Disney Considers Selling ABC Network Amid Bachelorette Star's Domestic Violence Controversy
In a startling revelation, Hollywood's premier insider source Puck has suggested that Disney might be preparing to sell its entire ABC network. This dramatic move is reportedly being considered as a strategic public relations manoeuvre to distance the corporate giant from the damaging fallout of a domestic violence scandal involving The Bachelorette star Taylor Frankie Paul.
Insider Predicts Major Corporate Shake-Up
Matt Belloni, the respected industry analyst behind Puck's influential 'What I'm Hearing' newsletter, made this bold prediction. He was reacting specifically to ABC's recent decision to scrap an already-filmed season of The Bachelorette following the emergence of disturbing footage showing Paul engaged in violent behaviour.
Belloni directly questioned whether this embarrassing situation might affect new Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro's willingness to continue supporting ABC and its general-interest programming. 'Plenty in the investment community believe they're an albatross, and they come with big P.R. headaches in the news - and, occasionally, unscripted - divisions,' Belloni wrote in his analysis.
Scandal Tests New Leadership
The timing is particularly sensitive as D'Amaro only recently replaced longtime CEO Bob Iger last month. Belloni suggested that a domestic violence scandal erupting so early in D'Amaro's tenure 'might be enough to question whether the whole ABC enterprise is worth the brand risk.'
To support his theory, Belloni referenced a revealing 2023 CNBC interview with Iger, where the former CEO indicated that traditional television assets 'may not be core to' Disney's future success and openly discussed potential sale options. Belloni posited that D'Amaro will soon need to address this same fundamental question that Iger previously deferred.
The Controversy That Sparked the Crisis
The scandal centres on Taylor Frankie Paul, the star of what would have been the twenty-second season of The Bachelorette. Last week, TMZ released previously unseen footage from February 2023 showing Paul hitting, kicking, and throwing furniture at her ex-partner, Dakota Mortensen.
According to The Salt Lake Tribune, police obtained video evidence at the time of Paul's arrest that showed her throwing heavy metal chairs, with one apparently striking her five-year-old daughter. The footage prompted ABC to confirm that Utah authorities are conducting a separate domestic assault investigation involving both Paul and Mortensen.
Legal Troubles and Production Fallout
Paul's legal history is extensive and troubling. In March 2023, she was charged with:
- One felony count of aggravated assault
- Two felony counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child
- One misdemeanor count of child abuse
She later entered a plea in abeyance in August 2023 to a third-degree felony count of aggravated assault. The controversy has had immediate production consequences, with TMZ reporting on March 15 that filming for Paul's other show, Mormon Wives, was halted due to another major fight between Paul and Mortensen.
Corporate Response and Internal Dynamics
Disney Chairman Debra OConnell, who oversees all ABC programming across both news and entertainment divisions, personally approved the now-cancelled season. Belloni noted that sources indicate OConnell will not face termination over this decision, nor will any other executives.
The former Hollywood Reporter editor described OConnell's current approach to ABC programming as essentially 'stay-the-course,' despite the mounting pressure. ABC ultimately pulled the plug on Paul's season last Thursday, just three days before its scheduled premiere, following the circulation of the damaging footage.
Belloni's comprehensive analysis, published on Monday, suggests that Disney's leadership may be reaching a tipping point regarding their tolerance for ABC's recurring public relations challenges. The network's handling of this high-profile domestic violence scandal could potentially accelerate corporate decisions about the future of Disney's traditional television assets.
