Taylor Frankie Paul’s season as The Bachelorette has been canceled by ABC following the leak of a disturbing 2023 video that showed her as the aggressor in a domestic violence incident, according to TMZ.
Paul’s baby was present in the room when she threw several chairs and punches at her ex, Dakota Mortensen. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star’s season of The Bachelorette was set to premiere on Sunday, Mar. 22.
A Disney spokesperson told the Daily Beast, “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.”
A rep for Taylor told the U.S. Sun that the star “is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security.”
They added, slamming Mortensen, “After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm.”
“There are too many women who are suffering in silence as they survive aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to let them move on with their lives,” the statement continued. “Taylor has remained silent out of fear of further abuse, retaliation, and public shaming. She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.”
Prior to the video’s release on Thursday, it was announced that Season 5 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives had halted production because of a domestic violence incident between Paul and Mortensen. Paul was ultimately arrested and pleaded guilty after the incident.
Mortensen filed for a restraining order against Taylor and temporary full custody of their child on Tuesday, according to documents obtained by TMZ. His petition also requested that Taylor not drink or use drugs during her parenting time.
After the video of the altercation was released, a spokesperson for Paul blamed Mortensen in a statement to Variety: “It’s sad to see the latest installment of his never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without any regard for the consequences for their child.”
They added, “Releasing an old video, which conveniently omits context, on their son’s birthday is a reprehensible attempt to distract from his own behavior. Thankfully, the public has seen this act before and knows who he is, and sadly, many will recognize this pattern of manipulation, both in his actions on the show and from their own experiences.”
Before the news of the season’s cancellation on Thursday afternoon, TMZ also reported that Paul had dropped out of her Thursday evening appearance on The Tonight Show. The Daily Beast has reached out to reps for the late-night series for comment.
In an interview with Good Morning America on Wednesday, Paul addressed the incident. “It’s been a heavy time to see the headlines, especially during this time of The Bachelorette being released, and it’s supposed to be a really exciting time,” she said. “I’m a person that will always speak my truth, and that’s what I’m known for, and so when the time is right, I will be. But right now, just trying to be in the present moment and focus on this.”
She added, “My kids come first.”
Paul is the founding member of the Mormon group that rose to fame first on TikTok and then through their wildly popular show, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. The group, known as MomTok, helped challenge perceptions of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through their modern-day interpretations of the church’s teachings.
The reality star rocketed the group to fame through her involvement in a swinging scandal, and subsequent high-profile domestic disputes with her ex, with whom she shares a son.
The show’s popularity helped make Paul the most famous Bachelorette to date, and landed her co-stars roles on Dancing with the Stars and on Broadway.
Even in the current fourth season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Paul and Mortensen continue their drama-filled on-again, off-again relationship. The season, which was filmed last fall, shows Paul in an increasingly manic state—so much so that she at one point refuses to get on a plane to film The Bachelorette.
Paul sent her mother, Liann, and her half-sister, Aspen, in her place, and joined them only after her co-stars scolded her for staying home. In the new season, Paul attributes her inextricable link with Mortensen to issues born out of her father’s abandonment of her at an early age.
