ABC Pulls Bachelorette Season 22 Days Before Premiere After Domestic Violence Video Surfaces

The twenty-second season of The Bachelorette will not air as planned after ABC pulled the show on Thursday, just three days before its scheduled premiere, following the release of video footage showing its star in a violent altercation with her former partner .

Disney Entertainment Television confirmed the cancellation in a brief statement, saying the network had decided not to move forward with the new season in light of newly surfaced video and that its focus was on supporting the family involved . The move marks the first time in the franchise's two-decade history that an entire completed season has been scrapped days before its air date ABC Pulls ‘The Bachelorette’ Amid Taylor Frankie Paul Domestic Violence Allegationsvariety.com·Secondary“The Bachelorette” is on pause amid Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen’s toxic fallout. The ABC reality show, which was set to premiere on Sunday, March 22, has been pulled from the schedule. The network has not yet shared whether it will air at a later date..

From MomTok to Prime Time

Taylor Frankie Paul, 30, first gained a following on TikTok as part of #MomTok, a community of young mothers affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah who built audiences through dance videos and parenting content New season of The Bachelorette cancelled after Taylor Frankie Paul domestic abuse allegationsbbc.com·SecondaryThe new season of dating show The Bachelorette has been cancelled following domestic violence allegations against this season's star, ABC has said. The network said it "made the decision to not move forward with the new season" after footage of Taylor Frankie Paul emerged on Thursday appearing to show her in an altercation with her ex-partner Dakota Mortensen in 2023.. She became a household name after starring in Hulu's The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which premiered in 2024 and quickly became one of the streamer's most-watched unscripted series.

Paul made headlines in 2022 when she publicly announced that she and her then-husband were divorcing and revealed they had been involved in relationships with other couples during their marriage New season of The Bachelorette cancelled after Taylor Frankie Paul domestic abuse allegationsbbc.com·SecondaryThe new season of dating show The Bachelorette has been cancelled following domestic violence allegations against this season's star, ABC has said. The network said it "made the decision to not move forward with the new season" after footage of Taylor Frankie Paul emerged on Thursday appearing to show her in an altercation with her ex-partner Dakota Mortensen in 2023.. Her turbulent personal life — including a subsequent relationship with Dakota Mortensen — became central storylines on the Hulu show.

Her casting as the Bachelorette was announced earlier this year, a decision that drew immediate criticism given that her 2023 arrest for domestic violence was already public knowledge Why is the 'Bachelorette' canceled? A guide to the Taylor Frankie Paul controversynpr.org·Secondary. ABC and Warner Bros. Television, which produces the franchise, appeared to be betting that Paul's existing fame and controversial reputation would drive viewership for a series that had struggled in recent seasons.

The 2023 Incident and the Video

The chain of events that led to the cancellation began on Thursday when TMZ published video footage from a February 2023 incident between Paul and Mortensen at their home in Draper, Utah . The footage showed Paul repeatedly attacking Mortensen, kicking him and throwing multiple metal barstools in his direction Why is the 'Bachelorette' canceled? A guide to the Taylor Frankie Paul controversynpr.org·Secondary.

Particularly concerning was the presence of Paul's young daughter from her first marriage, who was sitting nearby during the altercation . In the footage, Mortensen can be heard calling out that the child was in close proximity as Paul continued to throw objects Why is the 'Bachelorette' canceled? A guide to the Taylor Frankie Paul controversynpr.org·Secondary. A child's cries are audible toward the end of the recording Why is the 'Bachelorette' canceled? A guide to the Taylor Frankie Paul controversynpr.org·Secondary.

Paul was arrested following the incident and eventually pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault . Additional charges of child abuse, criminal mischief, and domestic violence in the presence of a child were dismissed as part of the plea arrangement ABC Pulls ‘The Bachelorette’ After Taylor Frankie Paul Dramadeadline.com·SecondaryDisney has canceled this season of ABC‘s The Bachelorette. “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,” Disney noted in a statement. It comes after star Taylor Frankie Paul has been engulfed in a domestic assault investigation, which had thrown ABC into disarray this week ahead of Sunday’s Season 22 premiere..

While the arrest itself had been publicly known and was even depicted in the Season 1 premiere of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, the actual video footage had never been released until Thursday . The visual evidence of the altercation appears to have changed the calculus for Disney executives. According to Deadline, the network pulled the first episode from its press screening site around midday Thursday as the internal decision was being finalized ABC Pulls ‘The Bachelorette’ Amid Taylor Frankie Paul Domestic Violence Allegationsvariety.com·Secondary“The Bachelorette” is on pause amid Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen’s toxic fallout. The ABC reality show, which was set to premiere on Sunday, March 22, has been pulled from the schedule. The network has not yet shared whether it will air at a later date..

A Week of Promotional Appearances Gone Wrong

The timing proved especially awkward for ABC, as Paul had spent the entire week on a promotional tour for the show. She attended a press dinner in New York on Monday, appeared on Live With Kelly and Mark, and sat for an interview on Good Morning America on Wednesday — all while the domestic assault investigation was making headlines .

During the Good Morning America appearance, Paul acknowledged the allegations, saying it had been a heavy time to see the headlines, especially during what was supposed to be an exciting period for her . At the press dinner, she told reporters that the timing was hard and that it took everything in her to show up ABC Pulls ‘The Bachelorette’ After Taylor Frankie Paul Dramadeadline.com·SecondaryDisney has canceled this season of ABC‘s The Bachelorette. “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,” Disney noted in a statement. It comes after star Taylor Frankie Paul has been engulfed in a domestic assault investigation, which had thrown ABC into disarray this week ahead of Sunday’s Season 22 premiere..

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday, Paul described herself as struggling but trying to show up amid the investigation Why is the 'Bachelorette' canceled? A guide to the Taylor Frankie Paul controversynpr.org·Secondary. She had previously urged skeptics to watch her on the show before making judgments, suggesting that she came across differently than her news headlines might suggest Why is the 'Bachelorette' canceled? A guide to the Taylor Frankie Paul controversynpr.org·Secondary.

Investigation and Protective Order

The Draper City Police Department has confirmed that there is an open domestic assault investigation involving Paul and Mortensen, with allegations made in both directions ABC Pulls ‘The Bachelorette’ Amid Taylor Frankie Paul Domestic Violence Allegationsvariety.com·Secondary“The Bachelorette” is on pause amid Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen’s toxic fallout. The ABC reality show, which was set to premiere on Sunday, March 22, has been pulled from the schedule. The network has not yet shared whether it will air at a later date.. Paul had also alleged wrongdoing on Mortensen's part in connection with the 2023 case ABC Pulls ‘The Bachelorette’ Amid Taylor Frankie Paul Domestic Violence Allegationsvariety.com·Secondary“The Bachelorette” is on pause amid Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen’s toxic fallout. The ABC reality show, which was set to premiere on Sunday, March 22, has been pulled from the schedule. The network has not yet shared whether it will air at a later date..

Mortensen's attorney filed a protective order request against Paul on Thursday, according to records from the Salt Lake County District Court, though the filing was returned because it was incomplete New season of The Bachelorette cancelled after Taylor Frankie Paul domestic abuse allegationsbbc.com·SecondaryThe new season of dating show The Bachelorette has been cancelled following domestic violence allegations against this season's star, ABC has said. The network said it "made the decision to not move forward with the new season" after footage of Taylor Frankie Paul emerged on Thursday appearing to show her in an altercation with her ex-partner Dakota Mortensen in 2023.. In a statement, Mortensen said he was focusing on their son and his safety New season of The Bachelorette cancelled after Taylor Frankie Paul domestic abuse allegationsbbc.com·SecondaryThe new season of dating show The Bachelorette has been cancelled following domestic violence allegations against this season's star, ABC has said. The network said it "made the decision to not move forward with the new season" after footage of Taylor Frankie Paul emerged on Thursday appearing to show her in an altercation with her ex-partner Dakota Mortensen in 2023..

Paul and Mortensen share a son, Ever True, who was born in March 2024 Why is the 'Bachelorette' canceled? A guide to the Taylor Frankie Paul controversynpr.org·Secondary. Paul has two additional children from her first marriage.

A spokesperson for Paul said she was prioritizing her family's safety and preparing to share her account of events New season of The Bachelorette cancelled after Taylor Frankie Paul domestic abuse allegationsbbc.com·SecondaryThe new season of dating show The Bachelorette has been cancelled following domestic violence allegations against this season's star, ABC has said. The network said it "made the decision to not move forward with the new season" after footage of Taylor Frankie Paul emerged on Thursday appearing to show her in an altercation with her ex-partner Dakota Mortensen in 2023..

Collateral Damage: Mormon Wives and the Bachelor Franchise

The fallout extended beyond The Bachelorette. Production on Season 5 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives was paused earlier in the week after the investigation became public ABC Pulls ‘The Bachelorette’ After Taylor Frankie Paul Dramadeadline.com·SecondaryDisney has canceled this season of ABC‘s The Bachelorette. “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,” Disney noted in a statement. It comes after star Taylor Frankie Paul has been engulfed in a domestic assault investigation, which had thrown ABC into disarray this week ahead of Sunday’s Season 22 premiere.. The decision was reportedly driven by the cast members themselves.

Mikayla Matthews, one of Paul's co-stars, confirmed on social media on Wednesday that the cast had collectively agreed to stop filming, saying they did not feel comfortable continuing production given the circumstances New season of The Bachelorette cancelled after Taylor Frankie Paul domestic abuse allegationsbbc.com·SecondaryThe new season of dating show The Bachelorette has been cancelled following domestic violence allegations against this season's star, ABC has said. The network said it "made the decision to not move forward with the new season" after footage of Taylor Frankie Paul emerged on Thursday appearing to show her in an altercation with her ex-partner Dakota Mortensen in 2023..

A source told People magazine that the cast was distancing itself from Paul, with none of the women wanting to be associated with her amid the situation Why is the 'Bachelorette' canceled? A guide to the Taylor Frankie Paul controversynpr.org·Secondary.

The cancellation also compounds what has been a difficult stretch for the broader Bachelor franchise. ABC had already sidelined The Bachelorette for a season and fired the franchise's two top showrunners over allegations of fostering a toxic workplace environment ABC Pulls ‘The Bachelorette’ Amid Taylor Frankie Paul Domestic Violence Allegationsvariety.com·Secondary“The Bachelorette” is on pause amid Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen’s toxic fallout. The ABC reality show, which was set to premiere on Sunday, March 22, has been pulled from the schedule. The network has not yet shared whether it will air at a later date.. Paul's season was positioned as a comeback vehicle for the female-led edition of the series, leveraging her crossover appeal from another Disney property.

ABC is expected to fill the Sunday time slot with reruns of American Idol ABC Pulls ‘The Bachelorette’ Amid Taylor Frankie Paul Domestic Violence Allegationsvariety.com·Secondary“The Bachelorette” is on pause amid Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen’s toxic fallout. The ABC reality show, which was set to premiere on Sunday, March 22, has been pulled from the schedule. The network has not yet shared whether it will air at a later date.. The network has not indicated whether Season 22 of The Bachelorette will ever air in any form.

Questions About the Casting Decision

The episode has raised pointed questions about ABC's vetting process and editorial judgment. Paul's 2023 arrest was a matter of public record well before she was cast as the Bachelorette lead Why is the 'Bachelorette' canceled? A guide to the Taylor Frankie Paul controversynpr.org·Secondary. The incident had been featured prominently on Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, meaning network executives at Disney — which owns both ABC and Hulu — were fully aware of the domestic violence history when they approved her casting.

Critics have argued that the network prioritized controversy-driven ratings potential over due diligence. The Guardian reported that entertainment analysts viewed the cancellation as the predictable outcome of a network deliberately overlooking clear warning signs in pursuit of buzz.

Defenders of the original casting decision have pointed out that Paul had completed the legal process, pleading guilty and presumably fulfilling the terms of her sentence. The question of whether someone who has been through the criminal justice system deserves a second chance in the public eye is one that divides audiences and industry professionals alike.

For now, the immediate focus remains on the ongoing police investigation in Draper and whether any new charges might be filed. Paul's future with both ABC and Hulu remains uncertain, and the broader implications for reality television's appetite for casting controversial figures are likely to be debated for some time.

What Comes Next

The cancellation leaves ABC with a scheduling gap and a public relations problem heading into the spring ratings period. The Bachelor franchise, once one of the network's most reliable performers, now faces questions about its long-term viability and the judgment of its leadership.

For Paul, the legal proceedings and police investigation represent more immediate concerns. Whether she retains her role on Secret Lives of Mormon Wives — assuming production eventually resumes — will likely depend on how the investigation unfolds and whether public sentiment shifts in any direction.

The incident also serves as a case study in the risks of building entertainment around real people whose personal lives are still actively unfolding. Networks have long drawn audiences by casting figures with dramatic backstories, but the Bachelorette cancellation illustrates the potential costs when those backstories produce consequences that overtake the programming itself.