ABC has decided to cancel the upcoming season of “The Bachelorette,” featuring Taylor Frankie Paul, due to a recently uncovered video from 2023. The announcement of the cancellation came unexpectedly just before the anticipated premiere scheduled for Sunday.
Disney Entertainment Television released a statement explaining their choice, stating, “In light of the newly surfaced video today, we have opted to halt production on the new season of ‘The Bachelorette’ to focus on supporting the family.” The video in question, from 2023, depicted an altercation between Paul and Dakota Mortensen, leading to Paul’s arrest that year on charges of aggravated assault and domestic violence in the presence of a child. Subsequently, Paul pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of aggravated assault, with the other charges being dropped.
Following the incident, Draper City, Utah authorities confirmed an ongoing domestic violence investigation involving Paul and Mortensen, her ex-boyfriend, with allegations being made from both sides. Mortensen is also the father of one of Paul’s children. Representatives for both individuals have not responded to requests for comment.
ABC did not disclose any plans regarding the show’s timeslot after the cancellation announcement. Paul, who had been actively promoting Season 22 until recently, was a surprising choice to lead “The Bachelorette” as she had not been part of the “Bachelor” franchise before. However, her role in “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” a Hulu reality series, created synergy as both Hulu and ABC are under Disney’s ownership. ABC praised Paul for her influence in the #MomTok community, a group of LDS women sharing their lives on TikTok.
Despite her past controversies, including a public announcement of her divorce agreement in 2022, Paul had completed filming for “The Bachelorette,” which is hosted by Jesse Palmer. In case of immediate danger or family violence concerns, individuals are advised to seek help through crisis lines and local support services.
