The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Dakota Mortensen reflected on his infamous behavior through the series premiere of Alex Cooper‘s Unwell Winter Games.
“I believe people think that I’m a extremely bad guy,” Dakota, 33, said through the Monday, April 6, episode of the YouTube series. “I don’t feel like I’m. I believe I do some villain things here and there. Every from time to time.”
Dakota had to reply for his behavior — reminiscent of flirting with influencer Hallie Batchelder — when his former costar Demi Engemann joined the show at the top of the episode. They joked about him already “not officially” dating someone.
Dakota and Demi star alongside fellow reality stars, influencers and public figures on Unwell Winter Games, a four-episode show that “brings together 16 of probably the most polarizing figures in popular culture to compete in a series of mental and physical challenges over 4 days, filmed against the backdrop of a luxury chalet in Park City, Utah,” in response to an official description.
Other solid members include Love Island USA’s Huda Mustafa, Love Island’s Ekin Su Cülcüloğlu and Eyal Booker, Bachelor in Paradise’s Joe Amabile and Serena Pitt, Siesta Key’s Juliette Porter and Dancing With the Stars’ Gleb Savchenko.
News of Dakota and Demi’s involvement within the series got here amid a series of scandals for the Mormon Wives solid — most notably a police investigation into an alleged February domestic violence incident between Dakota and his ex Taylor Frankie Paul.
In March, Dakota was granted a short lived protective order against Taylor, 31, along with temporary custody of their son, Ever, 2, amid allegations of multiple alleged disputes between the pair. Dakota and Taylor are scheduled to seem in court for a Tuesday, April 7, hearing.
Mormon Wives halted production on season 5 of the hit reality TV series within the wake of the newest allegations. The Bachelorette also canceled Taylor’s season of the ABC reality dating series days before its March premiere. Dakota briefly spoke out in regards to the situation after a video surfaced of a 2023 altercation with Taylor through which the star could possibly be seen physically assaulting and throwing chairs at Dakota while within the presence of her daughter.
(Taylor was arrested and subsequently charged with aggravated assault, two counts of domestic violence within the presence of a baby, child abuse and criminal mischief. She ultimately pleaded guilty to felony aggravated assault in exchange for the dismissal of the remaining charges.)
Each Dakota and Taylor have denied the recent allegations, with each issuing statements saying they’re committed to specializing in their children.
Prior to the Unwell Winter Games premiere, Taylor showed her gratitude to Demi for supporting her amid her drama with Dakota.
“Thanks for checking in on me as much as you’ve got and for the wellness gift,” Taylor responded to Demi via Instagram in March. “You and Jessi [Draper], I’ll always remember, didn’t leave my side at my lowest.”
Demi, for her part, took a step back from Mormon Wives during season 4 after finding herself at odds together with her friends within the previous season.
“I need to enter into a little bit bit more of a slower season of life,” Demi told People in December 2025. “In order that’s what we’re going to be deciding over the subsequent little bit, by way of if we would like to maneuver forward there. It truthfully type of appears like a chapter’s closing and a brand new one’s opening, and I’m excited to see what comes of it. It’s a very good technique to close out the yr and I’m excited to begin back up 2026 and see what comes.”
Recent episodes of Unwell Winter Games will premiere each day on Unwell’s YouTube channel through Thursday, April 9.
In the event you or someone you understand is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.