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Following news that filming on season five of the reality series had been halted due to star Taylor Frankie Paul's reported domestic conflict with ex Dakota
Mortensen, cast member Mikayla Matthews stated that it was a communal decision.
When a fan inquired during an Instagram Q&A on March 19 if filming was "really on pause," Mikayla said, "It was a decision that all of us girls came up with and agreed on. We didn't feel comfortable filming with everything that was going on."
As suspicion spread on social media that the pause was due to distancing between Taylor and the other ladies on the series, cast member Jessi Draper responded to accusations that the rest of the cast was jealous of Taylor's growing limelight.
On March 17, Jessi posted in the Instagram comments for the No Filter With Zach Peter podcast, "It was never a jealousy thing lol."
Police confirmed to People on March 16 that Dakota and Taylor are part of an ongoing "domestic assault investigation," and that "allegations have been made in both directions."
Following the revelation, a representative for Dakota, with whom Taylor has 2-year-old son Ever, told Entertainment Weekly on March 18 that Dakota's "number one priority here is protecting" the pair's kid.
"He knew there was a possibility it could come out," according to the release, "but he was not going to be the one to proactively do that because he has always wanted a decent relationship with Taylor."
According to the representative, Dakota eventually "wants to co-parent well" with his ex.
Meanwhile, Taylor addressed the alleged incident while promoting her upcoming season of The Bachelorette, which begins on March 22.
"I'm a person who will always speak my truth—that's what I'm known for," the 31-year-old told Good Morning America's Lara Spencer during an interview on March 18. "So, when the time is right, I will be. But right now, I'm just trying to be in the present moment and focus on this, but the thing is, my kids do come first."
Taylor, who has two children with her ex-husband Tate Paul, added, "It's been a back-and-forth process, just trying to be present in the moment while worrying about home and headlines. It has been stressful, to be honest."
Regarding the filming halt, Taylor explained that, while she is an executive producer on the series, she "doesn't call the shots with production."
