ABC has canceled the upcoming season of “The Bachelorette” featuring Taylor Frankie Paul due to a recently surfaced video from 2023. The decision to scrap the already filmed season of the popular reality show was announced on Thursday, just before its scheduled premiere on Sunday. Disney Entertainment Television stated that they are halting the new season in light of the video and are focusing on supporting the family.
The video in question, released in 2023, depicted an altercation between Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen. Paul faced legal issues in 2023, including charges of aggravated assault and domestic violence in the presence of a child. She later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of aggravated assault, with the other charges being dropped.
Authorities in Draper City, Utah, revealed an ongoing investigation into the domestic violence allegations involving Paul and her ex-boyfriend Mortensen. Both parties have made accusations against each other, with Mortensen being the father of one of Paul’s children. Representatives for Paul and Mortensen have not responded to requests for comment.
Despite promoting Season 22 on various platforms, including ABC’s “Good Morning America” and the Oscars red carpet, Paul, a 31-year-old who had not previously appeared on the “Bachelor” franchise, was an unconventional choice to lead “The Bachelorette.” Her connection to the reality show “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” on Hulu, which is also owned by Disney, provided some synergy. ABC highlighted Paul’s influence in the #MomTok community, known for women from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sharing their lives on TikTok.
Paul had announced changes in her personal life, including divorce, in 2022. She had completed filming for “The Bachelorette,” hosted by Jesse Palmer, as mentioned in her Instagram post in December. The fate of the show’s timeslot following the cancellation has not been disclosed by ABC.