‘Bachelorette’ Cancelled: ABC’s Controversial Casting Choice Sparks Outrage or ‘Bachelorette’ Season Axed After Star’s Assault Video Resurfaces
ABC abruptly canceled the upcoming season of “The Bachelorette” just days before its scheduled premiere, citing newly surfaced video footage of leading lady Taylor Frankie Paul involved in a violent altercation. The decision, announced Thursday, throws the future of the long-running reality franchise into uncertainty and raises questions about the network’s vetting process.
The video, originally from a 2023 incident, shows Paul throwing metal bar stools at her then-partner, Dakota Mortensen, although their five-year-old daughter, Indy, was present. Mortensen attempts to assist Indy after a stool bounces near her, but Paul reportedly screamed at him to “get away from my child,” according to reports. The footage surfaced courtesy of TMZ and quickly spread across social media, prompting immediate backlash.
Paul pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault in connection with the 2023 incident, receiving a plea of abeyance and probation. A court will review the case in August 2026, potentially lessening the charge to a misdemeanor if Paul complies with the terms of her probation. The emergence of the video, coupled with the ongoing possibility of a felony conviction, appears to have been the catalyst for ABC’s decision, though the network has not publicly specified which factor was more decisive.
The cancellation could cost ABC upwards of $50 million, according to sources cited by Page Six and Us Weekly. An insider told Page Six that someone within the network would likely be fired over the situation. ABC acknowledged the financial implications in a statement, but has not commented on potential personnel changes.
Paul rose to prominence through TikTok, where she founded “MomTok,” a community of Mormon women discussing their lives and challenging traditional norms. This online following led to “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” (TSLOMW) on Hulu, which quickly became the streaming service’s most-watched unscripted premiere in 2024. The show’s success, fueled by Paul’s candid discussions of her personal life and relationships, reportedly led ABC to believe she could revitalize the flagging “Bachelor” franchise.
But, Paul’s history of turbulent relationships and public controversies was well-documented throughout her time on TSLOMW. Her divorce from her first husband, Tate Paul, and subsequent relationship with Mortensen were central storylines on the show. The network reportedly granted Paul freedoms not typically afforded to other “Bachelorette” contestants, including unmonitored phone access, in an apparent effort to capitalize on her “unvarnished wildness.”
Erica Rose Sanders, a lawyer and former contestant on “The Bachelor,” told Reality Blurb that she doesn’t believe ABC has grounds to sue Paul, as the video footage predates her casting. However, Sanders suggested Paul may have a case against the network if her contract included a “morals clause” or “conduct clause.”
Filming for Season 5 of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” has too been halted in the wake of the allegations. Disney, ABC’s parent company, stated its focus is on supporting the family involved. No replacement programming has been announced for “The Bachelorette’s” scheduled Sunday premiere.