Taylor Frankie Paul: How TikTok Broke the Bachelor
ABC Entertainment Television canceled the upcoming season of “The Bachelorette” on March 19, 2026, just days before its scheduled premiere on March 22, following the release of a 2023 video showing frontrunner Taylor Frankie Paul in a physical altercation with her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen.
The decision to halt production and pull the season came after TMZ published footage of Paul throwing objects at Mortensen in front of her young daughter. Paul had been charged with assault, criminal mischief, and domestic violence in the presence of a child related to the 2023 incident, and court records show she pleaded guilty in abeyance to an aggravated assault charge in August 2025, with the remaining charges dismissed.
The cancellation sparked immediate backlash from within “Bachelor Nation,” with alumni expressing shock and questioning the vetting process. Rachel Lindsay, the show’s first Black lead in 2017, stated the situation reflected poorly on Disney and Hulu, suggesting a failure in pre-casting scrutiny. “This is bad for Disney. This is bad for Hulu,” Lindsay said, adding, “How did this pass the threshold?”
ABC issued a statement saying the decision was made “in light of the newly released video” and that the network’s focus was now on “supporting the family.” A spokesperson for Paul released a statement asserting that the video was part of an ongoing “destructive campaign” by Mortensen to harm her reputation and distract from his own behavior. The spokesperson characterized the release of the video on their son’s birthday as “a reprehensible attempt to distract from his own behavior.”
The cancellation follows weeks of scrutiny surrounding Paul’s casting. Reports had surfaced regarding allegations of prior conduct, including claims made by Mortensen during an episode of “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” that he had slept with Paul the night before she left to film “The Bachelorette.” The Draper City Police Department confirmed on March 16 that a domestic assault investigation involving Paul and Mortensen was currently open.
The fallout has extended to the production of “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” with filming temporarily halted due to the ongoing dispute between Paul and Mortensen.
As of March 24, 2026, ABC has not announced a replacement for Paul as the lead of “The Bachelorette,” nor has the network indicated a revised premiere date. Disney Entertainment Television has not responded to requests for comment regarding the internal review of its vetting procedures.