ABC Cancels The Bachelorette 2026 After Taylor Frankie Paul Domestic Violence Video
ABC has cancelled the 2026 season of The Bachelorette, starring Taylor Frankie Paul, just three days before its scheduled 22 March premiere.
Disney Entertainment Television confirmed the decision on Thursday 19 March after TMZ published a 2023 video appearing to show Paul in a violent altercation with her former partner, Dakota Mortensen.
The move leaves a significant hole in ABC’s primetime schedule and raises serious questions about the network’s vetting process for reality TV leads.
What Triggered ABC’s Decision to Cancel The Bachelorette
Disney’s was swift and unambiguous. A Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson confirmed that the network would “not move forward with the new season of ‘The Bachelorette’ at this time,” stating its focus is on supporting the family.
The catalyst was footage published by TMZ on the morning of 19 March. The video, from a 2023 incident, appears to show Paul kicking Mortensen and throwing metal barstools at him. One of the barstools struck her then five-year-old daughter, who was seated next to Mortensen on the couch.
That 2023 incident was not new information in isolation. Paul pleaded guilty in abeyance to an aggravated assault charge in August 2025, with the remaining four charges — including child abuse and domestic violence in the presence of a child — dismissed with prejudice. What changed on Thursday was that footage of the incident became publicly available, making it impossible for ABC to proceed.
The network’s speed here — pulling a heavily promoted season within hours of the video going live — suggests Disney calculated that airing the show posed a far greater reputational risk than scrapping it entirely.
Who Is Taylor Frankie Paul and How Did She Get the Role?
Taylor Frankie Paul built her public profile on TikTok, where she has 6.1 million followers, and on Instagram, where she has 2.3 million. She became widely known through The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, a Hulu reality series documenting a group of Utah-based social media influencers.
Paul was tapped as the upcoming Bachelorette last September, a move that fans hoped would revive a franchise many felt had lost momentum. Her casting was positioned as a bold, unconventional choice — a social media star with genuine drama in her personal life rather than a polished television personality.
That personal drama, it now appears, was far more serious than the network had accounted for. A source connected to The Bachelorette confirmed that no one at ABC had seen the video before TMZ posted it on Thursday morning. That claim, if accurate, points to a significant gap in the due diligence carried out before filming began.
The Ongoing Investigation and Fallout for Paul
The 2023 video is only part of a wider picture. The Draper City Police Department confirmed an open domestic assault investigation involving Paul and Mortensen, with allegations made in both directions, and stated that contact was made with both parties on 24 and 25 February 2026.
Paul and Mortensen have also been ordered to undergo psychiatric evaluations, and Utah Division of Children and Family Services is investigating ongoing allegations of violence between them.
Paul addressed the broader situation on Good Morning America on Wednesday 18 March, before the cancellation was announced. Her spokesperson stated she is “very grateful for ABC’s support” and that after years of allegedly suffering abuse and threats of retaliation, Paul is “gaining the strength to face her accuser.”
Mortensen’s response was more direct. On Thursday, Mortensen filed for a protective order against Paul.
The situation involves serious, ongoing legal matters. Both parties face allegations and both have disputed elements of the other’s account. The children involved remain the most important consideration in any outcome.
What This Means for UK Viewers and the Bachelorette Franchise
For UK audiences, The Bachelorette has historically been available on Disney+, where previous seasons have landed shortly after their US broadcast. The network has not shared whether the season will air at a later date. Until Disney makes a further announcement, UK viewers on Disney+ should not expect to see Paul’s season at all.
The wider impact on the franchise could be significant. The Bachelorette is one of ABC’s most established reality formats, running since 2003. Losing an entire filmed season — with all the associated production costs, promotional spend, and contestant commitments — is an extraordinary outcome.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives has also been affected. Filming on the show’s fifth season has been paused. Paul’s career across both franchises is now in deep uncertainty, and the network faces the immediate practical problem of filling a prime Sunday evening slot it had publicly committed to.
FAQ
Q: Why was The Bachelorette 2026 cancelled?
A: ABC cancelled the 2026 season of The Bachelorette after TMZ published a 2023 video appearing to show lead Taylor Frankie Paul in a violent altercation with her former partner, Dakota Mortensen. Disney confirmed the decision on 19 March 2026, three days before the scheduled premiere, citing the newly surfaced footage.
Q: When was The Bachelorette 2026 supposed to premiere?
A: The season was scheduled to premiere on Sunday 22 March 2026 on ABC. It was cancelled on Thursday 19 March, less than 72 hours before its scheduled debut, following the publication of the 2023 domestic violence footage.
Q: Where can I watch The Bachelorette in the UK?
A: Previous seasons of The Bachelorette have been available on Disney+ in the UK. The 2026 season starring Taylor Frankie Paul has been cancelled indefinitely. Disney has not confirmed whether it will air at a future date on any platform.
Q: Who is Taylor Frankie Paul?
A: Taylor Frankie Paul is a Utah-based social media influencer with 6.1 million TikTok followers, known for appearing in The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives on Hulu. She was cast as the lead of The Bachelorette Season 22 in September 2025 before the season was cancelled in March 2026.
Q: Will The Bachelorette Season 22 ever air?
A: Disney has not announced any alternative broadcast date for the filmed season. Given the ongoing police investigation and the scale of the public controversy, any future broadcast appears unlikely in the near term. An official announcement would be required from ABC or Disney to confirm.
Q: Is BriefLedger covering ongoing developments in this story?
A: Yes. BriefLedger is tracking the Taylor Frankie Paul situation as it develops, including any updates from Draper City Police, further statements from Disney, and the status of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Season 5 production pause.
References
- TMZ — https://www.tmz.com/2026/03/19/abc-cancels-the-bachelorette-starring-taylor-frankie-paul/
- Variety — https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/the-bachelorette-pulled-abc-taylor-frankie-paul-domestic-violence-1236690770/
- NBC News — https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/bachelorette-canceled-taylor-frankie-paul-season-abc-alleged-abuse-rcna264089
- Deseret News — https://www.deseret.com/entertainment/2026/03/19/taylor-frankie-paul-bachelorette-canceled/
Lewis Calvert Founder & Editor, BriefLedger
Lewis founded BriefLedger and has six years of experience covering film, TV, and entertainment news. He leads the site’s Movies and TV sections and runs the news desk — always with a straight-talking British take.
