ABC has cancelled the upcoming 22nd season of The Bachelorette starring Taylor Frankie Paul, following the leak of footage showing her physically assaulting her former partner. The decision was announced on Thursday, just days before the season was scheduled to premiere on Sunday.
The leaked video, from 2023, shows Paul kicking Dakota Mortensen and throwing metal chairs, with her five-year-old daughter present. An indictment obtained by People magazine states that the child was struck by a chair. Paul pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and is currently serving three years' probation.
In a statement, Disney said: '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.' Paul's team criticised Mortensen's actions as a 'never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor'.
Paul, 31, gained fame on Hulu's The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which is also under the Disney umbrella. Production on that show's latest season has reportedly been paused. ABC has not confirmed whether the already-filmed season will air at a later date.
