Entertainment · TV & Streaming · 5 hrs ago
Dakota Mortensen sues Hulu over portrayal on Mormon Wives
Dakota Mortensen has sued Hulu and two production companies in Utah over his portrayal on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
He appeared on seasons three through five of the reality series with his former partner, Taylor Frankie Paul, with whom he shares a son.
Mortensen says the show portrayed him as an abuser and adulterer, and as someone who retaliated against Paul by reporting her to child protective services.
He alleges producers used staged events and left out footage that challenged the story, including footage he says showed Paul hitting him with a pizza box.
He says the portrayal harmed his reputation and livelihood and is seeking damages; one account of the lawsuit says he is seeking more than $300,000.
The lawsuit follows a public dispute between the former couple, who each sought a protective order and were later granted mutual orders.
The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office said it would not charge Paul after two investigations.
Mortensen has requested a jury trial, and Hulu had not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication.
Dakota Mortensen sued Hulu and the producers of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, alleging the series defamed him.
The lawsuit says seasons three through five portrayed him as a domestic abuser, a retaliator and a serial adulterer.
Mortensen alleges producers staged events and left out footage that contradicted the portrayal.
He says footage of Taylor Frankie Paul striking him with a pizza box was excluded from the show.
He is seeking damages and a jury trial.
- Who
- Dakota Mortensen sued Hulu, Jeff Jenkins Productions and Ludwig Productions.
- What
- He alleges they defamed him through the show’s portrayal of him. He is seeking damages.
- When
- The lawsuit was filed on November 13, 2026.
- Where
- Utah state court.
- Why
- Mortensen says the series falsely portrayed him and harmed his reputation and livelihood.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Cameras allegedly captured Paul striking Mortensen with a pizza box while filming season five.
Mortensen filed a defamation lawsuit in Utah state court.
- Defendants
- Hulu, Jeff Jenkins Productions and Ludwig Productions
- Show seasons
- Seasons 3, 4 and 5
- Lawsuit filed
- November 13, 2026
- Damages sought
- More than $300,000, according to Deadline
- Alleged excluded footage
- Paul striking Mortensen with a pizza box
3 sources
What people are saying
By broadcasting fabricated statements, stage scenes presented as spontaneous fact, and portrayals constructed by deleting the footage that contradicted the known false narrative, defendants placed Mortensen before the public in a false light, as an abuser, a retaliator, and an adulterer, that false light would be highly offensive to a reasonable person
The knowingly false portrayal of Mortensen as the abuser in the relationship continued uninterrupted
He complains the defendants broadcast statements of fact that were fabricated.