Talk about a shocking turn of events! Just three days before its highly anticipated premiere, ABC has officially pulled the plug on the upcoming season of ‘The Bachelorette,’ starring Taylor Frankie Paul. This drastic decision comes after disturbing video footage surfaced, showing Paul allegedly abusing her ex-partner in front of their children.
Disturbing Video Surfaces
On Thursday, March 19, 2026, TMZ released a video from a 2023 incident. The footage appears to show Paul engaging in domestic violence against her ex and daughter’s father, Dakota Mortensen, while their child is present. In the clip, the child begins to cry as Paul reportedly throws chairs and strikes Mortensen.
This comes as a stark contrast to a previous interview Paul gave in September 2025 on the ‘Call Her Daddy’ podcast. During that conversation, she insisted she never intentionally harmed her daughter and that any related charges had been dropped. She described the incident as the “hardest time” in her life, stating, “I never had hurt my daughter. I never intentionally did anything with my children.”
ABC’s Swift Decision
Hours after the video went viral, ABC, owned by Disney, made the decisive move to cancel the season. A spokesperson for Disney Entertainment Television stated, “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.”
This cancellation also follows a pause in the production of Paul’s other reality show, ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,’ which had its fifth season put on hold. The timing of the video leak, reportedly on their son’s birthday, has also drawn criticism.
Statements from Paul’s Team
A spokesperson for Taylor Frankie Paul released a statement calling the video leak “desperate” and claiming it “omits context.” They further stated, “It’s sad to see the latest installment 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 behavior.”
The statement also suggested that the public recognizes this pattern of manipulation. This entire situation raises serious questions about reality television, public figures, and the responsibility of networks in handling such sensitive and disturbing allegations.
What are your thoughts on ABC’s decision to cancel ‘The Bachelorette’? Share your opinions in the comments below!
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