ABC has canceled an upcoming season of The Bachelorette and called off a promotional event scheduled for Sunday in Los Angeles after video footage surfaced showing the season's star in a violent domestic altercation from 2023.
The network pulled the season featuring Taylor Frankie Paul, a personality known from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, just days before its scheduled Sunday premiere. A promotional event titled House of Roses, planned for Nya Studios West in Los Angeles, has been canceled. The free event was designed to offer fans an immersive experience with sneak peeks at the season and opportunities to simulate one-on-one and group dates from the show.
The cancellation follows the publication of video evidence showing Paul in a physical confrontation with Dakota Mortensen, the father of her youngest child, during an incident in 2023. That altercation resulted in assault charges against Paul. She subsequently pleaded guilty to a felony count under an agreement that would reduce the charge to a misdemeanor after three years, contingent upon her compliance with the terms of the deal.
Additional allegations have emerged involving more recent incidents. Mortensen filed a protective order against Paul on Thursday, claiming she physically assaulted him during consecutive nights of conflict just weeks ago.
Representatives for Paul have disputed the characterization of events, asserting that Mortensen is the aggressor in their relationship. In a statement, her team described the released video as part of his "never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without any regard for the consequences for their child."
The statement continued: "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." Paul's representatives indicated that her perspective on the situation would be presented in due course.
The decision to cancel the season represents a significant shift for the long-running franchise, which typically completes production and promotional campaigns well in advance of premiere dates. The abrupt cancellation underscores the network's response to serious allegations involving cast members and the potential impact on the show's brand and viewership.
The situation highlights ongoing challenges facing reality television production companies as they navigate the personal conduct of participants both during and after filming. Networks increasingly face scrutiny regarding background checks and ongoing monitoring of cast members, particularly for programs centered on personal relationships.