A new season of The Bachelorette has been cancelled by ABC following the release of a video appearing to show the season’s star attacking her then partner.
Taylor Frankie Paul, 31, had been dating Dakota Mortensen, 33, since summer 2022, but Paul confirmed their split in January 2025.
Their son, Ever, turned 2 on Thursday. Paul is also Mum to son Ocean, 5, and daughter Indy, 8, from a previous marriage.
Mormon Wives star Paul was due to appear in an the 22nd series of the American dating show premiering on Sunday, but the network has confirmed its cancellation.
As reported by AP, Disney Entertainment Television said in a statement: ‘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 video, published by TMZ on Thursday, appears to show a 2023 incident of a physical attack in which Paul throws chairs at Mortensen in the presence of her daughter.
An indictment obtained by People alleged that the daughter was struck by a chair during the incident and alleged that Paul threw ‘heavy, metal chairs’ at Mortensen.
Paul pled guilty to aggravated assault in 2023 and is currently serving three years of probation. Charges of charges of child abuse, domestic violence in the presence of a child, and criminal mischief were dismissed.
In a statement to Entertainment Weekly (EW), Mortensen said: ‘As anyone who has seen the video will understand, this is a deeply upsetting situation.’
He went on to say: ‘I am, unfortunately, used to these baseless claims about me and our relationship, which I categorically deny. I am focusing on our son and his safety, and hope that Taylor will do the same.’
A spokesperson for Paul said to People: ‘It’s sad to see the latest instalment of his never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without any regard for the consequences for their child.
‘Releasing an old video, which conveniently omits context, on their son’s birthday is a reprehensible attempt to distract from his own behaviour. Thankfully, the public has seen this act before and knows who he is and sadly, many will recognise this pattern of manipulation, both in his actions on the show, and from their own experiences.’
A source told EW that Mortensen denies the implication that he is the reason the situation has become public.
There is also an open ‘domestic assault investigation’ involving Mortensen and Paul, People reported earlier this week.
A spokesperson for the Draper City Police Department told the publication that ‘allegations have been made in both directions’ and ‘contact was made with involved parties on [Feb] 24 and 25’.
Paul also went on ABC’s Good Morning America on Wednesday, before the network’s cancellation, and addressed the reports of alleged domestic assault.
During her appearance she said: ‘Honestly, it’s been a heavy time to see the headlines, especially during this time of The Bachelorette being released.’
The 31-year-old also confirmed that the popular reality show Secret Lives of Mormon Wives had stopped filming its fifth season.
Her co-star, Mikalya Matthews, said on Wednesday via social media: ‘It was a decision that all of us girls came up with.
‘We didn’t feel comfortable filming with everything that was happening.’
Metro has reached out to Taylor Frankie Paul, Dakota Mortensen, Disney and Hulu for comment.
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