Few plotlines of MomTok and reality showland have captivated our collective attention quite like the scandal that Taylor Frankie Paul ex husband wouldn’t let their children film for Hulu’s sensation, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Let’s break down what that involved, who her ex-husband is and the impact on filming and everything else you need to know.
Part 1: Who Is Taylor Frankie Paul Ex Husband?
Tate Paul: The News Guy
Who was Taylor Frankie Paul’s ex husband? Taylor, who married Tate Paul in 2016, shares daughter Indy, 3, and son Ocean, 8 months, with her husband. In 2020, she became known as the “Queen of Mormon MomTok” — the community of middle-aged mothers on TikTok who post moments of family bliss inside a figurative snow globe of suburban American life.
They split in May 2022, a fact which Taylor publicly disclosed on a heavily watched TikTok Live where she told her followers that their relationship was “soft-swinging,” a type of open relationship with predetermined boundaries that she claimed to have apologized for violating.
Post-Divorce Privacy
Tate has stayed somewhat under the radar since the breakup. Taylor also has a privacy preference, so much so that their nervousness shone through when he didn’t want their kids to be part of her journey into reality TV. Taylor added that she hopes that Tate might reconsider after the end of the show’s season as she would like to continue to show some of her life as a mom.
Where Is He Now?
Tate, he has also moved on and is apparently engaged to his new girlfriend Samantha, who is also mother to his other child,” Taylor told People.
Part 2: Why Didn’t Her Kids Appear on the Show?
And so when we ramped up production for The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, families scenes were undoubtedly in the shooting docket. But Taylor said her ex-husband simply didn’t want their kids in it, which created more obstacles in shooting around her family dynamic.
She told Distractify:
” He didn’t want them on the show,” it’s kind of hard … because I’m a mom and I do want to show that,” she said.
So the show focused on Taylor’s personal torment, the fallout from MomTok and her efforts, on a dry road through motherhood, to kill the inner monster behind the wheel of a new life off camera.
Part 3: The Fallout and Public Context
Soft-Swinging Scandal
Taylor’s admission to a soft-swinging arrangement—a would-be don’t-ask-but-don’t-tell open marriage—provoked a national firestorm. She did fess up to a breaking of known boundaries and, as such, a number of divorces directly resulted in her set from it.
While the rest of the cast was in denial through most of the other seasons, Taylor’s outspokenness in Season 2 set her apart. Miranda McWhorter, a one-time friend of Taylor, would admit some level of complicity – but not in the way Taylor said it happened.
A Reality Show as a Phenomenon
The first episode of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives premiered on 19 September 2024 and has proved to be Hulu’s unscripted season premieres of the year. Season 2 did not forget the drama, developing the personal conflicts, the parenting turmoil and the MomTok fallout.
The show — and Taylor — had turned it into a lightning rod for debates about the Mormons, fame in the digital age, moral standards, and the limits of privacy.
Part 4: Taylor’s Perspective and Co-Parenting
Taylor needed to be careful of exposing the rest of her I’m-too-damn-busy-for-a-little-kid-or-otherwise lifestyle, but he wanted to show Tate a sign of respect. The two seem to have a frictionless, even friendly, co-parenting relationship, under the extraordinary public circumstances, she has said.
Meanwhile, Taylor has moved onto another new relationship, this time with Dakota Mortensen and the pair welcomed a third child, Ever True, in early 2024. Her changing personal life and attempts to heal herself, as well as to co-parent successfully, are widely documented in the show’s remaining episodes.
Common Facts About Frankie Paul (Paul Blake)
Early Life & Nickname
- Born Paul Blake on 19 October 1965 in Kingston, Jamaica
- He was born blind, but had his sight partially restored after an operation aboard a hospital ship.
- At school, he impressed Stevie Wonder during a visit. This encounter inspired Blake to pursue a singing career, and he earned the moniker “The Jamaican Stevie Wonder.”
Rise in Music
- Adopting the stage name Frankie Paul, he rose to fame in the early 1980s, quickly becoming a prolific recording artist. He often released multiple albums per year and worked with nearly every major producer in Jamaica.
- Notable hits include “Sara” and “Worries in the Dance.
Musical Style & Contribution
- Frankie Paul was one of the leading figures in the dancehall movement of the 1980s and 1990s, steering reggae away from its spiritual roots toward a more secular and vibrant sound.
- He was celebrated for his youthful charisma and distinct vocal style, described as a “nasal, throaty” tone that matured over time.Later Years & Death
- In the early 1990s, Frankie Paul lived in The Gambia, staying abroad until 1994 before returning to Jamaica.
- In early 2016, health complications led to surgery, including a leg amputation.
- He passed away on 18 May 2017 in Kingston due to liver-related complications, at age 51 or 52.
Summary Table: Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
| Real Name | Paul Blake |
| Stage Name | Frankie Paul |
| Born | 19 October 1965, Kingston, Jamaica |
| Blindness | Born blind; partial sight restored via surgery |
| Inspirational Moment | Met Stevie Wonder at school, inspiring music pursuit |
| Breakthrough Era | Early 1980s – prolific output and multiple hits |
| Hits Include | “Sara,” “Worries in the Dance,” among others |
| Contribution | Dancehall pioneer, rich voice, changed reggae scene |
| Later Resided | The Gambia (until 1994) |
| Health Issues | Leg amputation in 2016 |
| Died | 18 May 2017, liver complications |
Conclusion
And that’s just one aspect of the journey that involves the tight rope of public pressure, a shield of privacy and being a mom in a media storm of controversy. A central figure in a cultural gale that extends from social-media fame to personal scandal to reality TV, Taylor is rewriting the rules of what transparency means.
Whatever pride Taylor may take in showing off her life as a mom on camera, it makes sense, given how precariously parents’ boundaries even with the camera on them, let alone buzzing around them. How they’ve continued forward — with healing, self-discovery and working together as parents — serves as a story of resilience and reinvention in the public eye.
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FAQs
Who is Taylor Frankie Paul Husband?
Her ex-husband is Tate Paul. Is married and has two children (Married in 2016) and divorced in 2022 after a public soft-swinging scandal.
Was the not-so-swinging scandal the cause of their divorce?
Yes — speaking during a livestream event, Taylor admitted their marriage had come to an end after she broke their soft-swinging deal. She Robins admitted her to crossing the lines they had both set up.
Why weren’t their kids on Secret Lives of Mormon Wives?
Tate Paul had refused to allow his children to be filmed for the show. Taylor said there’s a fine line in including them in filming, despite wanting to be seen as a mother on-screen.
Is Paul Tate online?
He’s since remained relatively out of the spotlight, although it’s alleged that he’s engaged and has a new baby with his partner.
What has Taylor’s life been like since the divorce?
Taylor was previously in an affair with Dakota Mortensen, with whom she welcomed her third baby. They went through some struggles — including a domestic violence incident — but have since continued to co-parent and appeared on the reality show.
What effect did the series have on the representation of Mormon culture?
The series itself, and Taylor’s storyline specifically, generated debate over Mormon faith, sexuality, and authenticity, with both backlash and positive feedback for its frank portrayals.
