Taylor Frankie Paul Drama Explodes: ABC Cancels Her 'The Bachelorette' Season Amid Shocking 2023 Video Leak

 In a stunning and unprecedented move, ABC has officially canceled the upcoming Season 22 of The Bachelorette, starring The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives cast member Taylor Frankie Paul, just days before its scheduled premiere on March 22, 2026.

The decision came on March 19, 2026, hours after TMZ released previously unseen footage from a 2023 physical altercation between Paul and her ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen. The video, recorded by Mortensen, shows Paul repeatedly throwing metal bar stools at him during an intense argument, with their young daughter (Indy, then around 5 years old) present and heard crying in the background. At one point, a chair appears to strike the child, heightening concerns about the incident's impact on minors.

A Disney Entertainment spokesperson confirmed the cancellation in a statement: “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.”

This marks a rare full scrapping of an already-filmed season of the long-running franchise, which had been promoted with the tagline “If you don’t fit the mold, break it.” Paul, known for her role in Hulu's The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, was set to lead as the first lead from that series, bringing her personal story of post-divorce life and reality TV fame to the dating show format.

Paul has vehemently denied being the primary aggressor, alleging she has endured "extensive mental and physical abuse" from Mortensen. Her representative described the video's release as part of his "never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without any regard for the consequences for their child." They claimed the footage was "selectively edited" and timed deliberately, noting it surfaced around their son's birthday.

Mortensen broke his silence through a representative, emphasizing his priority is protecting their young son, Ever (around 2 years old). The rep stated he had hoped to avoid public escalation for the sake of co-parenting but felt compelled to address the severity of the allegations. He has not proactively released information but maintains he wants a "decent relationship" with Paul.

The fallout extends beyond The Bachelorette. Filming for Season 5 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives has been paused amid the ongoing domestic assault investigation involving both parties. Authorities in Utah have confirmed allegations of violence "in both directions," with required psych evaluations and an open case from the Division of Children and Family Services. Brands like Cinnabon have also distanced themselves, dropping sponsorships tied to Paul and the cast.

Fans remain deeply divided. Supporters view ABC's swift action as a necessary stand against domestic violence and child endangerment, especially given the presence of a minor in the footage. Others question the timing of the leak and call for fuller context, pointing to mutual allegations and Paul's claims of prior abuse. Social media has been flooded with reactions, from calls for accountability to defenses of Paul's side of the story.

This crisis has sent shockwaves through the reality TV industry, raising questions about vetting processes for high-profile leads and how networks handle explosive personal controversies. As of now, ABC has provided no details on potential replacements or rescheduling for The Bachelorette.

The situation continues to evolve, with Paul expected to address it further in coming days. For now, what was poised to be a groundbreaking season has imploded into one of the franchise's biggest scandals yet.