Image Credit: Disney
“Bachelorette” viewers may never ascertain if Taylor Frankie Paul discovered a significant other, since Disney, ABC’s parent enterprise, has scrapped season 22 of “The Bachelorette.” Various news sources indicate that the broadcasting company referenced a leaked 2023 recording of Paul in a physical dispute with her former partner, Dakota Mortensen.
“Given the freshly revealed video that surfaced today, we’ve opted to halt the production of the new “Bachelorette” season for now, prioritizing backing the family during this period,” a Disney representative communicated to Page Six and TMZ in a declaration on Thursday, March 19, only a few days prior to the season’s scheduled launch.
The termination occurred not long after season 5 of Paul’s Hulu venture, “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” suspended creation amidst a probe into domestic aggression implicating both Paul and Mortensen.
Here’s the reasoning behind ABC’s decision to remove Taylor’s “Bachelorette” installment from broadcast.
Courtesy of Disney
Why Did ABC Cancel Taylor Frankie Paul’s Bachelorette Season?
As stated earlier, a representative from Disney cited a video, issued by TMZ on March 19, displaying a physical confrontation between Paul and Mortensen. The footage, captured in 2023, showcased Paul throwing chairs at Mortensen, while a child was nearby. Mortensen alleged in the video that an object hit the child who was seated close by.
In 2023, Paul was taken into custody and charged with aggravated assault, two counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child, child abuse with injury, and criminal damage subsequent to an altercation with Mortensen. In August of that year, Paul admitted guilt to aggravated assault, and the other accusations were dropped with legal prejudice. She arrived at a plea agreement.
Will Taylor Frankie Paul’s Season of The Bachelorette Ever Air?
Whether ABC will ever transmit Paul’s season of “The Bachelorette” remains uncertain. Currently, it seems unlikely it will be shown in March 2026.
The cancellation was a surprise because an individual linked to production informed The U.S. Sun that shelving the season wasn’t feasible due to the financial repercussions. The source informed the publication that the program was “still proceeding, since storing it would cost [Disney] a huge sum of money.”
“Even if airing it involves expenses, it’s considerably cheaper than withholding it altogether,” the source added. “They lack alternatives; it’s unheard of for the leading personality to fail so spectacularly, leaving them without a contingency.”
However, the source mentioned that “Bachelorette” executives were “incensed with Taylor.”
“Besides projecting a negative image, it’s apparent she won’t achieve her desired ending, given her ongoing issues with Dakota, resulting in a complete debacle,” the source expressed.
Will Season 5 of Mormon Wives Resume Filming?
As of this publication, the resumption of production for season 5 of “Mormon Wives” is uncertain. Numerous outlets reported that filming was put on hold around mid-March 2026. According to People, an informant associated with the “Mormon Wives” cast stated, “The women do not want to be linked to her.”
However, a source notified E! News that Paul’s connection with her co-stars “is favorable right now” and affirmed that production was not suspended due to conflicts among the cast.
Should you or someone familiar to you be facing domestic violence, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for private assistance.