ABC has decided to cancel the upcoming season of “The Bachelorette,” featuring Taylor Frankie Paul, following the emergence of a recently released video from 2023. The decision to halt the season, which had already been filmed, was made just before its scheduled premiere on Sunday.
A statement from Disney Entertainment Television explained the cancellation, stating that due to the newly surfaced video, they have opted not to proceed with the new season of “The Bachelorette” at this time, with their primary focus being 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. While Paul pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of aggravated assault in August, the other charges were dropped.
Authorities in Draper City, Utah, disclosed that there is an ongoing domestic violence investigation involving Paul and Mortensen, her former partner, with allegations made by both parties. Mortensen is the father of one of Paul’s three children.
Despite requests for comments from representatives of Paul and Mortensen going unanswered, ABC’s statement did not specify the network’s plans for the show’s timeslot.
Paul, who recently promoted Season 22 on ABC’s “Good Morning America” and at the Oscars telecast, had not previously been part of the “Bachelor” franchise, making her an unconventional choice to lead “The Bachelorette.” However, her involvement in both “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” and her influence within the #MomTok community on TikTok were noted as factors in her selection. ABC highlighted her role in popularizing “MomTok” and shedding light on Salt Lake City’s soft-swinging scene.
Paul had announced her separation from her husband in 2022, making headlines for her unconventional relationship agreements. She confirmed the completion of filming for “The Bachelorette” in a December Instagram post, with Jesse Palmer as the show’s host.
