Former NFL player and Bachelor reunion host Emmanuel Acho is weighing in on Taylor Frankie Paul’s controversial casting as the new Bachelorette.
ABC announced last week that it had canceled the new season, which was set to premiere on Sunday, March 22, after TMZ published video footage of Taylor, 31, appearing to throw a chair at ex Dakota Mortensen in the presence of her daughter, Indy, during a 2023 domestic dispute.
On Saturday, March 21, Acho, 35, shared a TikTok video showing off a binder of documents he was given to prepare for the Bachelor season 25 After the Final Rose reunion special, on which he replaced longtime host Chris Harrison, who exited Bachelor Nation that season.
Acho noted how much preparation went into the single episode, suggesting that producers should have been aware of Taylor’s past legal issues.
“This is my point. I hosted one episode, a 44-minute episode, and is how thorough of a job they did in prepping me and looking me up just for one episode,” the former NFL linebacker said, flicking through the binder.
He continued, “You’re talking about schedule, act breakdown, rundown, a whole freaking script just for one episode.”
“So if you’re doing all of this research, all of this preparation, for me to host one episode, imagine the amount of research, imagine the amount of preparation, you have to do to invest the entire season into this woman of Taylor Frankie Paul,” he argued.
Acho reiterated, “All of this, just for me to host a 44-minute episode. You’re not turning over the keys to the franchise to a woman you have not thoroughly, thoroughly, thoroughly vetted. That’s the only point I’m trying to make.”
Taylor Frankie Paul on ‘The Bachelorette.’ Disney/Bahareh Ritter
Taylor’s legal issues following the 2023 incident were public knowledge at the time of her casting as the new Bachelorette. Her February 2023 arrest was documented on the first season of Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. At the time, she pleaded guilty to felony aggravated assault in exchange for dismissing other charges against her.
However, footage of the incident involving Dakota, 33, was published by TMZ on Thursday, March 19, after news broke earlier in the week of another alleged domestic dispute between the exes in February. The Draper Police Department in Utah confirmed to Us Weekly last week that there’s an open “domestic assault investigation” involving Taylor and Dakota and that “allegations have been made in both directions.”
ABC decided to shelve the new season of The Bachelorette later on Thursday.
“Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security,” a spokesperson for the influencer said in a statement at the time. “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.”
Taylor’s rep added, “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.”
In his own statement to Us, Dakota said, “As anyone who has seen the video will understand, this is a deeply upsetting situation. I am, unfortunately, used to these baseless claims about me and our relationship, which I categorically deny. I am focusing on our son and his safety, and hope that Taylor will do the same.”
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