ABC has removed the upcoming season of The Bachelorette from its schedule after a newly surfaced video prompted fresh allegations of domestic violence involving the show’s lead, Taylor Frankie Paul. The decision, announced hours after the footage appeared online, stops a planned Sunday premiere and leaves the franchise’s immediate plans uncertain.
A Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson said the network will not move forward with the season “at this time,” adding that its priority is supporting the family involved. The announcement follows a report and video published by TMZ showing an assault from 2023 that led to a guilty plea by Paul on aggravated assault charges.
The footage reportedly includes an episode in which Paul repeatedly strikes ex-partner Dakota Mortensen and appears to hit one of their children during the incident. Local authorities and child welfare officials have been involved: the Utah Division of Children and Family Services is conducting an open investigation, and both Paul and Mortensen have been ordered to undergo psychological evaluations.
Production fallout extended beyond ABC’s decision. Sources say filming for Season 5 of the Hulu series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives has been paused after on-set confrontations between Paul and Mortensen. Their relationship has been a recurring storyline across multiple seasons of the reality show, and the recent events reportedly made further filming untenable.
- Immediate effects: The upcoming The Bachelorette season has been pulled; no new premiere date was given.
- Investigations: Utah child welfare authorities are looking into the incident; legal processes remain ongoing.
- Production pauses: Season 5 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is on hold following reported altercations during filming.
- Franchise status: ABC previously paused the show last year but did not call it canceled; the future now depends on internal reviews and potential reshoots.
The network’s move echoes an earlier pause in the show’s production last year, when ABC said it was delaying the new cycle but did not cancel the series outright. With the current decision, any attempt to revive this season would likely require reworking the cast and schedule, pushing a premiere further into the future.
For viewers and industry observers, the situation highlights how offscreen legal and welfare issues can abruptly reshape programming plans and reputations. While the broader The Bachelor franchise continues to operate, executives face choices about timing, public response and the logistics of restarting production if they choose to do so.
Officials from ABC and Disney did not immediately provide additional details about internal reviews or next steps. Fans and media outlets are awaiting further statements as the investigations and legal matters proceed.
If you or someone you know is affected by domestic violence, help is available. Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233, visit thehotline.org to chat with a representative, or text START to 88788 for confidential support.
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