“The Bachelorette” is on pause amid Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen’s toxic fallout. The ABC reality show, which was set to premiere on Sunday, March 22, has been pulled from the schedule. The network has not yet shared whether it will air at a later date.
“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,” the statement from a Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson reads.
Variety confirmed on Monday that “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” Season 5 has paused filming due to allegations of domestic violence made by both parties; the Draper City Police Department in Utah is investigating the allegations after police were called by Mortensen’s roommate.
Paul spent the week promoting “The Bachelorette,” doing multiple interviews at a press dinner in New York on Monday, and appearing on “Live With Kelly and Mark” and “Good Morning America.”
“Honestly, just like, my heart hurts to see it, to go through it, especially at this time,” Paul told People at the event. “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.”
The most recent season of “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” captured the weeks leading up to Paul filming her season of “The Bachelorette,” spending the night with Mortensen the day before filming began.
Paul and Mortensen, who share a 1-year-old son Ever, have had an up-and-down relationship for years. In 2023, she was arrested for alleged domestic violence after an argument, during which her daughter from her first marriage was in the room. Amid the arrest, which aired in the Season 1 premiere of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” was accused of throwing a chair at her partner, which allegedly hit her daughter. At the time, the TikTok star pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault; charges of child abuse, criminal mischief and domestic violence in the presence of a child were dismissed.
On Thursday, TMZ posted video of the incident, which shows Paul seemingly attacking Mortensen and throwing multiple chairs at him.