ABC has made the dramatic decision to cancel Taylor Frankie Paul’s upcoming season of “The Bachelorette” just days before it was set to air, after a video depicting a violent 2023 confrontation between the reality star and her ex, Dakota Mortensen, circulated widely online. The move came swiftly, with a Disney Entertainment spokesperson confirming to TMZ that the network would not be moving forward with the new season in light of the footage, adding that the focus remains on supporting the family involved.
Season 22 of the long-running reality dating franchise had been scheduled to premiere Sunday, March 22.
What the video showed
The footage, shared by TMZ, was recorded by Mortensen during a fight with Paul, 31, that took place in early 2023. In the video, Paul is seen striking and kicking Mortensen before grabbing a metal barstool and throwing it in his direction. The barstool struck Paul’s daughter, Indy, who she shares with ex-husband Tate Paul. Indy would have been approximately 5 years old at the time of the incident. Though the child is not visible on camera, her cries can be heard, and Mortensen, 33, can be heard alerting Paul that their daughter was just struck in the head by the metal chair.
The clip brought renewed public attention to an incident that had previously been referenced — though not shown in full — during Season 1 of Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” which documented authorities arriving at the home and speaking with Paul following the altercation.
The legal fallout from 2023
Paul was arrested on Feb. 17, 2023, and faced a serious set of charges stemming from the incident, including one felony count of aggravated assault, two felony counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child, one misdemeanor count of child abuse and one misdemeanor count of criminal mischief.
She reached a plea agreement in August 2023, pleading guilty to a third-degree felony count of aggravated assault while the remaining four charges were dropped with prejudice. Under the terms of the deal, the felony conviction would be reduced to a Class A misdemeanor provided Paul complied with the agreement’s conditions over a three-year period — conditions that included abstaining from alcohol and illegal drug use.
Paul and Mortensen share a son named Ever, 2.
Paul’s team responds
In the wake of the video’s release, a representative for Paul pushed back against Mortensen, characterizing the decision to release the footage as part of a calculated and harmful effort to damage Paul’s reputation. The statement described the move as particularly callous given that the video was released on the couple’s son’s birthday, framing it as an attempt to distract from Mortensen’s own conduct. Paul’s camp argued that the public has seen this kind of behavior from Mortensen before and would recognize the pattern.
Where things stand now
The cancellation of Paul’s “Bachelorette” season marks a significant escalation in a situation that has been building for weeks. Production on Season 5 of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” had already been paused amid the legal tensions between Paul and Mortensen, and it remains unclear when or whether filming will resume. Mortensen has also filed for a restraining order against Paul and is seeking sole custody of their son.
For ABC and the broader Bachelor franchise, the decision to pull the season just days ahead of its premiere is an extraordinary step — one that reflects the seriousness with which the network is treating the circumstances surrounding its would-be lead.
Source: Star Magazine / Yahoo Entertainment