The Bachelorette Withdraws New Season Amid Domestic Violence Allegations

Fri Mar 20 2026 00:28:23 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

ABC cancels the upcoming season of The Bachelorette following serious allegations against star Taylor Frankie Paul, highlighting concerns over the impact of domestic violence in reality television.

The upcoming season of The Bachelorette, originally set to premiere this Sunday, has been cancelled due to domestic abuse allegations involving its leading star, Taylor Frankie Paul. ABC made the decision after a video surfaced showing Paul in an altercation with her ex-partner, leading to her earlier arrest and guilty plea for aggravated assault. The network will now reevaluate its programming plans, as this incident raises significant concerns about the portrayal of domestic violence in reality shows. Meanwhile, Paul confirmed that her other series has also paused production.

The upcoming season of the popular dating show The Bachelorette has been cancelled following alarming allegations of domestic violence against the season's star, Taylor Frankie Paul, as announced by ABC.

The Disney-owned network decided to cancel the new season after footage emerged showing Paul in a heated altercation with her ex-partner, prompting serious discussions about the implications of domestic violence in the media.

Paur, a notable TikTok influencer and cast member of Hulu’s Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, faced arrest in relation to the incident in 2023 and later pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, according to reports. In light of this, ABC made its announcement stating they would not proceed with the season.

Originally scheduled to debut on Sunday, ABC is yet to disclose plans for the program's timeslot following this cancellation.

A Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson mentioned that the decision was influenced by the recently surfaced video evidence, which was first reported by TMZ.

Prior to the cancellation, Paul appeared on Good Morning America to promote the upcoming series, addressing the ongoing controversy amid supposed excitement for the show’s release. Honestly, it's been a heavy time to see the headlines, especially during this time of 'The Bachelorette' being released, she commented.

Paul also indicated that production for the next season of her other series, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, has been paused due to the current circumstances. Co-star Mikayla Matthews noted that the decision to halt filming was mutual among the cast, expressing discomfort with the unfolding situation.

Paul gained social media fame as an influencer in the #MomTok community, widely recognized for sharing parenting experiences through creative dance and video clips on platforms like TikTok. She also made headlines previously in 2022 when announcing her divorce and sharing details about her and her husband’s experiences with polyamory during their marriage.