Disney Exec Reportedly “Didn’t Want To Know Too Much” about Taylor Frankie Paul's Behavior (and Videos)

00:00:10
Speaker 1: Hey, folks, it is Friday, March twentieth in it was an afternoon and evening and overnight A number of developments and the fallout after the canceling of The Bachelorette and the cover yone ass is well underway and might just be getting starting with that. Welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ rohopes. Certainly a number of developments to get to it, I'm not even sure where to start, but the news is everywhere now. The Bachelorette was canceled for this season. We got new statements overnight. We heard from her ex, we heard from Taylor Frankie Paul, we heard from Disney, and we heard some pretty damning stuff from an NBC News report about a meeting in which an executive was warned that there were videos out there. That's a lot where you want to start.

00:00:59
Speaker 2: Yeah, look the timeline.

00:01:01
Speaker 3: I was actually trying to piece it all together how this unfolded, because it's a lot of finger pointing as we were expecting, a lot of statements flying, and a lot of who knew what, when and why? And how did we get to yesterday? That is the big question. So, yeah, this investigation actually was February twenty fourth and twenty fifth. That's what kind of started this whole thing, this domestic violence investigation. Correct, So that created all of the snowball effect of now where we are, So we're now hearing about this. March seventh, Zoom with the cast with NBC executives. Why woke up this morning? You pointed this out to me, Babe? You got to read what NBC is reporting.

00:01:43
Speaker 1: And again, if somebody is going to have to take the fall for this, somebody is going to get blamed. And I wouldn't be surprised if somebody got fired. This is too much money, this is too much of an investment, and this is too much of a high profile, high stake situation that somebody is not going to ask the question why didn't we know about this? How could you let this happen? And that appears Robes to please explain to people who Rob Mills is over at Disney and why Now this is a pretty robe. This is damning and this was the one and some of this he's going to have to answer for.

00:02:15
Speaker 2: Ah, that's right.

00:02:16
Speaker 3: So Rob Mills is the executive vice president of Unscripted and Alternative Alternative Entertainment at Disney. So he is the big guy, and yes, that's reality TV basically falls under his domain, so to speak. And so apparently he got on a zoom with the cast members of the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives to reassure them that they care about their safety, because the women were expressing concern about the what they call dangerous behavior of their friend Taylor Frankie Paul.

00:02:51
Speaker 1: And it was in that call. Again NBC News has reviewed. They did get the audio of this zoom call. In this zoom call to him of the.

00:02:57
Speaker 2: Date, again, it was on March seventh, Okay.

00:03:01
Speaker 1: March seventh. The show is supposed to premiere on March twenty second. So on March seventh, a Disney exec was in a meeting in which he was told not just about violent behavior but the existence of videos. His responses, Robes, as reported by NBC News, are should we be surprised, but to see it given all that's happening now, Robes, this is going to be problematic for him.

00:03:27
Speaker 2: This is damning for him.

00:03:29
Speaker 3: And these are quotes again from NBC who reviewed the zoom call. So again you've got the members of the cast saying that they are concerned about distressing and upsetting video recordings that are out there.

00:03:43
Speaker 2: They specifically reference that, and so Rob Mill.

00:03:45
Speaker 3: Says, I don't know a lot, nor do I want to know too much. This is not putting my head in the sand, but it's not me, you know, I don't want to inquire because I don't know what that does. Apparently the cast members doubled down and said do you know that? Or they asked Mills if he was aware that she's hurt a child, and he said, I.

00:04:10
Speaker 2: Don't think for us getting.

00:04:12
Speaker 3: Into it is right, and then he added the company is never going to hide anything that is wrong for the sake of business.

00:04:20
Speaker 1: This is going to be a problem. Somebody's going to have to answer. He's going to have to answer that. Disney's going to have to answer that, what did you know when? And did you really put your head in the sand his words? For the sake of this show? Did he not know because he didn't want to know? Is being presented to you. That's what it comes off as we want to save room, leave room here for context that's missing. We didn't see the whole video. What else was said, we do not know, but those were the quotes that they put out ropes. That sounds like willful ignorance. To some degree, it sounds like, oh, I heard some don't say anything else.

00:04:51
Speaker 3: I want plausible deniability later plausible deniability. That is exactly what that sounds like. But when you hear him say it, it's seems very deliberate. I want to be able to deny this, so don't tell me anymore.

00:05:06
Speaker 2: I don't want to know what I don't want to know. How is that okay? When you're putting up a show like The Bachelorette.

00:05:14
Speaker 1: The blame game is barely barely just getting started. Obviously they knew about her previous conviction guilty plea, I should say they knew about that. How much they knew about the video? I don't know. We all said, robes. How could they not know it was talked about at the time. Surely they knew it was floating around out there somewhere.

00:05:32
Speaker 2: Well, the other thing is, how in the how could they not know?

00:05:36
Speaker 3: They referenced that the production company overseeing secret lives of Mormon wives had a private investigation.

00:05:43
Speaker 2: Will you imagine that? We talked about how that had to have been.

00:05:46
Speaker 3: The case where they hired a private law firm to investigate these back and forth allegations being made by Taylor, Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortenson. When they knew a police there was an open, active police investigation from incidents in February, February twenty fourth and twenty of course they're going to have someone investigating that. So they said that they were doing that. And then if you actually just look at the indictment, do what TMZ did. Go in there and see what was alleged. It is clear a video is mentioned that there is a video of the incident.

00:06:17
Speaker 2: So the knowledge of a video was there.

00:06:19
Speaker 1: So they were aware, okay, and they decided to go forward with her knowing about the guilty plea. Okay, if Disney, this is one way I would have stood by Disney. If they would have come out and said, yep, we knew about the conviction. It changes nothing just because we see the video and we're moving forward. How we go Okay, I ain't mad at them. I actually would have said, Okay, you knew about it. The video changes nothing. We knew about it, just because the we knew about it and accepted it. But they didn't do that. Ro if they got out of the Taylor Frankie Paul business almost immediately. How long was it a matter of an hour or so? More than an hour got public it.

00:06:58
Speaker 3: We talked about this earlier in the week when the first allegations came out about this second open investigation that Mormon Wives was on pause. Cinnabon says, yeah, we're out. So we were wondering, what are they going to do?

00:07:12
Speaker 2: What do they do?

00:07:13
Speaker 3: They rolled Taylor, Frankie Paul out on her pres events, Tatter talked to news outlets, Hatter sit down and do a live interview a Good Morning America. So but they were pushing ahead, and we thought to ourselves, what is going to happen if a video was released, if something is going to be released, and we said, they're going to see how people react. They're going to look at the reaction and make decisions based on public sentiment, not on what is right or wrong, or what is best for the show or best.

00:07:42
Speaker 2: For the network, or the right thing to do. It was all going to be based on public opinion. And that is what we saw.

00:07:51
Speaker 1: Okay, fine, I don't know if it's a business. I won't get into the Disney in the back and forth and any type of moral judgments, even business judgments in regard to the decision that was made. I was just thinking, then what if the show had launched and then the video came out.

00:08:06
Speaker 2: Well, that would have been so interesting. I don't know. They probably would have pulled it in the middle of the season.

00:08:15
Speaker 1: They'd have had to, and Disney would have That would have been a tougher decision or a look for Disney. But how bad does it look that you all knew this and we're still willing to go forward with Is that a bad look at all? They are going to be able to say we didn't know, we didn't see it, it was represented to us as something different. They're going to have to do that. Ah. Yes, ros we have actually predicted this story almost one hundred percent accurately every step of the way.

00:08:40
Speaker 2: We have, and it's been recorded.

00:08:42
Speaker 1: Does not mean to be arrogant about it. But do you see these It's not even tea leaves like it's almost a been there, done that, know how this is about to do?

00:08:49
Speaker 3: It is been there, done that absolutely and also not shocking? Were Taylor, Frankie Paul Stevens. She had one statement when the video.

00:08:57
Speaker 1: Is not shocking, No second one shocked me.

00:09:00
Speaker 3: So the second one she doubled down shocked me. But it's all about blaming someone else. Isn't that what we see from everybody, from politicians to celebrities.

00:09:09
Speaker 2: It's just no one, almost no one. There are a few people in the world who take accountability, but almost no one does.

00:09:15
Speaker 3: And so her initial statement, yes, blame Dakota, Blame Dakota, blame Dakota.

00:09:19
Speaker 2: This is before ABC canceled the Bachelorette.

00:09:22
Speaker 3: Then once ABC canceled the Bachelorette, we got a whole news statement which, yes, our jaws did drop, But it isn't that shocking actually when you think about it.

00:09:31
Speaker 2: So here's what they said.

00:09:33
Speaker 3: Taylor is very grateful for ABC support as she prioritizes her family's safety and security. After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse, as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm. There are too many many women who are suffering in silence as they survive aggressive, jealous ex partners who refuse to let them move on with their lives. Taylor has remained silent out of fear of further abuse, retaliation, and public shaming. She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.

00:10:23
Speaker 1: I have right, this is a direct She is directly accusing Dakota Mortensen of physical abuse of her. Is that correct?

00:10:33
Speaker 2: Absolutely?

00:10:33
Speaker 1: Okay? So what was the thing lost? The line in there survived.

00:10:37
Speaker 2: Aggressive aggressive jealous ex partners.

00:10:41
Speaker 1: Survive aggressive jealous Okay, babe. So we are now put in a position that we don't have a choice but to listen to her and support her because she has just said that she is a victim of domestic violence. The conversation stops because isn't that what happens? This is a woman who has stood up and said, I am a victim, like so many other women who are suffering in silence, I am the victim of domestic violence. I'm going to tell you my story later. There is no haven't hasn't she short of that video? But she is suggesting Robes that she is the victim in all of this. And when a woman does that publicly, robes, what else can anyone do? You can't question her story?

00:11:29
Speaker 2: Well, she hasn't really given a story yet. Number one.

00:11:31
Speaker 3: Number two, it is very important to note Dakota Mortensen has never been charged with a crime and there have been no other accusations against him other than from Taylor. And when police did the investigation of what happened in that video in twenty twenty three, notably she was charged and he was not. We don't know what is going to come out of this next investigation that's going on from what happened in February, but certainly right now, no one is other than Taylor saying that Dakota had done anything wrong.

00:12:04
Speaker 1: Okay, but she's saying it. This is a woman who ropes the language in that it's specific to positioning her as a victim who wants a community around here. I'm like you, this is happening to me. I've been suffering in silence. I was fearful of right, She's it was a just a quick mention, I say quick, but a passing mention of what's the physical abuse line in their vimb.

00:12:27
Speaker 2: She said she has been.

00:12:32
Speaker 3: Silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation.

00:12:37
Speaker 1: Okay, she has. That was kind of a passing mention. She has suffered mental and physical abuse. That is clearly calling him a domestic abuser? Is she not?

00:12:49
Speaker 2: She absolutely is doing then.

00:12:51
Speaker 1: I took issue or I have questions. She is surviving aggressive excess? What does that mean?

00:13:00
Speaker 2: And suffering in silence?

00:13:02
Speaker 3: I'm sorry, she'sve we No, I'm just saying. She has publicly said this week that she speaks her truth, that she's known for that, that that's her brand.

00:13:12
Speaker 1: Okay, but I can't I don't know. She has to be listening. We have to shut up. What do you do? You cannot criticize her anymore? Isn't that right listening?

00:13:21
Speaker 3: I disagree because of the video that we're seeing. Look, there is the other point where, yes, people hear her out. We will listen to her, and we will let police do their investigating like we know they are doing right now. But the point being is what we have is a video that does speak for itself. It's kind of I was likening it yesterday to what we saw from Christy Nome, where we saw what we saw in Minneapolis, and she's telling us that something completely different happened. Yes, I am seeing a video and I am hearing her describe something very different.

00:13:49
Speaker 1: Okay, what she has not done. And she's been talking a lot since the allegations came out. Before the video, even the allegations out, she has not hinted once at having any responsibility for anything that has taken place.

00:14:06
Speaker 2: That is correct?

00:14:07
Speaker 1: Is that right? Yes, not a hint, not a ooh. That was ugly moment on my part. Nothing right is that being? Is that the next statement coming?

00:14:16
Speaker 2: Her admitting something I don't know, didn't feel like it.

00:14:20
Speaker 1: Well, she wasn't the only one talking yesterday. We did hear from Disney, We heard from Dakota Mortenson, the X as well, who is in that video. Stay here, we'll let you hear what all those sides had to say. We continue here on this Friday morning. A number of developments in the whole Bachelorette Fallout season has been canceled. Actually ropes, let me hit that before I forget canceled, But they used some specific language that made a suggestion to seeing this thing could come back later as soon as y'all called out that's.

00:14:57
Speaker 2: Funny because I was going to point that out too.

00:14:59
Speaker 3: The the question is will they ever air the season? They gave themselves room to do so at a later date. If you look at their actual statement. There are three words that jumped out to both of us. We have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of The Bachelorette at this time.

00:15:18
Speaker 2: At this time, okay, stand by. Who knows?

00:15:22
Speaker 3: I mean, maybe they'll maybe they'd feel more comfortable putting it on Hulu in six months, Maybe it doesn't air on ABC, maybe they put it on more of a streaming service where it feels okay to have something controversial on the air.

00:15:36
Speaker 2: I don't know. They did give themselves room.

00:15:39
Speaker 1: They absolutely did the other thing. What we heard from Dakota in a couple of statements, one from his people, and I think he gave one directly to TMZ.

00:15:47
Speaker 3: Correct The one directly to TMZ said this seems to be in direct response to what we just read in terms of Taylor Frankie Paul's statement accusing him of being a domestic violence abuser. He said, as anyone who has seen the video will understand, this is a deeply upsetting situation. I am unfortunately used to these baseless claims about me and our relationship, which I categorically deny. I am focusing on our son and his safety and hope that Taylor will do the same. And from the rep they said that Dakota's number one priority here is protecting his son.

00:16:22
Speaker 2: He knew there was a possibility it could.

00:16:24
Speaker 3: Come out, meaning the video, but he was not going to be the one to proactively do that because he has always wanted a decent relationship with Taylor.

00:16:31
Speaker 2: It's been really hard to achieve that. But he wants to co parent. Well.

00:16:35
Speaker 3: He was just hoping that if he says nothing, as he usually does, it would go away. He's never done any kind of sit down interview about his side. He just lets it all happen to him, and I think he realizes with the severity of everything now that he just.

00:16:51
Speaker 2: Can't do that.

00:16:53
Speaker 1: So are they saying in that statement he is not responsible for the leaking of the video. Yes, they're saying.

00:16:57
Speaker 3: Oh, they're saying he is not responsible for the leaking of the video. And TMC hasn't suggested that either, saying this was a part of the police investigation. So it is possible that they were able to either obtain the video through a Freedom of information act or they knew someone there who somehow gave it to them. But yes, he is denying that he gave it. And also this is a big headline. Yesterday Thursday, he filed a restraining order, a protective order against Taylor Frankie Paul.

00:17:25
Speaker 2: That's a big deal.

00:17:26
Speaker 3: And there are now reports that he will be seeking custody as well. So this is going to have a significant significant effects on everybody.

00:17:35
Speaker 1: That's how you write a statement. I don't know if it's how much of it it's true, I don't know. I mean, that's just his side, but they hit on some points that you go, okay, that kind of makes sense, and I'm not I have no idea. He was accused of domestic violence by her as well, not arrested for anything, but we don't know the full story, but they're hit on some things. He's a father. Oh yeah. By the way, you notice he hasn't been talking right when you make that statement.

00:17:58
Speaker 2: He hasn't.

00:17:59
Speaker 1: He hasn't, and all the reports are he has been abused for a while and he's the one who keeps refusing to call police. Other people have done so.

00:18:07
Speaker 3: And Babe, that is a good point because we found out yesterday that he wasn't the one who actually called police on these incidents. His friends literally saw bruises and lacerations on him and called police to tell them what had happened. So that is interesting and significant. It isn't as if he was calling to be vindictive. It does seem that other people were actually concerned about his safety and their relationship.

00:18:33
Speaker 1: I know, we have to leave open whatever possibility. We just don't know what happened between those two, but we know what police think happened. We know what police have done in the past, and we know what now ABC and Disney have done. We should mention Secret Lives and Mormon Wives. That show is on hiatus right now. I say hiatus, it's shut down production.

00:18:49
Speaker 3: And you know what's interesting, It wasn't that the production company shut it down.

00:18:53
Speaker 2: The women did.

00:18:54
Speaker 3: They said they did not want to continue filming while this police investigation was going on, and that's why they were bringing their concerns to Disney executives. And look, Babe, we sat down and watched the last episode of the last season because there was so much said about what was going on between Taylor and Dakota, and it was frankly kind of appalling to see how she was going into the bachelorette, where her mind.

00:19:21
Speaker 2: Was, where her heart was where her head was it.

00:19:26
Speaker 3: I was surprised and shocked that ABC and Disney were okay with that final episode of the Secret Lives.

00:19:34
Speaker 2: Of Mormon Wives leading into The Bachelorette.

00:19:36
Speaker 1: That episode completely discredits what was supposed to be the upcoming season of The Bachelorette. It completely discredited Robes. We watched that yesterday and I said, we absolutely got bamboozled. This was a joke from the start. This was not a search for love. This was not a There was nothing authentic about her going into it ropes. It was almost offensive. She didn't even want to get on the plane. She didn't even want to go to California. Day before shooting for the Bachelorette, sends her mom and her sister with her kids. You all go, I don't want to go, wouldn't get out of bed, and her mom kept screaming the same thing over and over because mom gets it. You have an opportunity, don't blow it. Her mom knows you actually have a domestic violence charge on your record. And a company like ABC with the show is important to it. A legacy show like Bachelorette is handing it to you to be a star. This is everything for you, Taylor, come on and she refused, And what was the last thing she said and the last person she talked to before she got out of the vehicle to start being filmed for Bachelorette.

00:20:47
Speaker 3: Dakota Mortensen where they each told each other that they loved each other, and Dakota said multiple times save a rose for me.

00:20:56
Speaker 2: That is a joke.

00:20:57
Speaker 3: And any man who came in on that show in good faith had to be so pissed off, pissed when they saw that episode.

00:21:05
Speaker 1: And we are standing by. We'll make another prediction. Those guys are going to sue the production company. They're going to sue Disney. They might even sue Taylor, Frankie Paul, those guys sad lawyers in their ear.

00:21:18
Speaker 2: Right now, one hundred percent.

00:21:20
Speaker 3: You said that almost immediately, and I guarante just wait for it.

00:21:24
Speaker 1: Just wait for it, all right, folks. Well, happy Friday to you. Just get the day started with those updates. Look for the morning run. It'll be up on the feed here shortly. I always appreciate you spending some time with us on behalf of my dear Amy Ropebock. I am TJ. Holmes, and we will talk for you all sooner