ABC and Disney Entertainment Television officially canceled Season 22 of “The Bachelorette” starring Taylor Frankie Paul on Thursday, abruptly pulling the plug just three days before its scheduled Sunday premiere.
The unprecedented network decision follows the Thursday publication of a 2023 video by TMZ showing Paul in a physical altercation with her ex-partner, Dakota Mortensen, while her five-year-old daughter cried in the background.
“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 spokesperson announced in a statement.
The leaked footage depicts Paul punching, kicking, and throwing metal chairs at Mortensen. The video aligns with Paul’s actual 2023 arrest, which initially resulted in felony aggravated assault and domestic violence charges. Paul ultimately pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge, with the remaining counts dismissed.
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The resurfaced video arrives amidst an active domestic violence investigation by the Draper City Police Department regarding a separate February 2026 incident involving the former couple. Both parties have filed allegations against one another in that open case.
A representative for Paul stated she has silently suffered “extensive mental and physical abuse” for years and is prioritizing her family’s safety while preparing to share her side of the story. Mortensen categorically denied her allegations, calling them “baseless.”
Prior to her unconventional casting as the ABC franchise lead, Paul gained mainstream fame on TikTok’s #MomTok community and starred in Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.” Co-stars from the Hulu series confirmed that production on its fifth season had already paused due to the ongoing police investigations, a turbulent period where several cast members face separate domestic scandals.
The professional fallout has rapidly extended beyond Disney. Meta officially severed ties with Paul, confirming to reporters that the tech company has no plans to work with the influencer following the expiration of their previous content partnership.
ABC will broadcast an “American Idol” rerun in the vacant Sunday time slot. While “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” have navigated numerous controversies over two decades, the network has never before scrapped a completely filmed season entirely.