ABC has officially canceled the upcoming season of The Bachelorette starring social media personality Taylor Frankie Paul, following the public release of previously sealed footage showing a violent 2023 altercation between Paul and her former partner, Dakota Mortensen.
The decision came hours after TMZ published the video, which had been entered as evidence in Taylor Frankie Paul’s aggravated assault case. The footage depicts Paul repeatedly attacking Mortensen inside a residence while their young daughter was present. At one point, Paul is seen hurling a metal barstool toward Mortensen, despite his audible warning that their child was nearby. Two additional stools were thrown before the sound of a crying child is heard on the recording.
According to the associated police report, the couple’s 5-year-old daughter sustained a visible injury described as a “goose egg” on her head during the incident. Law enforcement responded to the home that evening after neighbors reported loud disturbances.
Taylor Frankie Paul, 28, of Herriman, Utah, later entered a guilty plea to a felony count of aggravated assault. As part of a negotiated resolution, she received three years of probation—set to conclude this August—with the possibility of the conviction being expunged upon successful completion. Prosecutors dismissed four additional charges, including counts related to child endangerment and property damage.
The resurfaced footage has intensified scrutiny on both parties. The Utah Division of Children and Family Services has confirmed an active investigation into allegations of ongoing domestic conflict between Paul and Mortensen. A court has also mandated that both individuals complete psychological evaluations.
In a statement provided to media outlets, a representative for Paul criticized the timing and context of the video’s release, calling it a “selectively edited” attempt to undermine Paul during a highly publicized moment in her career. The statement further alleged that Mortensen has engaged in a pattern of manipulative behavior, both privately and on camera.
The fallout has extended beyond ABC. Production on Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, in which Paul is a central cast member, has been temporarily suspended after multiple co-stars declined to continue filming amid the controversy.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Taylor Frankie Paul repeatedly attacked Dakota Mortensen during the 2023 incident in which she pled guilty to aggravated assault; video shows that one of her children was struck during the fight.
— TMZ (@TMZ) March 19, 2026
Trigger Warning. https://t.co/77CKYpLxvn pic.twitter.com/avr49EacY3
Taylor Frankie Paul had been actively promoting her Bachelorette season in the days leading up to its scheduled Sunday premiere. She appeared on several national morning programs, where interviewers pressed her about past domestic violence allegations. Following the cancellation, Paul canceled a planned appearance on The Tonight Show.
Disney Entertainment released a brief statement confirming the cancellation: “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.”
Neither Mortensen nor ABC has provided additional on-the-record comments as of this reporting.
The incident has reignited broader conversations about vetting processes for reality television casting, the handling of domestic violence cases involving public figures, and the responsibilities of networks when new evidence emerges after production has concluded.