CNN has reported that The Bachelorette has made an unprecedented move, pulling the upcoming season due to a video depicting a violent incident between upcoming Bachelorette Taylor Frankie Paul and her ex-boyfriend. Her actions were featured in her prior reality television career on The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives. Paul is one of the few Bachelor or Bachelorettes who were not picked from the cast of prior seasons.
It is not uncommon for reality television shows to axe cast members due to the resurfacing of past behavior. Love Island USA removed two cast members this past season due to leaked videos of them using racial slurs. Paul’s role as the central figure of the season led to the decision not to air the series.
According to CNN, in the days leading up to the premiere of the new season, there was a trickle of information about Paul’s past behavior with ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen, eventually culminating in the release of the video. Moretensen and Paul share one child. In the video, Paul appears to kick Mortensen, grab his head, and throw a barstool at him.
CNN has reported that Mortensen can be heard bringing attention to their daughter, saying, “Your daughter is sitting right there!” This is reportedly similar to the actions for which she was arrested in 2023. The Salt Lake City police department has yet to comment on the video. Paul released a statement via her team to People on Thursday, “Is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security. “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.”
Mortensen told E! News, “As anyone who has seen the video will understand, this is a deeply upsetting situation. I am, unfortunately, used to these baseless claims about me and our relationship, which I categorically deny,” via CNN.