In what can only be termed a shocking development, ABC has called off the launch of season 22 ofThe Bachelorette following a resurfaced controversy surrounding the show’s lead, Taylor Frankie Paul. A 2023 altercation involving Paul and Dakota Mortensen recently resurfaced online, prompting the network to shelve the season. The situation is rooted in a legal case that had previously made headlines
New season of popular dating franchise faces abrupt halt
The upcoming season was slated for a March 22 premiere, marking a new chapter for the long-running dating franchise. However, a 2023 domestic violence dispute disrupted the show’s rollout. The network ultimately decided not to air the season to avoid further backlash.
The incident involves Paul in a domestic dispute that reportedly led to a legal quagmire. Although the matter was in the public domain for a long time, and it appeared that the dust had settled, the new video evidence brought the incident back into focus.
The footage shows Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star grabbing and kicking her ex-boyfriend, Mortensen, with whom she shares a two-year-old son.
After the incident, Taylor was arrested and had to face charges for the incident. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star then pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, while her other charges were dismissed.
“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 spokesperson for Disney Entertainment said in a statement.
It is a rare incident where ABC had to completely scrap a season after production.
Notably, at the time of writing, Paul and Mortensen have not commented on the latest developments. However, what ABC’s next steps will be could be anybody’s guess. The network could reshoot with a new lead and rework the season or delay the dating franchise’s return altogether.
For now, it appears that season 22 of The Bachelorette is on indefinite hold, and fans will have to wait for further announcements regarding the future of the show.
