ABC canceled the season on Thursday after TMZ published footage from a 2023 fight. A separate February 2026 domestic violence investigation in Utah is still active. Dakota Mortensen has filed for a protective order. And Cinnabon has already cut ties with the show.
Taylor Frankie Paul’s season of The Bachelorette will not air on March 22. Three days before the scheduled premiere, ABC pulled the season entirely after TMZ published footage from a 2023 physical altercation between Paul and her ex-partner Dakota Mortensen, with a child visible in the frame.
“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 said Thursday.
The cancellation is described by entertainment reporters as unprecedented in the franchise’s history. The Bachelor and Bachelorette have navigated controversies before, including a lengthy and damaging departure by longtime host Chris Harrison, but this is the first time a full season has been pulled from the schedule with days to spare before its premiere.
Two Separate Incidents, One Convergence Point
Understanding the timeline helps explain why Thursday happened so quickly. Two different situations are in play simultaneously, and they arrived at a single collision point.
The first involves an alleged incident in February 2026. Draper City Police Department in Utah confirmed that officers made contact with both Paul and Mortensen on February 24 and 25. The department said allegations have been made in both directions and has declined to release further details while the case remains open. That story surfaced publicly on a Sunday, the same night Paul had attended the Oscars. News of the February investigation did not immediately derail the season. As of Wednesday, a network source told Yahoo Entertainment the show was still expected to air as scheduled.
The second incident is the one that changed the calculation. TMZ published a video Thursday from a separate 2023 fight between Paul and Mortensen. That footage, separate from the February investigation, appears to show Paul striking and kicking Mortensen and throwing a chair in his direction while a young child is nearby. Paul was arrested in 2023 following the altercation shown in that video. She later entered a guilty plea in abeyance to aggravated assault, meaning the charge could be dismissed if she completes the terms of the agreement.
The combination of the active investigation and the newly released historical footage led to a decision that happened faster than the network’s own Wednesday assurances suggested it would.
What Both Sides Are Saying
Paul’s representative issued a statement through People after the cancellation was announced. “Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security,” the statement read. “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 by addressing what it described as a pattern of behavior by Paul’s ex-partner. “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.”
Paul issued a separate, more pointed statement to Variety about the video itself. “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,” she said. “Releasing an old video, which conveniently omits context, on their son’s birthday is a reprehensible attempt to distract from his own behavior.”
Mortensen’s representative responded by saying his priority is protecting the couple’s two-year-old son, Ever, and that he hopes to maintain a cooperative co-parenting relationship. The representative pushed back on any suggestion Mortensen was responsible for the timing of the allegations becoming public. On Tuesday, Mortensen filed for a protective order in Utah, requesting temporary custody of Ever and asking that Paul abstain from alcohol and drugs during her parenting time.
Paul also shares two older children, ages 8 and 5, from her marriage to her ex-husband, from whom she divorced following a “soft swinging” scandal that brought her to public attention.
The Commercial and Production Fallout
The scope of the fallout extends well beyond one television season. Production on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives has been paused for Season 5. Cast members have said the decision to stop filming was collective, with at least one noting they did not feel comfortable continuing while the investigation is ongoing. A source told Variety the halt is expected to be temporary and that the alleged February incident did not occur while cameras were rolling.
The commercial damage has been immediate. Cinnabon ended its partnership with both The Bachelorette and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives on Thursday, citing the allegations as inconsistent with the brand’s values.
Despite the February investigation becoming public, Paul continued her promotional schedule through Wednesday, appearing on Good Morning America and Live with Kelly and Mark, both ABC properties, where she briefly addressed the situation. That promotional activity continuing up until Thursday morning makes the speed of the final decision more striking.
Paul and Mortensen began dating in the summer of 2022. Their relationship has been a central storyline on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives since the show launched in 2024.
For coverage of entertainment industry decisions, influencer culture, and the intersection of social media and traditional television, The Tech Marketer tracks how digital narratives are reshaping the media landscape.
FAQ
Q1: Why was Taylor Frankie Paul’s Bachelorette season canceled? ABC pulled the season on Thursday, March 19, three days before its scheduled March 22 premiere. The immediate trigger was TMZ publishing footage from a 2023 physical altercation between Taylor Frankie Paul and ex-partner Dakota Mortensen. A Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson said the decision was made “in light of the newly released video that surfaced today.” A separate active domestic violence investigation by the Draper City Police Department in Utah, stemming from a February 2026 incident, had already been public for several days without cancellation. The combination of both situations ended the season.
Q2: What does the 2023 TMZ video show, and what were the legal consequences at the time? The footage, from a 2023 fight between Paul and Dakota Mortensen, appears to show Paul striking and kicking Mortensen and throwing a chair in his direction while a young child is nearby. Paul was arrested following the incident. She later entered a guilty plea in abeyance to aggravated assault, a legal arrangement under which the charge could be dismissed if she complies with the terms of the agreement.
Q3: What is the separate February 2026 investigation about? Draper City Police Department in Utah confirmed that officers made contact with both Paul and Mortensen on February 24 and 25, 2026, following an alleged domestic incident. The department said allegations have been made in both directions and has not released further details while the case remains active. Officials have not charged either party publicly as of the time of writing.
Q4: What has Dakota Mortensen done legally since the story broke? According to TMZ, Mortensen filed for a protective order in Utah on Tuesday, March 17. The filing requests temporary custody of the couple’s two-year-old son, Ever, and asks that Paul abstain from alcohol and drugs during her parenting time. His representative said his priority is protecting his son and that he hopes to co-parent cooperatively. The representative rejected suggestions Mortensen was responsible for the timing of the allegations becoming public.
Q5: What is the broader impact on Taylor Frankie Paul’s other projects? Production on Season 5 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which follows Paul’s broader friend group including her relationship with Mortensen, has been paused. Cast members described the pause as a collective decision made out of discomfort with continuing while the investigation is open. Cinnabon ended its sponsorship of both The Bachelorette and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives following the allegations. The pause is expected to be temporary, with a source telling Variety the February incident did not take place while cameras were rolling.
Sources & References
- Yahoo Entertainment, Taryn Ryder, Taylor Frankie Paul’s The Bachelorette Season Canceled Amid Domestic Violence Allegations
- The New York Times, Bachelorette Canceled, Taylor Frankie Paul Video
- People, Taylor Frankie Paul Throws Chairs at Dakota Mortensen With Child Nearby in Leaked Video
- TMZ, Taylor Frankie Paul Video and Dakota Mortensen Restraining Order
- Variety, Bachelorette Star Taylor Frankie Paul Statement
- Yahoo Entertainment, Cinnabon Cuts Ties With Bachelorette and Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
