Content warning: this article discusses instances of alleged domestic violence.
One of the biggest stories to ever come out of Bachelor Nation, and perhaps the reality television world, has emerged this morning with the news that the upcoming season of The Bachelorette USA has been cancelled. It comes just a few days before the latest season, starring The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (SLOMW) star, Taylor Frankie Paul, was due to premiere on the ABC network in America, which is housed under the Disney banner.
“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 said in a statement.
Within a few hours, a spokesperson for Paul released a statement responding to the cancellation, in the first official response from the reality television star since the cancellation was announced. “Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritises her family’s safety and security,” her statement reads, according to Variety. “After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm.”
Since Paul was cast as The Bachelorette in 2025, questions have been raised about whether her casting is exploitative when considering that, in 2023, Paul was charged with aggravated assault and other offences, including domestic violence in the presence of a child. Per People, she pled guilty in abeyance to aggravated assault, “which means that if she complies with the conditions of the plea, that charge will be dismissed. Meanwhile, the other charges have already been dismissed.” Not only was this documented on her reality show, SLOMW, but the network also chose to hinge the pilot of the show on this incident, so this incident was public knowledge at the time of her casting.
Fast forwarding to this past week, and the story has only become more public, with new allegations emerging against Paul and her former partner Dakota Mortensen. Quickly, filming for SLOMW was paused and now The Bachelorette has been cancelled at the eleventh hour. Ahead, we explain everything you need to know.
Who Is Taylor Frankie Paul?
Taylor Frankie Paul first emerged into the public consciousness as the inventor of MomTok. Along with a few of her friends in the Mormon community in Draper, Utah, she gained millions of TikTok followers for her many dance videos. But in June 2022, it all fell apart due to a “soft swinging” scandal that resulted in Paul and her then-husband Tate Paul divorcing.
Two years later, Paul was fronting a reality show titled The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which followed a group of women as they navigated TikTok fame, motherhood, and the many friendship dramas that came with it. By now, Paul was dating Mortenson, though Paul announced in December 2022 that they had split, with Paul saying she was “finally deciding to be single and heal”. The pair did get back together shortly after, and split again in January 2025, though they do now share a two-year-old son.
Then, in September 2025, Paul was announced to be the star of the 22nd season of The Bachelorette USA, and in light of the charges against her and general scandals surrounding the wider MomTok group, fans of the show were puzzled over the choice.
Why Was Taylor Frankie Paul’s Bachelorette Season Cancelled?
It appeared that Paul had won back some favour with Bachelor fans more recently, particularly after appearing on the Call Her Daddy podcast in September 2025 following her casting on the show. Then, on March 16, it was announced that filming for the fifth season of SLOMW had halted, with an insider telling People that “some pretty serious stuff [was] happening” with Paul.
Shortly after, a spokesperson for Draper City Police Department confirmed that there is an open “domestic assault investigation” regarding Paul and Mortensen, confirming that “allegations have been made in both directions” and “contact was made with involved parties on [February] 24th and 25th”.
The next day, Paul spoke to press at a preview for the upcoming Bachelorette season. “Honestly, just like, my heart hurts to see it, to go through it, especially at this time,” Paul told People. “Just the timing is hard, and it’s a big deal. I feel like every premiere that I’ve experienced, I’ve never enjoyed fully, so this is another one… It’s extremely hard, and it took everything to get me here today.”
Then, on Thursday, March 20, a video was leaked to TMZ that appeared to show Paul throwing metal stools at Mortensen during the aforementioned 2023 incident, sparking ABC to cancel the upcoming premiere for 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,” a Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson said in a statement, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Naturally, this choice has once again led many to question why Paul was cast in the first place, as this video allegedly shows the incident that resulted in charges in 2023.
Read Taylor Frankie Paul’s Statement Following The Bachelorette Cancellation:
Following the news of The Bachelorette being cancelled, Paul has released statements to both Variety and People. “Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritises her family’s safety and security. After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm,” the statement reads, per Variety. “There are too many women who are suffering in silence as they survive aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to let them move on with their lives.
“Taylor has remained silent out of fear of further abuse, retaliation, and public shaming. She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.”
Per People, a spokesperson also said: “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. 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.”
Help Is Available:
If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, contact:
National Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence Counselling Service 24-hour helpline 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732
24-hour Emergency Accommodation helpline on 1800 800 588
Under 25? You can reach Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 or chat online
If you require immediate assistance call 000
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