The reality star announced on Instagram she will quit the show, citing prolonged bullying from fellow cast members and mounting personal stress.
Taylor Frankie Paul used her Instagram account on Monday to declare that she is stepping away from Hulu’s reality series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
In a lengthy caption she thanked the streamer for the second chance but said she “doesn’t desire to move forward like this.” She added that she felt she had “almost convinced herself I’m deserving of all this pain” and that she was “relieved to be out.”
The post comes just days after castmate Mikayla Matthews announced she would not return for the upcoming season, blaming Paul’s comeback for her decision. Matthews wrote on Instagram Stories that she had warned producers she would quit if a particular person re‑joined, calling the move “UNETHICAL” because children were involved.
Other cast members, including Mayci Neeley and Layla Taylor, posted ambiguous updates, saying they would finish the current filming block but were unsure about future involvement. Their messages hinted at a collective unease but stopped short of naming anyone.
According to Deadline, the drama erupted after Paul’s return was confirmed for Season 6 of the Jeff Jenkins‑produced series. Her previous stint on The Bachelorette ended abruptly after a domestic incident with ex‑partner Dakota Mortensen, and she later faced a court‑ordered drug test in Utah tied to a custody battle.
In her Instagram note Paul accused the crew and production team of checking in on her throughout a “tumultuous year,” while alleging that the rest of the cast had been “bullying for months.” She claimed a group message was sent with the intent to push her toward self‑harm, a claim she said surfaced while she was on her way to film the Season 5 introduction.
TheWrap reported that Paul’s exit follows rumors that she failed the Utah court‑ordered drug test, adding another layer of legal pressure to an already volatile environment. A Hulu spokesperson declined to comment, and Jeff Jenkins Productions has not issued a statement.
Season 5 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives premiered on September 10 but was limited to five episodes after production stalled amid Paul’s legal woes. Despite the hiccup, Hulu announced a renewal for 20 more episodes, slated to be split between Seasons 6 and 7. Cameras had reportedly started rolling before the latest fallout, but it remains unclear whether production will resume without Paul.
Industry watchers note that the series, which blends reality‑TV drama with a niche religious backdrop, has struggled to find a stable audience. The recent cast shake‑up could force Hulu to rethink its rollout strategy, especially with the upcoming holiday window.
For now, fans will have to wait for an official word from the streamer on whether the remaining cast will continue without Paul or if the show will be re‑structured entirely. The next episode is expected to air in early October, but the exact schedule may shift depending on how Hulu resolves the internal dispute.
As the dust settles, the broader conversation about reality‑TV ethics and participant welfare is likely to intensify, with advocacy groups already calling for clearer protections for cast members facing legal and personal crises.
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