The upcoming season of the popular reality television dating series The Bachelorette has been abruptly cancelled by network ABC following serious domestic violence allegations against its intended star, Taylor Frankie Paul. This decision comes after the entertainment news outlet TMZ published a video that appears to depict Paul assaulting her former partner, Dakota Mortensen.
Network Takes Swift Action Following Video Release
A spokesperson for Disney, the parent company of ABC, issued a definitive statement regarding the cancellation. "In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of 'The Bachelorette' at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family," the representative said. The show, a successful spin-off from The Bachelor where a single woman selects a husband from numerous suitors, was scheduled to premiere its 22nd season with Paul as the central figure.
Paul's Representative Issues Strong Rebuttal
In response to the video's publication, a spokesperson for Taylor Frankie Paul provided a statement to People magazine, vehemently disputing the allegations and framing the release as a malicious act. "It’s sad to see the latest installment of his never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without any regard for the consequences for their child," the statement read. It further accused Mortensen of releasing an old, decontextualized video on their son's birthday as a "reprehensible attempt to distract from his own behavior." The statement concluded by suggesting the public would recognize this as a pattern of manipulation.
Production Halts on Other Projects
The controversy has had a ripple effect on Paul's other television commitments. Production on the fifth season of her reality series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which first aired in 2024, has also been paused. Paul's co-star on that show, Mikayla Matthews, confirmed the decision, stating, "It was a decision that all of us girls came up with. We didn't feel comfortable filming with everything that was happening."
Rise to Fame and Fall from Grace
Taylor Frankie Paul initially gained prominence through social media as part of a collective of young mothers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah. They produced viral dance videos and parenting content, which paved her way to reality television stardom. The cancellation of The Bachelorette marks a significant and sudden reversal in her career trajectory, underscoring the severe repercussions of such allegations in the entertainment industry.
