ABC Cancels Taylor Frankie Paul’s Bachelorette Season
ABC has made the decision to cancel Taylor Frankie Paul’s season of The Bachelorette following allegations related to her involvement in a domestic violence incident.
“In light of the newly surfaced video released today, we have decided to halt the new season of The Bachelorette for the time being, as our primary focus is on supporting the family,” a spokesperson from Disney Entertainment Television stated to Us Weekly on Thursday, March 19.
Earlier in the day, TMZ shared footage of Taylor throwing a chair at ex Dakota Mortensen during a 2023 incident. A representative for Taylor responded, labeling the action as “reprehensible.” TMZ has additionally reported receiving court documents indicating that Dakota has filed for a protective order against Taylor in Utah and has sought temporary custody of their 2-year-old son, Ever.
Just under a week before Taylor’s Bachelorette season was set to premiere on Sunday, March 22, news broke on Monday, March 16, regarding an alleged altercation involving Taylor and Dakota. A representative for the Draper City Police Department in Utah confirmed to Us Weekly that an open “domestic assault investigation” is underway concerning the reported dispute. “Allegations have been made in both directions,” authorities indicated, noting that they contacted the “involved parties on [February] 24th and 25th.”
In the aftermath of the controversy, Taylor’s Bachelorette contestants have shown unity behind the scenes.
“The men on The Bachelorette have been showing remarkable solidarity and are deeply disappointed by Taylor and the situation,” a source exclusively told Us.
Taylor’s tumultuous relationship with Dakota, 33, has been featured in The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives since 2024. Production on season 5 of the Hulu reality series was halted following the recent incident.
Previously, Taylor was arrested in February 2023 after an altercation with Dakota and was charged with aggravated assault, two counts of domestic violence in front of a child, child abuse with injury, and criminal mischief. She pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, while the other charges were dropped.
Taylor Frankie Paul’s relationship timeline with Dakota Mortensen is complex, marked by several breakups. So, how much time did they actually spend together between their public splits? Taylor and Dakota began their relationship before the show debuted on Hulu in September 2024. Dakota was Taylor’s first public […]
Before her Bachelorette premiere, Taylor shared her aspirations in a cover story for Us published in March.
“My sole motivation in doing this was to escape the toxicity I faced in Utah and to do something meaningful for myself,” she explained.
Taylor — who has a daughter, Indy, 8, and a son, Ocean, 5, with ex-husband Tate Paul — elaborated on her reasons for participating in the reality dating show.
“How many single moms get this chance to focus solely on dating, love, and self-growth? It’s a rare opportunity,” she expressed. “That’s why I was there, and those who doubt that are facing their own issues.”
Taylor also discussed her complicated relationship with Dakota at that time.
“I recognize my part in this — it’s not a matter of placing blame solely on him. It takes two to create this dynamic. We weren’t moving forward,” she revealed to Us. “Sometimes we get along, and then we argue. It’s challenging to articulate unless you’ve experienced it. If there was an easy way to change it, believe me, I would. It’s much more complicated than it seems.”
When asked how she reassured her Bachelorette suitors about her readiness to move on from Dakota, Taylor emphasized that “being ready is a choice.”
“At the end of the day, it was a decision. I chose to take a break for two months and give this a genuine try. I reassured them that was the reason for my presence here,” she stated.
The Bachelorette season 22 is set to premiere on ABC on Sunday, March 22, at 8 p.m. ET and will be available for streaming the following day on Hulu.
