also referenced heated onscreen exchanges between Paul and another ex, identified in her remarks as “D-Bag,” believed to be Dakota Mortensen, with whom Paul shares three children. She expressed hope that the former couple’s children would not eventually see the footage of their parents arguing so aggressively.
Paul and Mortensen’s fractured history has generated significant headlines beyond the reality series. A resurfaced video showed Paul pushing and kicking Mortensen in front of one of their children, footage tied to her 2024 arrest on charges of assault, criminal mischief and domestic violence in the presence of a child. She pleaded guilty in abeyance to an aggravated assault charge this past August, while four additional charges were dropped.
The emergence of that video triggered swift professional consequences. A Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson announced that Paul’s planned season of “The Bachelorette” had been cancelled before it could air. “In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of The Bachelorette at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family,” the spokesperson said.
Following that cancellation, a representative for Paul issued a statement framing her as a survivor of prolonged abuse. “Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security,” the spokesperson said. “After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm.”
The statement continued with broader advocacy language. “There are too many women who are suffering in silence as they survive aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to let them move on with their lives,” the spokesperson added. “Taylor has remained silent out of fear of further abuse, retaliation, and public shaming. She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.”
Paul’s legal and personal turmoil has played out across multiple platforms as the reality series documents her relationships. The bath scene with Lambert and the contentious exchanges with Mortensen represent the latest flashpoints in a public narrative that has shifted between relationship drama and serious allegations of domestic conflict. May’s intervention marks a rare instance of a cast member’s parent directly challenging onscreen conduct through social media rather than participating in or remaining silent about the production.
The show’s fifth season continues streaming on Hulu as Paul navigates both her mother’s public disapproval and ongoing scrutiny of her past with Mortensen.