Reality show, The Bachelorette cancelled their upcoming season, three days before airing, with “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star, Taylor Frankie Paul, after a domestic abuse video was leaked by an unknown source.
On March 19, 2026, ABC made the decision to pull the already filmed season of the Bachelorette completely from airing after a video of Paul committing domestic violence toward her ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortenson, had resurfaced.
ABC came out with a statement saying, “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.” The situation was already known, as the original event took place back in 2023, leading to her arrest.
The video reportedly consisted of her hitting and kicking Mortenson. Paul was also accused of throwing a metal chair at Mortenson, and accidentally hitting her 5 year old daughter instead.
Some online speculation has arisen where people are debating on whether or not casting someone with a known history like this was intentional for the drama and if reality tv has a responsibility to be more aware of who they cast.
Junior Nitya Akkanapragada isn’t in agreement on the decision of ABC to cancel the show.
“I think that there are a lot of bachelors and bachelorettes that are controversial. [Paul’s] history is public knowledge and is probably the first thing you’ll see when you search her up so it’s not like they were hiding it or keeping it a secret from the guys and the viewers,” said Akkanapragada.
Akkanapragada goes on to mention how people who already watch the show know what she’s like and how that the season shouldn’t have been cancelled because it all ended up as a waste of time, marketing, and money.
Akkanapragada also believes that Mortenson may have threatened Paul with releasing the video and is now using it to blackmail her due to jealousy of her fame and attempt to ruin her career.
Paul came out with a statement shortly after ABC decided against airing the show, expressing that she is grateful for ABC’s support for her family, and a spokesperson, on behalf of Paul, explained how the video “lacks context” and is meant to be part of a “destructive campaign” against her.
Some online have argued that the show purposefully cast a personality like Paul to ensure drama and prioritize viewership, yet senior Nolan Spencer and other viewers have a different perspective.
“I think if they were to have her [on the show], they’d have less views. I don’t think it’d make them a lot of money if they kept her because it’d seem like they supported [her],” commented Spencer.
Spencer later goes on to say how a public perception of someone is important because if someone’s a bad person, they shouldn’t get the opportunity for fame and a spotlight and believes the show will be more careful when choosing leads in the future.
