ABC has canceled the upcoming season of “The Bachelorette” following the release of a 2023 video showing star Taylor Frankie Paul physically assaulting her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen. The decision, announced Thursday, came just days before the season was set to premiere on March 22, and follows an ongoing investigation into a new domestic-violence dispute involving Paul and Mortensen.
The leaked video, published by TMZ, depicts Paul throwing multiple chairs at Mortensen during an altercation in 2023, while her daughter is heard crying in the background. This incident is separate from a current investigation opened by the Draper City Police Department, confirmed by People, which involves “allegations…in both directions” between Paul and Mortensen. Police made contact with both parties on February 24 and 25.
Paul’s selection as the first celebrity “Bachelorette” was announced in September 2025, following her rise to prominence on TikTok and the subsequent Hulu reality series, “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.” The Hulu show, which premiered in 2024, documented the fallout from Paul’s revelation that she and her then-husband had been “soft-swinging” with other Mormon couples. The pilot episode also addressed Paul’s 2023 arrest for assault and domestic violence in the presence of a child, resulting in an 11-month production pause before resuming. Paul ultimately pleaded guilty to aggravated assault as part of a plea deal.
Production on the fifth season of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” has also been halted. NBC News reported that Hulu mandated a “weeklong break in filming after executives witnessed discussions of domestic violence during filming.”
Despite the mounting controversy, Paul continued a scheduled press tour leading up to the planned premiere of “The Bachelorette,” appearing on “Live With Kelly and Mark” and “Fine Morning America.” During a March 18 appearance on “Good Morning America,” Paul acknowledged the headlines, stating, “It’s been a heavy time to see the headlines, especially during this time of The Bachelorette being released…I’m a person that will always speak my truth. That’s what I’m known for. So when the time is right, I will be.”
Cinnabon was the first sponsor to publicly sever ties with Paul and the associated shows, issuing a statement on March 17 that the collaboration “no longer aligns with our brand values.”
In a statement released Thursday, a Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson said, “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.”
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