[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
At least one member of Bachelor Nation is standing by Taylor Frankie Paul… But she might have spoken too soon.
Amid the aftermath of the 31-year-old reality star’s alleged domestic dispute with ex Dakota Mortensen, DeAnna Pappas — who led The Bachelorette in Season 4 — appears to be on her side, unlike other members of the franchise! All because she has been in a similar situation before! Well, somewhat! We don’t know the outcome of Taylor and Dakota’s domestic assault investigation yet.
But what we DO know is ABC has officially cancelled Taylor’s season of The Bachelorette just THREE days before it was set to air — all as the result of footage being released of her viciously attacking Dakota in 2023 and accidentally hitting her daughter Indy Paul with a chair in the crossfire. Now, DeAnna defended Taylor BEFORE all this was revealed… so keep that in mind as you read on!
Related: Mikayla Matthews Reveals Why Cast Paused Filming Mormon Wives!
You may recall that back in February 2025, DeAnna was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence, a year after finalizing her divorce from Stephen Stagliano. For background, her former mother-in-law, Lynn Stagliano, filed a declaration in the exes’ divorce claiming the 44-year-old television personality picked up her son for school and she “very clearly smelled alcohol on DeAnna’s breath.” In response, DeAnna requested a restraining order against her ex-husband and detailed what happened before her arrest.
Last year, DeAnna was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence after an incident with her ex. She claimed Stephen followed her into the garage after an argument and tried to push her door open when she tried to shut it. While Stephen called the cops, she began to fear for her safety because he allegedly continued to push the garage door open. DeAnna claimed that when he started to steal things from the garage, she walked outside, and he got physical:
“Stephen then took his hands, grabbing me, and then forcefully shoved me. He pushed me back again.”
DeAnna alleged that officers arrived at the home after midnight, informing her that Stephen had accused her of being drunk. He also said he was pressing charges against her for domestic violence, claiming she “was the aggressor who assaulted him.” DeAnna voluntarily submitted to a drug and alcohol test after being bailed out of jail, and it came back negative.
By April, a spokesperson announced on her Instagram Stories that an investigation proved she was NOT the aggressor in the situation:
“On behalf of our client, Deanna Pappas, we wish to address recent public speculation and clarify the current legal status of matters stemming from an incident involving her former spouse. After a full investigation and review of video evidence, the assigned detective determined that Ms. Pappas was not the aggressor. No criminal charges were filed.”
Oof…
DeAnna thinks she can relate a lot to what Taylor is going through right now. Because of that, she feels “sad” for The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star. She said on the Almost Famous podcast on Wednesday:
“So much has transpired over the last few days in our headlines for our girl, Taylor Frankie Paul. I’m so sad for this girl and her child, and him too. There’s the connection because of The Bachelorette, but it’s just sad. It’s just really sad.”
DeAnna expressed that Taylor’s situation is “really, really hard,” and “it doesn’t feel good the way they’re releasing things and making this woman — the lead of a show — making her live through it over and over and over again.” She continued:
“ABC has this whole thing about the show, this whole glow-up and it’s this fairytale ending, and this good show, this good, wholesome show of people finding love, and I feel her on the part of just wanting to be chosen — are you joking? I’ve searched for it my whole life. But it doesn’t feel good to me, what is happening. It doesn’t feel good the way things are being released.”
DeAnna stressed she wants to “choose my words wisely here” while discussing the controversy. However, she got emotional over how “broken” Taylor sounded during a press preview for The Bachelorette in New York City:
“She went to an event, she showed face, because she is trying to promote a show that she has done, and she sounds broken. I almost cried, Heather, listening to it, because you can hear the pain in her voice when she is speaking — that it took all she had to get there that night.”
She’s seemingly referring to this interview (below), where Taylor denied ever touching her children amid the abuse allegations.
View this post on Instagram
DeAnna concluded:
“I don’t have to say, can you imagine? Because I can. I’ve been there. I’ve been there and that’s so hard.”
We wonder if she would still stick up so much for Taylor in light of that 2023 domestic violence video surfacing and other abuse allegations coming out… or now given the fact that ABC has pulled the plug on Taylor’s season of The Bachelorette?
Thoughts, Perezcious readers? Let us know in the comments (below).
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Consider calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233, or text START to 88788, or go to https://www.thehotline.org/.
[Image via Taylor Frankie Paul/Dakota Mortensen/DeAnna Pappas/Instagram]
