She Asked Her Ex to Mock Her Former Friend—And He Said No

When a friendship implodes, the urge to recruit allies can be strong. But sometimes the people closest to you draw the line—and that moment landed in court documents this week.

Taylor Frankie Paul, star of“Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,”allegedly tried to convince her ex Dakota Mortensen to publicly mock her estranged costar Demi Engemann. According to text messages submitted as evidence in an ongoing custody case between Taylor and Dakota, the tension simmered after Demi’s husband Bret Engemann posted a TikTok taking a jab at Taylor. Rather than let it slide, Taylor reportedly texted Dakota, asking if he was still in contact with what she called Bret’s“gross”wife.

The real ask came next. Taylor allegedly wanted Dakota to film a video mocking Demi—something she described as“fun to watch.”But Dakota declined. He told Taylor it was a bad idea, and according to sources familiar with the legal filings, she wasn’t pleased by his refusal.

This snapshot of private tension reveals the messy reality behind reality TV feuds. Taylor and Demi had once been close, but that bond fractured, with Taylor’s relationship with Dakota becoming a flashpoint between them. Now those unguarded text exchanges—the ones you think stay buried—are part of the public record. They paint a picture of someone trying to orchestrate retaliation through an ex, only to be shut down.

Dakota’s decision not to participate and his choice to submit the messages as evidence speaks volumes. Sometimes the most powerful move isn’t joining the pile-on—it’s stepping back and letting the record speak for itself.