‘Mormon Wives’ Season 3: The Shocking Identity of Taylor Frankie Paul’s ‘Family Friend’ in Dakota Mortensen’s Sexting Scandal
SLOMW BOMBSHELL: Who Did Dakota Mortensen Sext with on ‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Season 3?
The highly anticipated third season of Hulu’s explosive reality series, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (SLOMW), has just dropped, and the drama surrounding Taylor Frankie Paul and her on-again, off-again baby daddy, Dakota Mortensen, has reached a new, heartbreaking low. While the question of whether Dakota cheated on Taylor has been a recurring theme throughout their tumultuous relationship, the latest revelation from Season 3 is arguably the most devastating yet, focusing on the shocking identity of the woman involved in his new-yet-old betrayal: a close “family friend” who has been a fixture in Taylor’s life for years.
The entire 10-episode season premiered recently on Hulu, instantly unleashing a torrent of fan discussion and outrage across social media platforms over the scandal. This latest development does more than just add a chapter to the couple’s chaotic history; it appears to be the definitive final nail in the coffin, setting the stage for Taylor’s major career move as the newest star of The Bachelorette.
The Devastating Reveal: A ‘Friend of Liann’s’
For weeks leading up to the Season 3 premiere, rumors had swirled about yet another instance of infidelity from Dakota. The truth, however, proved to be far more painful for Taylor. The new storyline, which anchors much of the season’s second half, revolves around Dakota’s admission of a previous sexting relationship with a woman Taylor referred to as a deeply connected “family friend.”
During a car ride following the group’s trip to the Stagecoach Festival—an event that saw Taylor and Dakota briefly rekindle their connection—cast member Jordan Ngatikaura (Jessi’s husband) revealed a confession Dakota had made to him. According to Jordan, Dakota had admitted to a secret flirtation and exchange of explicit messages with a woman who was close to Taylor’s mother, Liann.
As Taylor later explained in emotional scenes, this woman was not a casual acquaintance but a person who had been a close friend of the family for years, attending significant events like Christmas and being present in family photos, even when Taylor was pregnant with their son, Ever.
“She’s at our Christmases. She’s at everything,” Taylor stated, expressing the deep sense of betrayal. The realization that this betrayal was happening right under her nose, involving someone she trusted and viewed as a family member, was what made the incident so uniquely devastating compared to Dakota’s previous infidelities.
While the woman’s name has not been publicly disclosed or explicitly mentioned on the show, her close tie to Taylor’s mother, and the context of her being a near-family member, has been the focal point of the fan outrage. The shock was palpable amongst the entire MomTok group, with multiple cast members confronting Dakota about his actions throughout the season.
The Timeline and Dakota’s Defense
Adding further complexity to the situation is the timeline. The incident of sexting and exchanging pictures did not happen while Dakota and Taylor were officially together, but rather during one of their numerous “breaks.” However, for Taylor, a “break” did not equate to a license for that kind of intimacy, particularly with a family friend. The drama is exacerbated by the fact that Dakota initially failed to fully disclose the extent of the relationship, despite assuring Taylor there were no more secrets.
Dakota himself addressed the scandal indirectly on social media, posting a TikTok that referenced the infamous Friends line, “We were on a break!”. This attempt to minimize the transgression was immediately met with condemnation from fans and Taylor’s fellow cast members, who argued that an emotional and digital affair, particularly one involving a family friend, is a significant breach of trust regardless of relationship status. Dakota did admit to the texting and receiving a suggestive photo, but claimed they never met up physically and that he “shut it down” before a planned meeting.
Despite Dakota’s claim that nothing “physical ever happened,” the emotional impact on Taylor and her family was immediate and severe. By the end of Season 3, Taylor, with her mother Liann, confronted the family friend. The friend, however, denied the rumors, saying, “I’ve never had a thing for Dakota,” and allegedly refused to film any further when she realized the conversation was part of the reality show’s storyline. This lack of closure and conflicting accounts further muddied the waters for Taylor.
The Fallout: Taylor’s Path to The Bachelorette
The ultimate significance of this Season 3 scandal is how it directly leads to Taylor Frankie Paul’s high-profile announcement as the lead of the next season of The Bachelorette. The repeated pattern of Dakota’s infidelity—this being reportedly the fourth instance of betrayal—made it clear to Taylor and her fans that the relationship was unsustainable.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Season 3 serves as a pivotal origin story for Taylor’s journey to finding love outside of her tumultuous relationship with Dakota. Her emotional arc throughout the season, from a brief reconciliation at the Stagecoach festival to the final, tearful confrontation over the family friend, solidifies her decision to move on. The show’s narrative paints her as a woman who has endured extraordinary public heartbreak and is now ready to reclaim her narrative and find a healthy relationship.
The drama has ensured that Taylor’s name remains one of the most talked-about in the reality TV landscape. The announcement of her Bachelorette role, coming shortly after the Season 3 finale’s airing, highlights the producers’ efforts to capitalize on her newfound single status and the sympathy generated by the heartbreaking details of the family friend betrayal. While Dakota has joked about potentially joining The Bachelorette cast to win her back, the general consensus, and Taylor’s own stance at the end of SLOMW Season 3, suggests she is finally finished with the father of her son.
Why This Storyline Matters to MomTok Fans
For followers of the ‘MomTok’ community and SLOMW, this storyline is more than just reality TV drama. It touches on themes of betrayal in close-knit communities, the blurred lines of relationships during “breaks,” and the profound damage caused when a friend betrays a sacred trust. The secrecy surrounding the family friend’s identity, coupled with her denial on camera, leaves a hanging question mark that will likely fuel fan speculation and discussion well into the next television season. The sheer brazenness of a partner sexting a friend of the mother of his child remains the shocking core of the Season 3 scandal, cementing this as one of the most talked-about moments in reality TV history.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Who is the “family friend” Dakota Mortensen allegedly sexted in SLOMW Season 3?
A: The woman’s name was not revealed on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Season 3. Taylor Frankie Paul and the cast only refer to her as a “family friend,” specifically a close friend of Taylor’s mother, Liann, who had been involved in family gatherings for years.
Q: Did Dakota Mortensen physically cheat on Taylor Frankie Paul this time?
A: The incident revealed in Season 3 was an exchange of sexually explicit messages (sexting) and suggestive photos. Dakota admitted to this but claimed that he and the family friend never physically met up and that he “shut it down” before a planned meeting.
Q: When did the sexting incident with the family friend happen?
A: Dakota and Taylor were allegedly on a “break” at the time of the sexting. While the reveal happens in Season 3 (which premiered in November 2025), Taylor referenced the incident occurring while she was pregnant with their son, Ever, who was born in March 2024, suggesting the digital affair took place sometime in 2023.
Q: What was the reaction of the family friend when confronted by Taylor?
A: In the Season 3 finale, Taylor and her mother, Liann, confronted the family friend. The friend reportedly denied the allegations, stating she never had a “thing for Dakota” and then refused to continue filming the conversation.
Q: Is the drama from Season 3 why Taylor Frankie Paul is the next Bachelorette?
A: Yes, the repeated pattern of infidelity and the final, devastating betrayal involving a family friend served as the emotional climax leading to Taylor’s decision to definitively end things with Dakota. This arc is widely seen by reality television experts as the direct catalyst for her being cast as the next lead on The Bachelorette.
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