Inside The Bachelorette crisis that could ruin Lawyers called in after shock cancelation… Taylor Frankie Paul’s OTHER dirty secret is outed… and network execs face mutiny

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The Bachelor reality franchise is no stranger to controversy or scandal.

Over the years, viewers have been surprised by dramatic moments on the show, like contestants switching partners right before the finale (Jason Mesnick), ending their season early after falling in love (Clare Crawley), or having hidden relationships revealed (Jed Wyatt).

Even more concerning have been revelations of problematic past behavior – including inappropriate social media posts, accusations of sexual misconduct, and even a conviction for indecent assault – which have surfaced during or after TV seasons were broadcast.

Usually, a scandal doesn’t cause a show to be canceled right before it airs. However, that’s exactly what happened with Taylor Frankie Paul’s series.

ABC unexpectedly canceled the upcoming 22nd season of The Bachelorette just three days before its planned premiere on Sunday, after serious concerns arose regarding allegations of domestic violence.

Police are investigating 31-year-old Paul, the star of an upcoming TV season, following reports of a domestic assault involving her ex-partner, 33-year-old Dakota Mortensen. They share a two-year-old son named Ever. The news was first reported on Tuesday.

The Draper, Utah Police Department confirmed to the Daily Mail that they are investigating claims made by both people involved. Police say they spoke with those individuals on February 24th and 25th.

On Thursday, TMZ released a video of a heated argument between the couple that happened in 2023.

Footage and court documents obtained by the Daily Mail show Paul lifting a metal stool before kicking Mortensen, choking him, and hitting him several times.

I still can’t believe it. Apparently, during everything, she actually hit one of her kids – right in the head! It’s just… awful. I mean, she and Tate Paul – they were married for six years, from 2016 to 2022, and they have a daughter and a son together. It breaks my heart to think about the kids going through all of this, especially hearing something like that happened.

According to court records, after the fight in 2023, Mortensen suffered injuries including redness and swelling around his eyes, a swollen elbow, scratches on his fingers, and a cut on his neck.

Paul faced charges of aggravated assault, two counts of domestic violence with a child present, child abuse causing injury, and criminal mischief. In August 2023, she pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault, and the remaining charges were dropped. She is currently still on probation for the aggravated assault conviction.

The investigation has also paused production of season five of Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, a show Paul appears on.

ABC executives decided to cancel the upcoming season of The Bachelorette after a new video came to light today. In a statement, they said their priority is now supporting the affected family.

According to a source with the network, ABC had no knowledge of the video until it was publicly released on Thursday. The cancellation of the show was a very recent decision, finalized only after the video surfaced. Previously, as of Wednesday, the show was still scheduled to continue. The male contestants are reportedly shocked and deeply upset by the video’s content.

ABC executives spent the beginning of the week developing a plan to address growing online calls to boycott ‘The Bachelorette’. The controversy stemmed from criticism of Paul’s casting, with some viewers calling it a poor choice and a bid for ratings.

According to a source, morale is very low right now, and the situation is critical. The timing of this issue couldn’t be worse, and the network is scrambling to find a solution. While delaying things was considered, it’s not a feasible option due to existing commitments.

Following the cancellation, a source is now saying there’s concern the situation could seriously damage the entire Bachelor franchise and lead to significant financial losses. ABC’s legal team is currently handling the matter.

Those working on the show were reportedly shocked by the news. One source shared with the Daily Mail that a meeting had been planned for Thursday with all 22 male contestants, but it was delayed, likely so the cancellation could be revealed first.

An insider explained the cancellation by saying advertisers were withdrawing their support and shareholders were very angry, potentially facing millions in losses.

Beyond the serious criminal accusations, producers apparently struggled most with portraying a believable love story with a happy conclusion.

Even though Paul and his ex announced they were splitting up in May 2025 after dating on and off for three years, rumors suggest he’s still hung up on her. If that’s true, it makes you wonder about her motives for being on The Bachelorette.

Similar issues are also being felt over on the set of Mormon Wives.

Filming for ‘Mormon Wives’ has temporarily stopped because of ongoing issues between Taylor and Dakota. According to a source, this has been happening for several weeks. The other wives are frustrated with how challenging things have become with Paul recently.

According to a source, Taylor and Dakota are in a very unhealthy relationship. The source described Taylor as being unable to move past her strong attachment to Dakota, and said the situation is quite serious.

Taylor is struggling to accept her strong feelings for Dakota, but her friends and family have noticed. It seems they’re unable to stay away from each other.

She’s caught in a harmful pattern with Dakota, and that will likely create problems in any future relationships she tries to build.

It’s clear there was lingering tension between the two. On last week’s new season of Mormon Wives, Mortensen shared that she and Paul had been intimate the night before she left to film The Bachelorette.

Recent photos published by The Sun show Paul arriving at a house in Los Angeles with a potential finalist from The Bachelorette last Saturday, seemingly to film extra footage.

Although principal filming finished in December, the show has filmed extra scenes after wrapping before, usually to depict a couple splitting up. This hints that Paul’s relationship might not last.

Paul publicly addressed the domestic assault investigation for the first time on Wednesday’s Good Morning America, just one day before news broke about the cancellation of The Bachelorette.

It’s been tough seeing everything in the news, particularly with ‘The Bachelorette’ airing right now,” Paul explained. “I’m someone who always tries to be honest and speak openly, and I plan to share my side of things when I’m ready.

After TMZ published the leaked video of a 2023 altercation, a representative for Paul stated they were disappointed to see the continuation of what they described as a relentless effort to harm Taylor, with no consideration for their child. They criticized the release of the video, especially on the child’s birthday, calling it a deliberate attempt to divert attention from the other person’s own actions and a lack of context.

A representative for Viggo Mortensen stated that his top priority is the well-being of his son, Ever.

According to a statement, Mortensen was aware the alleged domestic assault might become public, but he didn’t want to reveal it himself. He’s always hoped to maintain a good relationship with Taylor.

‘It’s been really hard to achieve that, but he wants to co-parent well.’

Paul, known for her popular TikTok videos featuring other mothers in the Mormon faith, is still on probation following a 2023 conviction for third-degree aggravated assault.

Last February, a judge told Paul that she would remain on probation with Good Behavior Court and must not consume any alcohol or illegal drugs while under court supervision.

A new criminal charge would violate her probation. 

A source close to the show admitted they regretted casting her as the lead. They were aware of her tendency to be unpredictable, referencing a past issue, and questioned the decision to build an entire season around someone with that history, calling it foolish.

She really let us down, and everyone is incredibly upset. We all worked so hard to create a fantastic and rewarding season, and now this has happened – it’s a terrible situation.

The show had promising single men, plenty of conflict, and a few heartwarming scenes. Everyone involved was thrilled with the final result, but now something has completely undone all of that good work.

The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for ABC, Hulu and Paul for comment.

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2026-03-19 23:50