The first ever lead of The Bachelorette, Trista Sutter, is sharing her thoughts on ABC canceling Taylor Frankie Paul’s upcoming season.
Sutter told People that it’s been “a whirlwind” watching the saga unfold. She says that she is “just trying to show people grace” in the wake of the recent controversy.
“Everyone goes through stuff, everyone makes mistakes. Yes, there’s a child involved, and that’s where my heart hurts the worst,” she continued.
Sutter said of Paul, “I know there’s a lot of growth that needs to happen. And she’s got a lot of support, including from me.”
Sutter, who is still married to Ryan Sutter who she met on the show, reflected on what the future of the franchise could look like following ABC pulling Paul’s season shortly before it aired.
“Well, I mean, it’s just shocking and sad,” she says. “It’s what brought me my family, or at least introduced me to Ryan, so we could create a family. So if it’s all over it will make me sad.”
She added that she is “hoping that that’s not the case.”
Prior to the season cancellation, Sutter was featured with Paul in a Before the Rose preview special with other former leads of The Bachelorette. She said that filming the special was a “really special day” and that she “loved that it aired, because we got to reminisce.”
“Getting together with all of the girls, it just makes my heart happy,” she continued. “So that was a huge high. And then, I think a few days later, everything came out [about Paul]. So it’s been a whirlwind.”
Paul’s season of The Bachelorette was pulled by ABC just three days before it was set to air due to a video of her throwing a chair at her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, was released.
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This story was originally published by Parade on Mar 31, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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