From Reality TV Scandal to Home Improvement Help: Taylor Frankie Paul and Doug Mason Reconnect

Sometimes the most unexpected connections happen in the aftermath of chaos. Taylor Frankie Paul and Doug Mason—a contestant from her now-shelved Bachelorette season—are giving their relationship another shot, and they’re already comfortable enough to ask each other for everyday favors. The latest proof? A decidedly unglamorous toilet paper holder crisis that unfolded across Instagram Stories on Wednesday, May 13.

Mason, 29, was posting about his move to a new apartment when he shared footage of himself drilling a toilet paper holder into his bathroom wall. Paul, 31, saw the upload and seized the moment, replying with a photo of her own broken holder and a straightforward ask:“Hey @_dougmason, mine broke too. Can you help by chance?”Mason reposted her message without further comment—a small gesture that speaks volumes about where these two now stand.

The backstory here matters. Paul’s season 22 of The Bachelorette was scrapped just days before its March premiere after domestic violence allegations from 2023 resurfaced online. Paul had been arrested and pleaded guilty to aggravated assault following an alleged altercation with her ex, Dakota Mortensen. At the time, Mason—rather than distance himself—publicly defended Paul on social media, saying“I am just sending prayers to Taylor because that was her moment and her moment was blocked.”He encouraged support rather than judgment, concluding with a call to“show nothing but support for people in need.”

Last month, Us Weekly confirmed that Paul and Mason had reconnected and were“trying to make it work”as a couple after hanging out recently. What’s striking isn’t just that they’re dating—it’s that they’re already operating in that comfortable, domestic space where you ask someone to help fix broken household items. No grand gestures, no Instagram-ready moments. Just two people navigating real life together.

For Paul, this quiet chapter comes as she’s reportedly been“doing the work behind the scenes, taken accountability and is focused on moving forward in a more positive way,”according to insiders. She’s also navigating co-parenting arrangements with her ex, Dakota Mortensen, following allegations that resulted in her not facing criminal charges after Utah police reviewed separate incidents. Her three children—2-year-old Ever with Mortensen, 8-year-old Indy, and 5-year-old Ocean with ex-husband Tate Paul—remain her stated priority.

Whether Paul’s Bachelorette season will ever air remains uncertain, but what’s clear is that life has moved on. Sometimes that looks like a fairy tale ending. Sometimes it looks like asking your new guy if he can swing by and fix your bathroom. Both have their own kind of charm.