The Bachelorette's messy break-up with its unlikely star Taylor Frankie Paul

March 21, 2026

ABC cancelled the premiere of The Bachelorette Season 22 just three days before its scheduled debut after newly released footage showed star Taylor Frankie Paul allegedly attacking her ex-boyfriend in front of her daughter. The network had cast Paul, a TikTok influencer and star of Hulu's Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, in an unprecedented attempt to revitalize the declining franchise by bringing in a contestant from outside Bachelor Nation with millions of social media followers. Despite Paul's well-documented history of domestic violence charges, mental health issues, and criminal convictions that were featured prominently on her Hulu show, ABC proceeded with her casting as part of a high-risk strategy to attract new audiences.

Who is affected

Taylor Frankie Paul (The Bachelorette star and TikTok influencer)
Dakota Mortensen (Paul's ex-boyfriend who was granted temporary custody of their son)
Paul's children, including the son she shares with Mortensen and her daughter
ABC/Disney Entertainment Television
Warner Bros Television (production studio)
Contestants who participated in filming Season 22 of The Bachelorette
Cinnabon (terminated sponsorship collaboration)
The Tonight Show (scrapped Paul's planned appearance)
Advertisers associated with the show
Fans of The Bachelor franchise

What action is being taken

ABC has cancelled Season 22 of The Bachelorette and is not moving forward with its premiere
Disney is focusing on supporting the family involved
Dakota Mortensen has been granted temporary custody of his son through a court protective order
Cinnabon has terminated its collaboration with The Bachelorette and Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
Season five of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives has been put on pause
Warner Bros Television and ABC are negotiating a new deal and discussing how to recoup losses with advertisers

Why it matters

This represents an unprecedented cancellation in The Bachelor franchise's 24-year history and highlights the risks networks face when prioritizing viral appeal over thorough vetting in casting decisions. The incident raises serious questions about ABC's judgment in selecting someone with known domestic violence history and demonstrates the tension between entertainment value and corporate responsibility, particularly for broadcast networks held to higher standards by federal regulators and advertisers. The eight-figure financial losses and damage to Disney's family-friendly brand reputation serve as a cautionary tale about the entertainment industry's responsibility when platforming individuals with documented histories of violence, especially when children are involved.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article regarding future seasons or programming decisions. The article notes it remains unclear whether The Bachelorette will be permanently shelved or temporarily preempted, and negotiations between Warner Bros Television and ABC are ongoing.

Read full article from source: BBC