The Bachelorette season 22 starring Taylor Frankie Paul as its lead was officially pulled by ABC on Thursday — just three days before the season was slated to air.
The decision comes amid reports of an alleged domestic incident involving Paul and her ex, Dakota Mortensen, which took place in February. What appears to have been the final straw was a video published by TMZ on Thursday, showing the events that led to Paul’s 2023 arrest following an argument with Mortensen, with whom she shares a son, Ever True. Paul later pled guilty to aggravated assault, and the incident was chronicled on the hit Hulu series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
“In light of the newly released video that 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 Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson said in a statement Thursday.
Before the decision to pull the show was announced, Paul spoke with The Hollywood Reporter at a press event in New York City on Tuesday about how her season unfolded. She addressed widespread speculation on TikTok about her final pick. (THR will not spoil who it is here. Go to TikTok if you want to know.)
“I’ve seen a lot of spoilers. However, none of them have been really correct,” she said. “So for me, I’m just like, I guess keep putting out those incorrect spoilers. For the audience, I would want to watch to see if they’re actually true, because there have been so many different ones. How do you even know which one is even it at this point?”
The situation also sparked speculation about whether Paul and Mortensen had rekindled their on-again, off-again relationship following her time on the ABC dating show. Paul did not reveal whether she ultimately found love, saying, “I don’t want to give it away, but I definitely had a good experience.”
She added that she could “resonate” with past leads of The Bachelorette who have fallen in love with more than one person.
Paul also shared insight into how her season differed from past installments, noting she was allowed to post on social media during filming. “Posting throughout it was just something new that they were allowing,” she said. “I wasn’t on my phone at all — it was more just to film and post. So I still was in the bubble.”
She added, “I didn’t talk to anyone, but my kids and, like, co-parenting.”
Elsewhere, Paul acknowledged that her season featured a villain — and admitted she “probably” kept him around longer than she should have. “When you find things out, you’re just like, ‘Oh, shit!’” she said, declining to name the contestant. (Find out who it could be from the show’s teaser.)
Though audiences could no longer see her season, Paul said she has no major regrets. “There are a few things I would do a little differently. However, I feel very good in the experience of how I treated it and was there, and gave it my all,” she said. “I have no regrets — just things I could have probably done a little differently, but very lighthearted ones.”
The controversy has also impacted her other reality series, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. While season four premiered earlier this month on Hulu, production on season five has been halted amid the allegations. Hulu has not confirmed the show’s status, but sources tell THR that it remains on pause.
Paul also addressed where she currently stands with the other women on Mormon Wives. A source previously told People that the castmates were distancing themselves from the Bachelorette lead amid the situation.
“From my end, I’ve always been good with all of them,” Paul said. “I think we’ve kind of seen how I am very graceful with all the girls, even at their darkest and hardest times. So for me, I feel like the same thing, just with all of them to this day. I have nothing against any of them. So if they have any hesitancy or have an issue with me, that is, you know, their prerogative, not mine.”
She added that the recent headlines have been hard to navigate. “It’s been really difficult and heavy given, you know, all the headlines and what’s going on,” she said. “But I would say I am handling it like any normal human would, like struggling, but trying to show up at the same time.”
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