Lead: ABC has cancelled the new season of The Bachelorette after video emerged this week appearing to show Taylor Frankie Paul in an altercation with her then-partner, Dakota Mortensen, from 2023. Paul was arrested in 2023 in connection with the incident and later pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, U.S. reports say. The network said it would not proceed with the season after the footage became public, and the show’s planned Sunday premiere has been shelved. Paul’s team and Mortensen have issued statements saying their immediate focus is on family safety.
Key Takeaways
- ABC announced it would not move forward with the new Bachelorette season after footage of a 2023 altercation involving Taylor Frankie Paul surfaced this Thursday.
- Taylor Frankie Paul was arrested in 2023 over the incident and, according to U.S. media reports, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault.
- The footage was published by TMZ, and Disney (ABC’s parent) cited the newly released video in its decision to pull the season.
- Paul’s spokesperson said she is prioritizing her family’s safety and preparing to share her account; Mortensen said he is focusing on their son and his safety.
- Before the cancellation, Paul appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America on Wednesday to promote the season and responded to the allegations; production on the fifth season of Hulu’s Secret Lives of Mormon Wives has been paused.
- Co-star Mikayla Matthews said cast members chose to pause filming because they were uncomfortable continuing under the circumstances.
Background
The Bachelorette season in question was scheduled to premiere on Sunday; it featured Taylor Frankie Paul as the lead. Paul gained a following as an influencer in the #MomTok community and is a cast member on Hulu’s reality series Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which drew attention to her family life and personal history.
In 2022 Paul publicly announced a divorce and spoke about unconventional arrangements during her marriage, which later became part of her public narrative. After that divorce she entered a relationship with Dakota Mortensen, who has also appeared on the Hulu show.
Legal and reputational issues from the 2023 incident have followed Paul into the current media cycle: she was arrested in 2023 in connection with the altercation and, according to U.S. reports, later pleaded guilty to aggravated assault. The newly circulated video renewed scrutiny and prompted ABC and production partners to reassess involvement.
Main Event
Footage that surfaced on Thursday and was published by TMZ appears to show an altercation between Paul and Mortensen in 2023. The material prompted Disney, ABC’s parent company, to declare it would not air the new season, citing the recently released video as the reason for pulling the show.
Network representatives did not provide immediate detail about what programming would replace the scheduled premiere slot. ABC issued a brief statement attributing the decision to the new footage and the sensitivities it raised for the network and participants.
Paul, who had been promoting the series, spoke to ABC’s Good Morning America on Wednesday ahead of the cancellation and acknowledged the difficulty of seeing headlines while the show was set to launch. Her spokesperson later said she is prioritizing her family’s safety and preparing to tell her side of events.
Mortensen, the father of Paul’s third child and someone who has also appeared on the Hulu series, made a short statement emphasizing that his immediate concern is the safety of their son. Meanwhile, co-stars and production on the Hulu show signaled a pause: cast members said they did not feel comfortable filming while the situation remained unresolved.
Analysis & Implications
The swift cancellation illustrates how reality television and social-media-driven controversies can force networks into rapid programming decisions. For ABC, the move avoids airing material linked to a figure now tied to a documented legal case and images that could inflame public backlash.
For production companies and streaming platforms, the incident raises questions about vetting, background checks, and the risks of basing entire seasons around personalities with complex public records. The fact that Serious legal findings—an arrest and a guilty plea to aggravated assault—are part of the record heightens reputational and liability concerns for partners and advertisers.
Talent and crew are also affected: cast members who opposed continuing production have paused work on related projects, and the ripple effects may include delayed releases, contractual renegotiations, and potential insurance claims. The choice by co-stars to stop filming signals an increased emphasis on personal safety and brand risk among participants.
Looking ahead, networks may tighten pre-production reviews and incorporate more explicit clauses addressing past legal matters and incendiary footage. The story could prompt broader industry discussion about how reality TV platforms manage participants’ histories and how quickly they respond when new information emerges.
Comparison & Data
| Date/Period | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Paul’s divorce and public revelations about relationships during marriage; story featured on Hulu’s show | Hulu / entertainment coverage |
| 2023 | Arrest related to an altercation; later plead guilty to aggravated assault (U.S. media reports) | U.S. press reports |
| This Thursday | Video from 2023 published online (TMZ); ABC pulls The Bachelorette season | TMZ / ABC statements |
The table above places the recent cancellation in context with prior events that shaped public perception of Paul. While industry-standard background checks and legal disclosures vary, incidents that include arrests and guilty pleas are typically treated as high-risk by broadcasters and sponsors.
Reactions & Quotes
“She is prioritizing her family’s safety and preparing to own and share her story.”
Paul spokesperson
The spokesperson framed Paul’s immediate priorities as protection and preparing a public response. That statement was offered as the network made its programming decision.
“I am focusing on our son and his safety.”
Dakota Mortensen
Mortensen’s brief statement centered on child welfare. He did not elaborate publicly on other aspects of the incident in the immediate aftermath of the footage’s release.
“We didn’t feel comfortable filming with everything that was happening,”
Mikayla Matthews, co-star
A co-star said cast members collectively decided to pause production on the Hulu series’ season in light of the resurfaced material and its impact on personal comfort and safety.
Unconfirmed
- Whether the newly published footage provides the full context of the 2023 incident is not independently verified in this report.
- Details about any injuries to those involved, beyond the legal charge and plea reports, have not been fully disclosed publicly.
- Internal deliberations at ABC/Disney about alternate programming for the Sunday slot have not been made public.
Bottom Line
ABC’s decision to pull The Bachelorette season underscores how archival footage and past legal matters can quickly reshape programming plans in reality television. The network acted after a third-party outlet published video tied to a 2023 incident that led to an arrest and a guilty plea, prompting immediate reputational and safety concerns.
For viewers and industry observers, the episode highlights rising standards for participant vetting and the potential for social-media circulation of old material to produce new consequences. Expect networks and producers to re-evaluate background screening and contract provisions, and for affected series to face scheduling and production disruptions until questions are resolved.