Dakota Mortensen joins Alex Cooper's new reality show as a 'polarising' competitor

Alex Cooper's forthcoming show, Unwell Winter Games, has revealed its lineup of "controversial" participants — and this group lists Secret Lives of Mormon Wives figure Taylor Frankie Paul's previous partner, Dakota Mortensen.

The innovative competition series, debuting at YouTube.com/@Unwell on Monday  (April 6), will be presented by comedy influencer Adam W and is described in an official news release as a four-episode event "bringing together sixteen controversial players to engage in a series of mental and physical contests over four days,"

Additional contestants in the series include Anna Delvey, the lawbreaker who inspired Netflix’s Inventing Anna, Gleb Savchenko from Dancing With the Stars, Mormon MomTok star Demi Engemann, Siesta Keys cast member Juliette Porter and Love Island alums Eyal Booker, Ekin Su Cülcüloğlu and Huda Mustafa.

Influencers and 'It Girls' including Hallie Batchelder and Alissa Violet will also participate, along with other online personalities like Cameron Jerrard, Dylan Kevitch, Andrew Vetter, Hannah Stocking, Joe Amabile, Louis Russell and Niko Emanuilidis. WWE personality Saraya Bevis and Bachelor contestant Serena Pitt complete the cast.

As per the announcement, the show will highlight, "intense competition, unexpected partnerships, and the sort of unfiltered drama that has characterized Unwell in its programming slate."

The show was shot at a lavish chalet in Park City, Utah, before Taylor Frankie Paul's season of The Bachelorette was scheduled to premiere on March 22. 

The season was pulled by ABC on March 19 after TMZ leaked a 2023 video where Paul was seen throwing metal chairs at Mortensen while a child was close by.

A spokesperson for Paul informed PEOPLE the video "strategically leaves out context" and called its release a "deplorable attempt [by Mortensen] to divert attention from his own actions." 

Mortensen addressed the matter in a statement to PEOPLE, stating, "I have, unfortunately, grown accustomed to these unfounded accusations about me and our relationship, all of which I unequivocally deny."

Paul was detained in 2023 on allegations of domestic violence. She admitted guilt in abeyance to aggravated assault, leading to the dismissal of other charges.

The opening episode will appear on Monday (April 6), with further episodes released on Tuesday (April 7), Wednesday (April 8), and Thursday (April 9).