Taylor Frankie Paul had been honest about her on-off relationship with Dakota Mortensen while filming The Bachelorette. "There were several conversations had [about Taylor's status with Dakota], and the writing was on the wall," a source exclusively tells Us Weekly, referring to Taylor and her Bachelorette contestants. "Many feel like their time was wasted." Taylor, 31, was named The Bachelorette lead in September 2025, shortly before she left Utah to film season 22. Just before her flight to California, Taylor hooked up with Dakota, 33, despite a breakup earlier that year.