ABC has decided to cancel the upcoming season of “The Bachelorette” featuring Taylor Frankie Paul due to a recent video release from 2023. The cancellation, announced on Thursday, comes right before the scheduled premiere on Sunday. Disney Entertainment Television stated that they have opted not to proceed with the new season following the emergence of the new video, focusing instead on supporting the family.
The decision seems to be linked to a 2023 video showing an incident between Paul and Dakota Mortensen, which was made public by TMZ. 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, while the other charges were dropped.
Authorities in Draper City, Utah, mentioned an ongoing domestic violence investigation involving Paul and her ex-boyfriend Mortensen, with allegations from both sides. Mortensen is the father of one of Paul’s children. Representatives for the individuals involved have not responded to requests for comments. ABC has not disclosed plans for the show’s timeslot following the cancellation.
Paul, who was actively promoting Season 22 on ABC’s “Good Morning America” and at the Oscars event just before Sunday, was an unconventional choice to lead “The Bachelorette.” Unlike previous leads, the 31-year-old had not previously appeared on the “Bachelor” franchise, deviating from the usual practice of selecting runners-up from prior seasons.
Although her selection was unique, it created synergy as she also stars in the Hulu reality show “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” which is under the Disney umbrella. ABC, in a statement announcing her casting, credited Paul with sparking interest in “MomTok” and gaining attention for shedding light on Salt Lake’s soft-swinging community.
Paul gained recognition as an influencer within the #MomTok community, which consists of LDS women sharing their lives on TikTok. She made headlines in 2022 when she revealed she had separated from her husband and was exploring relationships outside the marriage. Paul confirmed the conclusion of filming for “The Bachelorette” in a December Instagram post, with the show being hosted by Jesse Palmer.
