Dakota Mortensen shared a cryptic Instagram statement in the wake of ex Taylor Frankie Paul’s “Bachelorette” casting.
The real estate agent shared a visibly emotional selfie via Instagram Stories Wednesday, propping his head on one hand as he stood outside gazing into the distance.
“Had so many curveballs today and every time I am always reminded there is nothing more important than God and family,” the 32-year-old wrote, without specifying the “curveballs” in question.
“Life is to [sic] short,” he concluded.
Two hours prior, Mortensen posted about conservative commentator Charlie Kirk’s “heartbreaking” assassination.
“Praying for his wife and kids,” the Hulu personality wrote.
Paul, 31, shared a similar sentiment while acknowledging on her Story that she was “blessed for the support” she had been receiving but “couldn’t ignore” the 31-year-old’s death.
The “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star was revealed to be the Season 22 “Bachelorette” lead on Wednesday, marking a major shift for the franchise who has never cast a reality star from another show.
While making the announcement on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, Paul admitted to not having “confirmed” the news with Mortensen before going public.
She predicted her ex, with whom she shares 1-year-old son Ever, would be “sad.”
As for whether she thought he planned to tune in, Paul quipped, “Yeah, I think he’s always watching.”
The former couple called it quits last year, with Paul admitting to some post-split hookups as she struggled to “let go.”
When host Alex Cooper asked whether a Stagecoach 2025 tryst was the most recent, Paul replied, “That might have been [the last]. Maybe one after.”
She explained, “That was a hard pill to swallow. There was no pain like it. One of the hardest summers I’ve ever had.”
Mortensen reacted to this with a TikTok comment reading, “1 or 2 times….Got it lol.”
Paul was previously married to Tate Paul from 2017 to 2022, and the exes co-parent daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 5.