‘Bachelorette’ Season Canceled Amid Domestic Violence Investigation Involving Taylor Frankie Paul
ABC has canceled the upcoming season of “The Bachelorette” starring Taylor Frankie Paul, following the emergence of new details in a domestic violence investigation involving Paul and her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen. The decision comes as production on the fifth season of Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” which similarly features Paul, has been paused.
Investigation Details
The Draper City Police Department in Utah confirmed a “domestic assault investigation” involving Paul and Mortensen, who share a 2-year-old son, according to TODAY.com. Allegations have been made by both parties, though the department has declined to release specific details due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.
A video surfaced on Thursday showing an alleged incident from 2023, where Paul was arrested after allegedly choking and throwing stools at Mortensen, with one stool reportedly hitting her daughter from a previous relationship. In the video, Mortensen states, “Your daughter just got hit in the head by a metal chair,” as reported by The New York Times. Paul pleaded guilty to a count of aggravated assault, with other charges dismissed.
Production Halts
Disney Entertainment Television released a statement to Rolling Stone stating, “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.”
Filming for Season 5 of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” has also been halted. Cast member Mikayla Matthews confirmed the pause in a March 18 Instagram story, stating it was “a decision that all us girls came up with and agreed on,” as TODAY.com reported.
Paul’s Response
Addressing the situation, Paul told People on Tuesday, “My heart hurts to notice it, to go through it, especially at this time. Just the timing is hard, and it’s a big deal. I feel like every premiere that I’ve experienced, I’ve never enjoyed fully, so this is another one … it’s extremely hard, and it took everything to get me here today.”
Taylor Frankie Paul is known for her presence on TikTok as one of the creators of #MomTok, a group of Utah moms who gained popularity for their dance videos. She was introduced to a wider audience through the Hulu reality series “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” which premiered in 2024.