The upcoming season of ABC's The Bachelorette starring reality star Taylor Frankie Paul has been abruptly canceled by network executives following the viral resurgence of disturbing police bodycam footage from her 2023 domestic violence arrest. The decision, announced on Thursday, came just days before the highly-anticipated series was scheduled to premiere, amid a wave of public backlash and renewed scrutiny over the incident involving her ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen.
Disturbing Footage Resurfaces
Originally published by the Daily Mail in 2023, the video shows a disheveled and visibly intoxicated Paul being confronted by police officers at her Herriman, Utah home on February 17, 2023. In the footage, the 31-year-old influencer appears emotional and slurring her words as officers question her about an altercation that investigators said involved a chair being thrown during a domestic dispute.
At one point during the confrontation, Paul tells officers she was so scared during the incident that she had "peed" herself. The bodycam video, obtained by the Daily Mail, shows Herriman Police Officers Ben Rugebregt and Alex Felsing responding to a 911 call from a neighbor and knocking on Paul's door.
Chaotic Scene Unfolds
When the officers arrive, both Paul and Mortensen answer the door. Mortensen immediately tells police that Taylor was "hammered," to which she responds "so is he." Paul then alleges that Mortensen "threw me in the garage" before officers separate the couple for questioning.
During her emotional interview with police, Paul admits to pushing and hitting Mortensen, stating "I went ballistic because he pushed me." She explains that her boyfriend had picked her up from a girls' night out and "b***hed her out" all the way home, leading to the violent confrontation.
"I'm emotionally hurting and going through a divorce," Paul tells officers before turning belligerent and declaring "I don't give a f*** anymore. I don't give a f*** about him. I just want him out."
Mortensen's Account of Events
Mortensen, 33, provides a different account to police, explaining that he had picked up Paul from her girls' night out and realized she was too drunk to attend a concert as planned. He tells officers they had an agreement to stay away from alcohol as he's a recovering addict, and that Paul's personal issues combined with alcohol cause her to "explode."
According to Mortensen, over approximately 90 minutes at Paul's home, she prevented him from leaving to "deescalate" the situation. He describes her throwing her phone at him, taking his truck keys, jumping on his vehicle, and slamming its doors repeatedly. Most disturbingly, he alleges she threw heavy metal chairs at him with such force that they put holes in the walls, with one chair bouncing off his shoulder and hitting her child Indy in the head.
Police Investigation and Arrest
In his official report, Sergeant Rugebregt noted observing "multiple metal chairs and other household items on the floor by the front entryway" and "a case of roses on the ground by the kitchen island." Police reported seeing injuries on both individuals but determined Paul was the primary aggressor.
When placed under arrest for domestic violence, Paul questions officers, asking "so he isn't being arrested? He pushed me and I'm under arrest?" She later adds, "when Dakota sees I'm being arrested he's not going to agree to it" before repeating "I p***ed my pants and I'm under arrest?"
Legal Consequences and Network Fallout
Paul was initially charged with felony aggravated assault, reckless child abuse, and domestic violence in the presence of a child. She ultimately struck a plea deal, pleading guilty to one count of aggravated assault while the other charges were dismissed. She received a plea of abeyance for 36 months, with the court scheduled to review the remaining charge in August 2026 and potentially reduce it to a misdemeanor if she complies with supervised probation terms.
The newly surfaced video of the physical altercation, obtained by TMZ on Thursday, shows Paul repeatedly attacking Mortensen and became crucial evidence in the 2023 case. Following the video's release and subsequent viral spread, ABC executives made the decision to cancel Paul's season of The Bachelorette.
Representative's Response
In response to the resurfaced footage, Paul's representative told the Daily Mail, "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."
The statement continued, "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. Sadly, many will recognize this pattern of manipulation, both in his actions on the show and from their own experiences."
The cancellation marks a dramatic fall for the Mormon Wives standout, whose reality television career has now been derailed by the resurfaced evidence of her violent behavior during the 2023 domestic incident.
