The Bachelorette Season with Taylor Frankie Paul Scrapped Following Domestic Violence Accusations

The Bachelorette has been suspended while Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen’s falling out continues. The ABC reality series, which was supposed to debut on Sunday, March 22, has been taken off the schedule; the network has not stated whether it will air at a later time.

A Disney Entertainment Television representative tells news channels in a statement, “We have decided not to move forward with the new season of The Bachelorette at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family, in light of the newly released video that surfaced today.”

The announcement came shortly after TMZ released a video of a 2023 fight between Paul and Mortensen, which appears to be the same incident that resulted in Paul’s detention at the time. The tape is unrelated to the ongoing investigation into an alleged domestic incident from February.Taylor is appreciative for ABC’s support as she prioritises her family’s safety and security,” a Paul spokesman told newstracker24x7.com after the news broke. “After years of silently suffering considerable emotional and physical abuse, as well as threats of vengeance, Taylor is now getting the strength to confront her accuser and take actions to protect herself and her children from further damage.”

The statement went on to say, “Too many women suffer in silence as they deal with aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to let them move on with their lives.” Taylor has remained silent for fear of additional harassment, vengeance, and public humiliation. She is actively looking into all of her options, getting help, and prepared to own and share her experience.”

Authorities in Utah acknowledged that an ongoing domestic violence investigation is underway involving the former couple, who have a 2-year-old son named Ever. The Draper City Police Department stated that officers made contact with both parties on February 24 and 25, and that allegations were made in both directions. The February incident was revealed Sunday night, just after Paul attended the Oscars and just one week before her season of The Bachelorette premiered. Officials have reluctant to provide any information while the case is still pending.

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The newly released tape appears to show Paul punching and kicking Mortensen, as well as hurling a chair at him while a little child is close. Paul also has two elder children, aged 8 and 5, with her ex-husband.

On Thursday, Paul issued a statement to Variety saying, “It’s sad to see the latest installment of his never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without regard for the consequences for their child.” Releasing an old film, which conveniently omits context, on their son’s birthday is a heinous attempt to distract from his own behaviour. Thankfully, the public has seen this performance before and knows who he is, but unfortunately, many will recognise this pattern of manipulation, both in his behaviour on the show and in their personal experiences.

Despite news of the February incidents surfacing on Sunday, Paul proceeded to promote The Bachelorette as scheduled, making appearances on ABC’s Good Morning America and Live with Kelly and Mark, where she briefly addressed the problem. As of Wednesday, a network insider informed newstracker24x7.com that the show was still set to premiere as planned, implying that internal talks altered rapidly following the revelation of the TMZ footage.

Taylor Frankie Paul and Mortensen began dating in 2022

Paul and Mortensen began dating in the summer of 2022, and their difficult relationship has been depicted on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives since its 2024 premiere.

Paul was arrested in 2023 for the purported altercation depicted in the video. She later entered a guilty plea in abeyance to aggravated assault, which means the charge may be dismissed if she follows the terms of the agreement.

According to TMZ, Mortensen filed for a protection order in Utah on Tuesday, requesting temporary custody of Ever and that Paul refrain from using alcohol and drugs during her parenting time.

Mortensen’s agent said in a statement on Wednesday that his top concern is to protect the couple’s young boy and that he intends to maintain a constructive co-parenting relationship with Paul. The representative further denied that Mortensen was responsible for the timing of the claims being public.

Behind the scenes, concern for Paul has grown. According to a source, some people are concerned about Paul’s well-being and want her to receive the necessary care. Sources also reported earlier this week that participants from Paul’s season of The Bachelorette were taken aback by the inquiry, with some feeling deceived.

The surprise decision to postpone the season’s opening marks an unusual event for the long-running franchise. While Bachelor Nation has faced controversy before, including production pauses, participant scandals, and the departure of long-time presenter Chris Harrison, the show has aired as scheduled.