Taylor Frankie Paul’s Bachelorette Season Pulled After Alleged Domestic Violence Video Surfaces
CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses domestic violence.
ABC has officially pulled the upcoming season of The Bachelorette led by Taylor Frankie Paul, just days before it was due to premiere in the US. The decision follows current domestic violence allegations involving the reality star and her ex-partner Dakota Mortensen and the release of confronting footage from a 2023 incident in Utah.
A spokesperson for Disney Entertainment Television confirmed the move in a statement, saying: “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 season, which was set to debut on Sunday, March 22 (US time), has been removed from ABC’s schedule, and the network has not said if or when it might air in future.
The fallout centres on a video published by TMZ that appears to shows Paul throwing metal barstools at Mortensen during a 2023 argument while her young daughter can be seen nearby and heard crying. The incident led to Paul’s arrest on domestic violence allegations at the time. She ultimately pleaded guilty in abeyance to one count of aggravated assault, while charges of child abuse, criminal mischief and domestic violence in the presence of a child were dismissed.
The Draper City Police Department in Utah has confirmed there is an open “domestic assault investigation” involving Paul and Mortensen, noting that “allegations have been made in both directions” and that officers made contact with both parties on 24 and 25 February this year. Production on season five of Hulu series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, where Paul first rose to fame, has been paused while the investigation plays out.
In a statement to PEOPLE, a spokesperson for Paul criticised the release of the 2023 footage, saying: “It’s sad to see the latest instalment of his never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without any regard for the consequences for their child.”
The statement continued, “Releasing an old video, which conveniently omits context, on their son’s birthday is a reprehensible attempt to distract from his own behaviour. Thankfully, the public has seen this act before and knows who he is and sadly, many will recognise this pattern of manipulation, both in his actions on the show, and from their own experiences.”
Despite the headlines, Paul had spent the week doing press for her Bachelorette season. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at a press event, she described the past few weeks as “really difficult and heavy,” adding, “I would say I am handling it like any normal human would, like struggling, but trying to show up at the same time.”
NBC also quietly cancelled Paul’s planned appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon this week amid the ongoing scrutiny and has not rescheduled the late-night spot.
Paul and Mortensen share a one-year-old son, Ever, and have reportedly had a turbulent relationship spanning several years, which we’ve seen play out on their reality TV show.
Hulu has not yet commented publicly on the longer-term future of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, but Taylor’s co-star Mikayla Matthews confirmed the pause of filming on her Instagram Stories, revealing that it was the cast’s decision.
“It was a decision that all us girls came up with and agreed on,” the reality star confirmed. “We didn’t feel comfortable filming with everything that was happening.”
There is no word yet on when filming will pick back up, if at all.
Help is available.
If you require immediate assistance, please call 000.
If you’re in distress, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or chat online.
Under 25? You can reach the Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800 or chat online.
To speak to someone about domestic violence, including for help in leaving a violent relationship, please call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or chat online.
Lead image: The Bachelorette
