Lead
Taylor Frankie Paul, 31, the star of Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, has been announced as the lead for Season 22 of ABC’s The Bachelorette. Paul revealed the news Wednesday on the Call Her Daddy podcast and ABC later confirmed the casting, noting her viral profile in the #MomTok community. She will return to Mormon Wives for Season 3 in November, and The Bachelorette season she will lead is scheduled to premiere in 2026. The choice marks a departure from the franchise’s usual practice of elevating former contestants to lead roles.
Key Takeaways
- Taylor Frankie Paul, age 31, will headline The Bachelorette Season 22; she announced it on the Call Her Daddy podcast and ABC confirmed the pick.
- ABC highlighted Paul for her viral presence and role in the #MomTok community, and noted a cross-platform tie because ABC and Hulu are Disney properties.
- Paul will appear in Season 3 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives in November; The Bachelorette season will premiere in 2026.
- She has not previously appeared in the Bachelor franchise, breaking the recent pattern of casting former contestants as leads.
- Paul, a mother of three who co-parents with two different partners, said she weighed logistical and parenting challenges before accepting the role.
- Her public history includes a 2022 announcement about stepping out of a relationship arrangement and a legal case that ended with a guilty plea in August 2023 to a misdemeanor aggravated assault charge; other charges were dismissed.
- Two of Paul’s current castmates from Mormon Wives are reported to be joining Dancing With the Stars, another ABC program.
Background
The Bachelor franchise has typically promoted leads from its own contestant pool: men and women who previously appeared on The Bachelor or The Bachelorette are often tapped to front later seasons. That pattern shaped audience expectations for casting and franchise continuity over two decades, with producers frequently choosing familiar faces to carry a new season.
Paul rose to public attention through TikTok and the #MomTok community, a group of mothers—some from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—who share parenting, faith and lifestyle content. Her candid videos about family life, relationships and local social scenes in Salt Lake City drew wide attention and debate, increasing her profile beyond Hulu’s documentary audience.
The entertainment and streaming landscape is increasingly synergistic: ABC, Hulu and other Disney-owned platforms often cross-promote talent and programming. That corporate relationship makes casting a Hulu personality on an ABC reality franchise a commercially logical move for reaching overlapping audiences.
Main Event
Paul announced the casting on the Call Her Daddy podcast on Wednesday, describing the moment as “surreal” and saying she had not yet fully processed it. ABC issued a confirming statement that emphasized her viral reach and noted that she had exposed aspects of Salt Lake City’s “soft-swinging” scene on camera—language the network used to underscore her notoriety.
Paul described how a simple TikTok—made when a relationship was ending—sparked wider attention. She said the video was meant as a joke but drew invitations and opportunities, ultimately leading to the call about The Bachelorette. Paul related that she initially questioned whether she could manage the production schedule given parental responsibilities and co-parenting arrangements.
On personal history, Paul has publicly discussed stepping away from an agreement with her then-husband in 2022 involving what she described as “soft-swinging,” and the couple announced they were divorcing. In 2023 she was arrested in a dispute that led to multiple initial charges; she pleaded guilty in August 2023 to a misdemeanor count of aggravated assault and the remaining charges were dismissed.
Producers and executives have not publicly detailed the casting negotiations. ABC’s statement framed Paul as someone who “ignited ‘MomTok’ and went viral,” while also noting the practical synergy of promoting a Hulu star on ABC programming. Paul will return to the Hulu documentary for Season 3 in November, and two of her co-stars have been linked to Dancing With the Stars on ABC.
Analysis & Implications
The selection of Paul signals a strategic pivot for The Bachelorette toward casting personalities with strong social-media traction rather than relying solely on franchise alumni. For reality networks, viral platforms like TikTok offer ready-made audiences and marketing hooks; a lead who is already a subject of public conversation can generate social engagement and earned media ahead of premiere season.
For Paul personally, the role presents both opportunity and scrutiny. Leading a high-profile matchmaking series requires significant time away from home and exposes private life to intense public commentary. As a mother of three and a co-parent, Paul acknowledged logistical and emotional trade-offs; success on the show could expand her platform but will also spotlight past controversies and legal matters.
Corporate alignment between ABC and Hulu (both under Disney) reduces barrier friction for casting a Hulu personality on ABC television—but it also raises questions about editorial distance when talent appears across sister platforms. Cross-promotion can boost ratings and subscriptions, yet it intensifies the need for transparent communications about past legal or personal issues when networks position an individual as a lead.
Comparison & Data
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Lead’s franchise history | Paul: no prior Bachelor franchise appearances |
| Platform ownership | ABC and Hulu: both owned by The Walt Disney Company |
| Upcoming appearances | Mormon Wives Season 3 on Hulu (November); Bachelorette lead role (premieres 2026) |
The table highlights the core differences for this casting: an external personality (Paul) with cross-platform visibility and scheduled returns to her documentary series. That combination can amplify promotion for both Hulu and ABC properties, especially when the talent already commands social-media attention.
Reactions & Quotes
“To be honest, surreal … It has not hit me right now in this moment. … I’m like, how is this happening? That’s my answer.”
Taylor Frankie Paul, on Call Her Daddy
Paul gave that reaction when asked about the casting during her podcast appearance, framing the news as unexpected and emotionally overwhelming in the moment.
“I was just like, I will make it work. If I want to, I can … I can ask for help.”
Taylor Frankie Paul, on parenting and production logistics
Paul emphasized practical planning around co-parenting and travel, signaling she intends to balance the role with family responsibilities.
ABC described the choice as reflecting Paul’s ability to “ignite ‘MomTok’ and go viral” and noted the cross-platform potential with Hulu.
ABC statement (network)
ABC’s statement framed the casting as both culturally resonant and commercially synergistic for Disney-owned platforms.
Unconfirmed
- Specific contractual terms between Paul and The Bachelorette producers—length of filming, travel schedule and compensation—have not been publicly disclosed.
- Details of day-to-day childcare arrangements or which family members will provide support during filming are private and unverified.
- Any ongoing or potential legal matters beyond the August 2023 plea were not confirmed by ABC in its announcement and remain outside public documentation provided with the casting notice.
Bottom Line
Taylor Frankie Paul’s selection as Season 22’s Bachelorette represents a notable casting choice that leverages social-media fame and cross-platform corporate ownership. The pick departs from the franchise’s usual sourcing of alumni leads and underlines how networks increasingly prioritize personalities who arrive with built-in audiences.
That advantage comes with risks: heightened scrutiny of personal history, logistical strains for parents, and potential audience split between fans of her documentary work and traditional Bachelor viewers. How viewers respond and how producers manage narrative framing around her past will shape both ratings and public perception when the season airs in 2026.
Sources
- AP News (news report)
- Call Her Daddy podcast (podcast/primary interview source)
- Hulu: The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (streamer/show page)