Taylor Frankie Paul’s season of The Bachelorette will never see the light of day… ABC just cancelled it!
On Thursday, a Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson announced that the show, which is currently just three days away from airing, has been cancelled in the wake of a video of Taylor’s 2023 fight with Dakota Mortensen surfacing:
“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.”
For those who haven’t seen the video, it depicts Taylor viciously attacking Dakota and hurling chairs at him while her then-5-year-old daughter Indy Paul is in the room. Dakota pleads with Taylor to stop, before one chair ultimately strikes Indy, who immediately bursts into tears. You can watch at your own discretion (below):
???? EXCLUSIVE: Taylor Frankie Paul repeatedly attacked Dakota Mortensen during the 2023 incident in which she pled guilty to aggravated assault; video shows that one of her children was struck during the fight.
Trigger Warning. https://t.co/77CKYpLxvn pic.twitter.com/avr49EacY3
— TMZ (@TMZ) March 19, 2026
Taylor was arrested following the incident and charged with aggravated assault, domestic violence in the presence of a child, child abuse, and criminal mischief. She ultimately pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and the other charges were dropped. A source has since told TMZ that no one at ABC had seen the shocking footage before it was released publicly.
Prior to the release of the footage, production on Secret Lives of Mormon Wives had been abruptly halted after another blowout fight between Taylor and Dakota occurred. It has since been revealed that the Utah Division of Child and Family Services got involved after Dakota reported Taylor for allegedly abusing their almost 2-year-old son, Ever.
Taylor followed up by categorically denying all abuse allegations, claiming she has “never touched” any one of her children.
What are your thoughts on ABC’s decision, Perezcious readers? Let us know in the comments down below.
