Bachelorette Producers Expressed Worries About Taylor Frankie Paul
Prior to Taylor Frankie Paul‘s now-canceled season, The Bachelorette producers were both excited and cautious about the level of control they relinquished to a lead.
Showrunner Scott Teti discussed this with Vulture in an interview published on Friday, March 20, before season 22 was canceled. He remarked, “We let [Taylor] make her own decisions in a way that impacted the format, and that was a bit daunting because it was like, ‘You want to do what?’”
Teti elaborated that previous leads typically took a more hands-off approach.
“It gives producers heart attacks, but it’s also thrilling because you’re not usually giving talent that kind of freedom,” he continued. “There are moments that just make you think, Oh my God, what has she done?”
Season 22 was set to debut on Sunday, March 22, featuring over 20 contestants vying for Taylor’s affection. Her quest for love followed her breakup with ex Dakota Mortensen.
“What I’m most looking forward to is meeting a handful of people who are outside my bubble — and if a few come from that, that’s fine — but I’m genuinely excited to discover different perspectives and new aspects of myself as well,” the star of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives shared with Us Weekly in October 2025. “It’s outside my comfort zone, which makes it intimidating. You’re navigating emotions — including those of others — and I really dislike hurting people, especially when they are being vulnerable and open.”
Teti acknowledged the worries stemming from Taylor, 31, and Dakota’s tumultuous relationship, which was showcased on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
“There’s always concern about how individuals will react to everything. However, when considering what would make the most compelling story, she stands out as one of the more intriguing narratives,” he noted, adding, “I realized, Oh my God, this girl is one of the most genuine reality TV stars I’ve encountered. The more we spoke, the more I understood that she cannot really lie. Everything is incredibly authentic — all the truth just flows out.”
Taylor will no longer lead the upcoming season of the franchise following reports of her involvement in an alleged domestic violence incident in February. This alleged altercation reportedly caused production to pause on season 5 of Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
“There’s more context to everything, and it’s unfortunate,” Taylor exclusively told Us on Tuesday, March 17. “It’s been challenging. Being in this position is tough.”
The mother of three — sharing son Ever, 2, with Dakota, 33, and daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 5, with ex-husband Tate Paul — denied any connection between the incident and her parenting.
“As a mother, I will always stand firm on this. I believe I’m a good mother and I’ve always treated my kids with care,” Taylor explained. “So seeing the current headlines is painful because it doesn’t reflect reality. I’ve always treated my children with respect and I’ve never harmed them. It’s been incredibly difficult.”
Footage from a 2023 incident involving Taylor and Dakota was released on Thursday, March 19. In the video, Taylor was observed throwing chairs at Dakota while her daughter cried in the background.
A spokesperson for Disney Entertainment Television told Us on Thursday, “Given the newly surfaced video, we have decided to halt the new season of The Bachelorette for now, focusing our efforts on supporting the family.”
