ABC has decided to cancel the upcoming season of “The Bachelorette,” featuring Taylor Frankie Paul, due to a recently unearthed video from 2023. The announcement of the cancellation came on Thursday, just days before the scheduled premiere on Sunday.
Disney Entertainment Television released a statement expressing their decision not to proceed with the new season of “The Bachelorette” at this time, focusing instead on supporting the family. The statement alluded to a 2023 video showing an altercation between Paul and Dakota Mortensen, which was released by TMZ. Paul had been arrested in 2023 on charges of aggravated assault and domestic violence in the presence of a child. She later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of aggravated assault, while the other charges were dropped.
According to a police spokesperson in Draper City, Utah, there is an ongoing domestic violence investigation involving Paul and Mortensen, her former boyfriend, with allegations made from both sides. Mortensen is the father of one of Paul’s three children. Representatives for Paul and Mortensen have not responded to requests for comment. ABC has not disclosed its plans regarding the show’s timeslot.
Paul, who was actively promoting Season 22 up until recently, was an unconventional choice to lead “The Bachelorette,” as she had not previously participated in the Bachelor franchise. Despite this, her selection did create synergy as she also appears on “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” a reality show on Hulu, which is also owned by Disney. ABC acknowledged Paul’s influence in the “MomTok” community and her viral presence in Salt Lake’s social scene.
The news of the show’s cancellation has sparked widespread attention and speculation among fans and followers of the reality TV series.