Disney canceled the 22nd season of The Bachelorette, which was set to air on March 22, after a video of this season’s bachelorette, Taylor Frankie Paul, resurfaced just days before the show’s release date. The season was fully filmed and set for release.
“In light of the newly released video just 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,” Disney Entertainment said in a statement reported by the Associated Press.
The video featured Paul becoming visibly upset, throwing a barstool at her then-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen. A child can be seen sitting on the couch while the altercation happens. A piece of the broken barstool hits the child, seemingly Paul’s daughter, and viewers hear crying. Mortensen, in the video, yells back “Your daughter is sitting right there.”
In a statement shared with NBC News, Paul’s representative called the video the “latest installment of [Mortensen’s] never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without any regard for the consequences for their child.”
Paul has three children: two with her ex-husband Tate Paul and one with Mortensen. Both fathers are undergoing custody proceedings.
Paul’s representative told People in a statement that Paul is “exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story,” and “very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security.”
Mortenesen told Entertainment Weekly that he denies “these baseless claims about me and our relationship,” calling it “a deeply upsetting situation. I am focusing on our son and his safety, and hope that Taylor will do the same.”
Court records obtained by NPR show that Paul pled guilty to the third-degree felony of aggravated assault and has been serving 36 months of probation.
Later that week, Secret Lives of Mormon Wives stars Jessi Draper and Mikayla Matthews both confirmed via social media that filming of their show’s fifth season was halted after the situation unfolded.
Alex Cooper invited Draper to her podcast, Call Her Daddy, to discuss all things Mormon Wives.
Although Draper was a confirmed guest before Paul’s video was released by TMZ, Cooper still discusses the issue with Draper.
Draper said, “We knew there was a video, but like we never saw it. I don’t like to judge someone in their darkest moment, and Taylor really has made a lot of changes.”
Paul has not posted on her own social media platforms since the video’s release and the cancellation of the Bachelorette but she has been reposting Tiktok videos related to the situation.
“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,” a spokesperson said.
“There are too many women who are suffering in silence as they survive aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to let them move on with their lives. Taylor has remained silent out of fear of further abuse, retaliation and public shaming. She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.”