The Bachelorette has been cancelled in the US — three days before it was due to air — following the release of a disturbing video involving its lead, reality TV star Taylor Frankie Paul.

The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives star and TikToker was set to headline the new season of the dating show but, just days before its planned March 22 premiere, ABC pulled it from its schedule.

The decision came hours after TMZ published a two-year-old video which appears to show Paul attacking her ex-partner, Dakota Mortensen.

“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,” a Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson said.

The video, filmed in 2023 and published by TMZ on Thursday, appears to show Paul hitting Mortensen as he records the incident.

“This is called physical abuse,” he says while filming.

At one point, Paul can be seen throwing chairs at him while her eight-year-old daughter was in the room.

The Bachelorette in the US has been cancelled three days before it was due to air.The Bachelorette in the US has been cancelled three days before it was due to air. Credit: Instagram Dakota Mortensen said in a statement his priority is their two-year-old son. Dakota Mortensen said in a statement his priority is their two-year-old son. Credit: Instagram

 

According to reports published by Today, Paul was arrested in 2023 after a fight with Mortensen, which was documented in the first episode of The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives.

She was charged with three misdemeanours: assault, criminal mischief and domestic violence in the presence of a child.

Paul later reached a plea deal in her assault case, pleading guilty to aggravated assault. The other charges against her were dropped.

In March this year, the Draper City Police Department allegedly told PEOPLE that Paul and Mortensen, who have a two-year-old son together, are connected to an open “domestic assault investigation”.

The spokesperson said “allegations have been made in both directions” and “contact was made with involved parties”.

Taylor Frankie Paul speaks out

In September 2025, it was announced Paul would lead season 22 of The Bachelorette.

She is best known as one of the creators of #MomTok, a group of Utah mothers who post viral dance videos on TikTok, and as part of the cast of The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives.

Following the cancellation of season 22, the future of The Bachelorette franchise has not been revealed.

A spokesperson for Paul told NBC News the reality star is grateful for ABC’s support, claiming she had been “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 she and her children are protected from any further harm,” the statement read.

“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.”

Mortensen’s representative said in a statement that “his number one priority here is protecting” the couple’s son, Ever.

Paul, a mother of three, also has two children — an 8-year-old daughter and a 5-year-old son — with her ex-husband, Tate Paul.