Chris Harrison Discusses the Bachelorette Drama Involving Taylor Frankie Paul
Chris Harrison is finally addressing the controversy surrounding Taylor Frankie Paul following the cancellation of her season of the Bachelorette earlier this year.
“I will say this: All of this just makes me more excited about my new show,” Harrison, 54, shared exclusively with Us Weekly at the ACC Golf Championship presented by American Century Investments in South Lake Tahoe on Wednesday, July 8.
The former host of Bachelor Nation, who spent 19 years with the ABC series before departing in 2021, noted that the scandal surrounding Paul, 32, as the series lead has made him thrilled to pursue his own projects. (ABC decided to withdraw Paul’s season in March after TMZ released footage showing her throwing a chair at ex Dakota Mortensen in a 2023 incident.)
Harrison mentioned to Us that he is currently focused on his passion project, which fans can look forward to in the upcoming months.
“My wife and I developed, created, and executive produced a show that’s set to air on Fox Nation this fall,” Harrison explained. “It’s the dating love show I’ve always dreamed of doing.”
He admitted, “The more I see it, it’s not just about this particular situation, but all the shows I’m encountering. I’m genuinely excited to present something unique.”
When asked if he believes ABC should broadcast Paul’s season after pulling it in March, Harrison chose to remain neutral.
“Not my monkey, not my circus,” he told Us.
Harrison originally hosted The Bachelor, which debuted in 2002, and later took the reins of various spinoffs, including The Bachelorette, Bachelor in Paradise, and others for nearly two decades.
After facing criticism in February 2021 for seemingly supporting season 25 winner Rachael Kirkconnell, whose past was deemed racially insensitive, he stepped back from his hosting role.
Harrison’s departure from Bachelor Nation became definitive that June, with Warner Horizon and ABC Entertainment announcing to Us, “Chris Harrison is stepping aside as host of The Bachelor franchise. We are grateful for his numerous contributions over the past 20 years and wish him all the best in his new endeavors.”
Yet, controversy continued to overshadow the franchise as Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Paul’s troubled history emerged.
Paul garnered attention in March during her promotional tour for season 22 of The Bachelorette, following reports of a domestic violence incident involving Mortensen, 33, in late February.
Simultaneously, video footage from a 2023 domestic disturbance between the couple came to light, showcasing Paul throwing a chair at Mortensen while a child could be heard crying in the background. (Paul has a daughter, Indy, 8, and a son, Ocean, 6, with ex-husband Tate Paul, in addition to a son, Ever, 2, with Mortensen.)
Following the video’s viral spread, ABC announced that Paul’s season of the popular dating series would not air as intended.
In the wake of this, the Draper Police Department, West Jordan Police Department, and Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office confirmed they would not pursue charges against Taylor regarding the February incident.
However, Taylor and Mortensen remain caught in a custody dispute over their son, as Mortensen received temporary custody of Ever in March.
In April, a judge mandated that Taylor and Mortensen maintain a distance of at least 100 feet from each other while granting them both protective orders. Initially, Taylor had supervised visitation with Ever, but by June, the judge allowed her unsupervised visitation rights.
Rumors have also circulated that The Bachelorette will eventually broadcast Taylor’s season once the controversy fades.
Former Bachelor Nation producer Julie LaPlaca exclusively informed Us on Tuesday, July 7, “I believe viewers will ultimately see that season,” adding, “I think if and when it airs, it’ll likely do quite well.”
For his part, Harrison remains focused on his upcoming reality dating show, unconcerned about the future of Bachelor Nation.
“My wife and I were able to create it from inception to completion, and it feels entirely different. I didn’t create The Bachelor; I hosted it for many years,” he remarked to Us. “I climbed the ranks to a producer role, but it wasn’t my creation. This is truly my creation.”
Outside of his television commitments, Harrison revealed that he’s developed a strong passion for golf and was excited to return to the American Century Championship for the third year.
“It’s like camp,” he told Us about the annual golf tournament, which features celebrity guests like Colin Jost and Travis Kelce.
Harrison expressed that he enjoys golf for the sense of “brotherhood” that the sport fosters.
“I remember sitting around, and I hate to name drop, but I will. Last year, I was with Colin Jost, Don Cheadle, and we were just talking golf—nothing else mattered. No one cared who anyone was. We simply shared a bond. It cultivates an amazing brotherhood and camaraderie,” he reminisced.
