ABC cancels Taylor Frankie Paul’s season of ‘The Bachelorette’ in wake of horrifying abuse video
ABC has canceled Taylor Frankie Paul’s season of “The Bachelorette” after the release of a disturbing 2023 video that shows the reality star throwing chairs at her ex, Dakota Mortensen, during a domestic violence incident. The news comes just three days before Season 22 was supposed to start.
“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,” the network told Page Six in a statement.
A source told Page Six the network would air an “American Idol” rerun in its place on Sunday.
Of the cancellation, a spokesperson for Paul exclusively told Page Six, “Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security. After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm.”
“There are too many women who are suffering in silence as they survive aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to let them move on with their lives,” they added. “Taylor has remained silent out of fear of further abuse, retaliation, and public shaming. She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.”
The decision comes on the heels of another alleged domestic abuse dispute between the former couple that occurred in February.
Paul’s other reality show, “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” halted production on Season 5 last week amid an investigation into the recent incident.
Paul already filmed and was doing press for Season 22 of “The Bachelorette,” which was set to premiere Sunday.
A group of 22 men were selected to vie for Paul’s heart.
She went on “Good Morning America” on Wednesday to promote the ABC series and compared the investigation into the latest alleged domestic abuse incident to “the end of the world.”
“It’s hard to see past this — I’m not going to lie — in this moment, it’s just so heavy,” she told host Lara Spencer.
“When your life is broadcasted out there in these headlines, it’s like the end of the world. That’s what it feels like, I’m not going to lie. I will say I’ve been here before and I got through it and I’ve shared my story and my light, and I’m hoping I can do that again,” she added.
She also addressed the drama on Tuesday at a press preview for “The Bachelorette,” telling People that she was upset over the “timing” of the alleged February incident.
“I feel like every premiere that I’ve experienced, I’ve never enjoyed fully, so this is another one … It’s extremely hard, and it took everything to get me here today,” she said.
Paul’s legal drama began in 2023 when she was arrested for alleged domestic violence after a fight with Mortensen. She was subsequently given misdemeanor charges of assault, criminal mischief and commission of domestic violence in the presence of a child.
The charges were later dropped.
TMZ released a video on Thursday of Paul throwing multiple chairs at Mortensen during their 2023 fight. One of the chairs allegedly hit Paul’s 8-year-old daughter, Indy, who was 5 at the time.
After police arrived, Mortensen — who has a 2-year-old son, Ever, with Paul — told officials that Paul was “hammered” and he was “sober.”
A spokesperson for Paul told TMZ that the video “conveniently omits context” and accused Mortensen of being on a “never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without any regard for the consequences for their child.”