ABC has cancelled the upcoming season of “The Bachelorette” following the release of video footage appearing to show the show’s intended star, Taylor Frankie Paul, physically assaulting her former partner, Dakota Mortensen. The 22nd season was slated to premiere on Sunday.
Paul, 31, gained prominence through her appearances on the reality television series “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” and initially built a following on TikTok. She had been cast as the central figure in the latest installment of the long-running dating competition, but the network reversed course after the emergence of the 2023 video.
The decision follows a period of mounting scrutiny surrounding Paul’s past legal issues. In 2023, she was arrested for domestic violence against Mortensen, a case that was documented during the premiere of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.” She later pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and is currently serving a three-year probation sentence, according to reports.
An ongoing “domestic assault investigation” initiated by the Draper City Police Department in Utah further complicated matters. A police spokesperson confirmed to People magazine that allegations had been made by both Paul and Mortensen regarding the February incident.
The newly released video, which surfaced on Thursday, depicts Paul allegedly kicking Mortensen and throwing metal chairs at him whereas their five-year-old daughter was present. According to an indictment obtained by People, Paul threw “heavy, metal chairs” during the altercation, and one of the chairs struck the child. Mortensen is heard saying in the video, “Your daughter just got hit in the head by a metal chair!” with audible crying from the child.
In a statement released Thursday, Disney, ABC’s parent company, 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.”
Paul’s team responded with a statement criticizing Mortensen, alleging a “never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor” and characterizing his actions as “a reprehensible attempt to distract from his own behaviour.”
Production on the fifth season of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” also a Disney-owned property, was reportedly paused earlier this week due to the ongoing investigation. Sources told People that cast members expressed feeling “overwhelmed” and were considering halting filming regardless of the investigation’s outcome.
ABC faced similar criticism last year when allegations of past abusive behavior surfaced against Devin Strader, the winner of a previous season. A restraining order had been filed against Strader in 2017 by a former girlfriend, though it was never granted. Strader denied the accusations.
It remains unclear whether the completed 22nd season of “The Bachelorette” will be aired at a later date. ABC has not provided any indication of its plans for the footage.
Leave a Reply