Are Taylor Frankie Paul & Doug Mason Dating After Canceled ‘Bachelorette’ Season?
Taylor Frankie Paul filmed an entire season of The Bachelorette in fall 2025, but fans never got to see it. Amid Taylor’s very public drama with ex Dakota Mortensen, which included a highly controversial video of her from 2023 resurfacing, ABC opted not to air the 22nd season of the dating show.
Before the season was scrapped, Taylor was photographed out with one of her Bachelorette contestants Doug Mason, and it was rumored that he was her final pick. Although it was speculated that the two broke up post-filming because Taylor was seemingly spending time with Dakota again, fans have uncovered new evidence that Taylor and Doug may now be giving their relationship a shot.
Scroll down for everything we know about the situation.
Are Taylor Frankie Paul and Doug Mason dating?
While Taylor and Doug have not confirmed the status of their relationship, recent social media activity hints that something could be going on between the two again. On May 13, Doug documented some fixing up he was doing in his new apartment on Instagram, including installing a toilet paper holder in the bathroom. Taylor posted a photo of her own toilet paper holder on her Story and wrote, “Hey @_dougmason, mine broke too. Can you help by chance?” He reposted this on his own page.
After ABC announced that it was scrapping Taylor’s season of The Bachelorette in March, Doug also publicly showed her support. “In light of everything that’s happened, I’m just sending out prayers to Taylor because that was her moment, and her moment was blocked,” he said in an Instagram video at the time.
Us Weekly reported on April 28 that Taylor and Doug were “seeing each other” and “trying to make” their relationship work. “They were hanging out recently and want to see if they can get back together and be a couple,” the outlet’s insider added.
Who is Doug Mason?
Doug is an EMT ocean lifeguard. He is also a fitness instructor at F45 and model, who also has an acting credit on a 2023 episode of Magnum P.I.
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Additionally, Doug is a musician who performs under the stage name Tonedbone. He lives in San Diego, California.
Why did ABC cancel The Bachelorette 2026?
The Bachelorette Season 22 was canceled after Dakota filed for a restraining order against Taylor in March, stemming from an alleged domestic violence incident the previous month. He was also granted temporary custody of the pair’s son at the time.
With the pair’s toxic relationship back in headlines, a 2023 video of Taylor surfaced online that showed her throwing a chair at Dakota while one of her children was nearby. Taylor had previously been arrested following the incident, but the video came to light years later amid her and Dakota’s renewed drama.
“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 explained in a statement.
A judge recently granted Dakota and Taylor mutual three-year protective orders against each other due to the February incident. Dakota currently has primary custody of their son, with Taylor allowed 12 hours per week with the toddler, according to People. They will reportedly receive an updated recommended parenting plan before their next hearing on June 1.
So far, there have been no confirmed plans to air Taylor’s season of The Bachelorette. There is no Bachelor Nation programming on ABC’s summer or fall schedule. The Bachelor and Bachelor in Paradise have been confirmed for 2027.
