Reality star Taylor Frankie Paul announced the completion of her three-year probation on Friday while posting artificial intelligence court photos on Instagram.
The 32-year-old star of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives was arrested in February 2023 following a domestic violence incident with her then-boyfriend, 33-year-old Dakota Mortensen. The arrest resulted in a three-year probationary period.
Paul shared a series of artificial intelligence images depicting her in court alongside a solemn message about her probation. "Three years probation complete. All my PO’s said it was one of the longest probations they had seen for first time offense," Paul wrote.
She added details about her perspective on domestic abuse in the social media caption. "Back then I wasn’t even aware of what DV was. Unfortunately many will experience it as many already have. DV is a sneaky cycle to get stuck in because by the time you realize what actually is happening you’re already stuck in it," Paul stated.
Social Media Reaction to AI Courtroom Images
Despite the serious subject matter of her post, followers expressed confusion over the fake imagery. Numerous commenters questioned the photos, with one asking, "What's with the AI pics?"
Other followers joined in mocking the synthetic pictures in the comment section. One follower wrote, "The AI is wild," while another added, "LMFAO THE AI."
This is not the first time the mother of three has faced criticism for using artificial intelligence on social media. One of her 2.6 million followers remarked, "The AI is rage bait at this point," while another critic commented, "Your testimony is as real as these pictures."
The post featured four images showing Paul inside a courtroom setting. Most of the pictures depicted her with an oddly similar head tilt and smirk, while one simulated a selfie taken with a fan as Paul wore a low-cut black top and blazer.
Courtroom Photos and Response to Critics
The Colorado-born television personality addressed her critics directly in the remaining caption. "I don’t care if you see me as the villain or victim. This all surfacing the way it viciously and vindictively did, has been hell on earth and if I didn’t have the support I have I don’t think I would have made it through," she wrote.
Paul also expressed gratitude toward her supporters for helping her navigate the public scrutiny. "However, those same people not only get to see they failed to destroy me, but they freed me. You can see who’s educated from the not… this has been by the textbook for millions to watch," she declared.
The Daily Mail reached out to representatives for Paul for comment on the post but did not receive an immediate response.
Bachelorette Cancellation and Resurfaced Video
Paul was slated to lead season 22 of The Bachelorette, which was scheduled to premiere in March. However, ABC abruptly cancelled the season after 2023 footage surfaced showing her throwing chairs at Mortensen.
TMZ published video footage on March 19 showing Paul attacking Mortensen in 2023 while her eight-year-old daughter, Indy, was present. Paul has two children with ex-husband Tate Paul, daughter Indy and six-year-old son Ocean, as well as a two-year-old son, Ever, with Mortensen.
The release of the video prompted ABC to shelve her Bachelorette season on the verge of its premiere. The video also stalled filming for season five of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
Utah Child Services Petition and Custody Case
In July, Utah social services filed a petition in juvenile court requesting protective supervision for Paul's three children. The Department of Children and Family Services requested an expedited hearing based on concerns that the children could be abused, neglected, or dependent, according to legal documents reviewed by TMZ.
The state agency asked the judge to evaluate whether the children met the requirements for court-ordered protective steps. In response to the petition, representatives for Paul told People that she "is not deterred by this transition."
A spokesperson for Paul stated that transferring custody proceedings to juvenile court was appropriate. "It was recently decided that the ongoing custody actions would be best suited for juvenile court, a common step for families engaged in highly contentious, complex custody matters," the spokesman told People.
The spokesman added that Paul "welcomes the added structure and oversight it provides and looks forward to continuing her progress toward normalizing custody and becoming the healthiest version of herself."
Paul and Mortensen were granted restraining orders against one another in March 2026, and Mortensen was given temporary full custody of their son. The former couple has since resumed shared custody of the toddler.
