Old School. Biblically Independent.
By Dustin Rowles | TV | March 19, 2026
It feels like ABC had spent all week hoping that the Taylor Frankie Paul scandal would somehow go away, but after TMZ published a 2023 smartphone video of TFP throwing chairs at ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen while her baby was in the same room, the network has wisely and finally decided to pull the plug on the forthcoming season of The Bachelorette. At least for now. We all knew it was going to be a mess when they cast her.
The new season was supposed to begin airing on Sunday. Taylor Frankie Paul had promoted it on Good Morning America and Live with Kelly and Mark this week before pulling out of a scheduled appearance on The Tonight Show last night. You know it’s bad when you can’t even sit for six minutes with Jimmy Fallon.
And it is bad. In addition to the 2023 DV incident, there is an ongoing investigation into both Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen stemming from two violent incidents in late February. Reportedly, Dakota has called child-protective services on numerous occasions, and filming for the fifth season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives has been paused because the other cast members do not feel safe filming with TFP around.
This was supposed to be a big comeback for The Bachelorette after ABC sat out the last cycle. They brought in their first reality star to goose the ratings, too. They just chose incredibly poorly — Taylor’s violent past is not only known, but it has also been documented on a reality series. I’m not sure what The Bachelorette producers were thinking.
Anyway, I hope that’s the last we see of Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen.
