Taylor Frankie Paul’s ‘The Bachelorette’ season pulled; ABC to air American Idol rerun in its place Sunday

The Bachelorette has been put on hold as the falling out between Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen continues to unfold. The ABC reality series, which was set to premiere on Sunday, March 22, has been removed from the schedule, and the network has not indicated whether it will air at a later date. ABC plans to air a rerun of American Idol in the show’s time slot on Sunday.

“In light of the newly released video that surfaced today, we have made the decision not to move forward with the new season of The Bachelorette at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family,” a spokesperson for Disney Entertainment Television told Yahoo in a statement.

The news comes shortly after TMZ published a video from a 2023 fight between Paul and Mortensen — an incident that appears to be the same one that led to Paul’s arrest at the time. The footage is separate from the alleged domestic dispute in February that prompted the current investigation.

“Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security,” a representative for Paul said in a statement to People after news broke. “After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm.”

The statement continued: “There are too many women who are suffering in silence as they survive aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to let them move on with their lives. Taylor has remained silent out of fear of further abuse, retaliation and public shaming. She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.”

Authorities in Utah confirmed there is an active domestic violence investigation involving the former couple, who share a 2-year-old son, Ever. The Draper City Police Department said officers made contact with both parties on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25, and that allegations have been made in both directions. News of the February incident surfaced Sunday night, shortly after Paul attended the Oscars and just one week before her season of The Bachelorette was set to premiere. Officials have declined to release further details while the case remains open.

The newly released footage appears to show Paul striking and kicking Mortensen, and at one point, throwing a chair in his direction while a young child is nearby. Paul also shares two older children, ages 8 and 5, with her ex-husband. (They divorced after a “soft swinging” sex scandal.)

Paul issued a statement to Variety on Thursday: “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. 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 and sadly, many will recognize this pattern of manipulation, both in his actions on the show, and from their own experiences.”

Despite news of the February incidents leaking on Sunday, Paul continued promoting The Bachelorette as planned, making appearances on Good Morning America and Live with Kelly and Mark, both ABC shows, where she briefly addressed the situation. As of Wednesday, a network source told Yahoo the show was still expected to premiere as scheduled, suggesting internal discussions shifted quickly following the release of the TMZ video.

Paul and Mortensen began dating in the summer of 2022, and their tumultuous relationship has played out on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives since its 2024 premiere.

Paul was arrested in 2023 following the alleged altercation depicted in the video. She later entered a guilty plea in abeyance to aggravated assault, meaning the charge could be dismissed if she complies with the terms of the agreement.

According to TMZ, Mortensen filed for a protective order in Utah on Tuesday, seeking temporary custody of Ever and requesting that Paul abstain from alcohol and drugs during her parenting time.

A representative for Mortensen said in a statement Wednesday that his priority is protecting the couple’s young son and that he hopes to maintain a cooperative co-parenting relationship with Paul. The rep also pushed back on suggestions that Mortensen was responsible for the timing of the allegations becoming public.

The fallout has also extended to The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, where production on Season 5 has been paused as the investigation unfolds. A source previously told Variety that the halt is expected to be temporary and that the alleged February incident did not occur while cameras were rolling. Cast members have said the decision to stop filming was a collective one, with one costar noting they “didn’t feel comfortable” continuing production amid the situation.

The controversy has also had commercial impact. A key brand partner, Cinnabon, ended its collaboration with both The Bachelorette and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, citing the allegations as no longer aligning with its brand values.

Behind the scenes, concern for Paul has been growing. A source told People that some are worried about Paul’s well-being and want her to get the help she needs. Sources also said earlier this week that contestants from Paul’s season of The Bachelorette were caught off guard by the investigation, with some describing feeling betrayed by the situation.

The sudden decision to pull the season days from its premiere marks an unprecedented moment for the long-running franchise. While Bachelor Nation has weathered controversy before, including production pauses, contestant scandals and the exit of longtime host Chris Harrison, the show has aired as planned.