ABC and Disney Entertainment Television abruptly pulled the plug on Season 22 of The Bachelorette just three days before its scheduled March 22 premiere. The sudden cancellation stems directly from newly surfaced TMZ footage showing series lead Taylor Frankie Paul physically attacking her ex-boyfriend in 2023. The network crisis is compounded by an active 2026 domestic assault investigation involving the former couple.
The men who gave up their jobs and lives to film the shelved season are demanding answers. Corroborating reports indicate the jilted suitors are exploring legal action against the network to recoup lost salary and damages resulting from the canceled production.
The Hollywood Reporter published an exclusive dive into the cast’s reaction early Thursday morning. The men are furious. They spent thousands on wardrobes. They quit jobs. While some performers have recently fought for a huge improvement in baseline television pay, this cast walked away empty-handed. They are actively considering suing ABC.
The network quietly replaced the vacant Sunday time slot with a rerun of American Idol.
The leaked 2023 footage shows Paul throwing heavy metal chairs at Dakota Mortensen. One of those chairs struck her five-year-old daughter. Paul is already serving three years of probation. She pleaded guilty in abeyance to aggravated assault in August 2023.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star is facing fresh legal scrutiny. Draper City Police in Utah confirmed they opened a new, active domestic assault investigation into an altercation between Paul and Mortensen that occurred between February 24 and 25 of this year.
A Disney spokesperson stated the network decided not to move forward “in light of the newly released video.” The company prioritized family support and brand safety. Paul’s team released their own statement. They claimed she was defending herself from a “destructive campaign” of manipulation orchestrated by her ex.
The suitors remain in legal limbo. Attorneys are currently reviewing the reality television contracts to determine if a lawsuit against the network can proceed.