Taylor Frankie Paul’s ‘Bachelorette’ Season Canceled Amid Domestic Violence Scandal
UPDATE: (March 19, 5:55 p.m. ET): Taylor Frankie Paul has released a statement following the cancellation of her season of The Bachelorette.
“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,” her spokesperson said in a statement to Variety. “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.”
The statement continued, “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.”
ORIGINAL: In a Bachelor Nation first, ABC has canceled The Bachelorette Season 22 ahead of its Sunday, March 22 premiere in the wake of lead Taylor’s ongoing scandal. On Thursday, March 19, the network announced that the 2026 season would not air as planned.
The shocking announcement came just hours after a 2023 video leaked showing Taylor throwing chairs at her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, while her daughter was present in the room. This incident led to Taylor’s arrest on misdemeanor charges of assault, criminal mischief, and commission of domestic violence in the presence of a minor.
“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,” a Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson said in a statement.
In The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Season 1, Taylor said getting arrested was the “worst night of my life.” She added, “I ended up being charged with aggravated assault with three years of probation.”
Days before ABC pulled the plug on Season 22, reports of a new incident between Taylor and Dakota surfaced. The Draper City Police Department spokesperson confirmed to People that there is an open “domestic assault investigation” involving Taylor and Dakota. Allegations were made “in both directions” and “contact was made with involved parties on [February] 24th and 25th.”
Per TMZ, Dakota has called the Utah Division of Child and Family Services many times and claimed that Taylor has allegedly been physically abusive to their son, Ever. Sources close to Taylor claimed that she and Dakota got into a “heated argument” in the car over a spilled drink, which led Dakota to getting “physical with her.” Dakota’s camp claims that he called the police, and Taylor was the one who “got physical.”
The outlet also reported that Taylor and Dakota got into another altercation where Taylor “allegedly choked Dakota and ripped his necklace off, and grabbed his throat and face” and then later “scratched his neck during a second night of fighting, and chucked his phone against a wall.”
Following the allegations and reports that her Mormon Wives costars are refusing to film with her, Taylor sat down for her first TV interview on Good Morning America. “It’s hard to see past this — I’m not going to lie — in this moment, it’s just so heavy,” Taylor said on March 18. “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.”
If you or someone you know is the victim of domestic abuse, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233.
