ABC Pulls The Bachelorette Season After Taylor Frankie Paul Video Surfaces
ABC scrapped the season after a 2023 video surfaced Thursday showing an altercation involving Taylor Frankie Paul; ABC will air an American Idol rerun on March 22.

Taylor Frankie Paul's Bachelorette season pulled after abuse allegations
"The Bachelorette" season with Taylor Frankie Paul canceled after 2023 video surfaces, ABC says

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Overview
Disney Entertainment Television said it would not move forward with the new season "at this time" after a 2023 video surfaced Thursday.
The video shows Paul appearing to punch, kick and throw chairs at former partner Dakota Mortensen while a young child cries in the footage.
A Draper City police spokesperson confirmed there is an open domestic assault investigation and said allegations have been made in both directions.
Paul was arrested in 2023 and pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor aggravated assault charge, while other counts were dismissed.
ABC will air an American Idol rerun on Sunday, March 22 in The Bachelorette's timeslot, and production on Season 5 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives has been paused.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as a scandal-driven narrative, using loaded terms ("drama," "volatile," "scandals") and foregrounding leaked-video and legal details. Editorial choices prioritize TMZ footage and production fallout (ABC pulling the season) while offering limited contextualization of Paul’s perspective beyond brief quotes, emphasizing reputational and public-safety impact.
FAQ
The video shows Paul appearing to punch, kick, and throw chairs and a bar stool at Mortensen while a young child cries nearby.
ABC scrapped the season after the 2023 video surfaced on March 19, 2026, showing the altercation, and stated they would not move forward at this time.
Draper City Police confirmed an open domestic assault investigation with allegations made in both directions following incidents on February 24-25, 2026.
Paul was arrested in February 2023, charged with aggravated assault and domestic violence, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor aggravated assault charge via plea of abeyance, and other counts were dismissed.
The contestants were reportedly shocked, blindsided, upset, and let down, but described Paul as kind and genuine during filming.