ABC canceled The Bachelorette Season 22 — and this one stings differently, because the season was already fully filmed. Taylor Frankie Paul’s run as lead was set to premiere Sunday, March 22, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET. It never made it to air. Three days before its debut, TMZ published a 2023 video showing Paul in a physical altercation with her ex-boyfriend and co-parent, Dakota Mortensen. ABC pulled the plug on March 19. A two-hour repeat of American Idol filled the timeslot on March 22, and America’s Funniest Home Videos has filled the slot from March 25 onward.
It’s the first time in Bachelor franchise history that a fully produced season has been shelved before a single episode aired.
What the Video Showed
The TMZ footage dates to February 2023. It shows Paul throwing objects at Mortensen, grabbing his head, kicking him, and moving to strike him. At one point, Mortensen is heard yelling, “Your daughter is sitting right there!” A child can be heard crying in the background. ABC made its decision within hours of the clip going public.
Paul was arrested in connection with the incident and pleaded guilty to a felony count of aggravated assault in August 2023. Under a plea deal, the charge was reduced to a misdemeanor, requiring her to complete three years of probation.
How the Video Got Out
Paul’s attorney Eric Swinyard says the leak was no accident. Secret Lives of Mormon Wives co-star Jessi Draper filed a court statement alleging that Mortensen told her — days before the footage dropped — that he planned to send embarrassing videos of Paul to TMZ, specifically naming the barstool clip. “He specifically named TMZ as the outlet and a few days later, that exact video was released by TMZ,” Swinyard stated.
Mortensen’s rep denied the allegations, saying he is “used to these baseless claims” and is focused on “our son’s” safety.
ABC’s Statement and Franchise Fallout
ABC issued a brief statement on March 19:
“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.”
Paul’s rep pushed back hard, telling The Wrap: “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.”
Former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay publicly questioned how the franchise could move past Paul’s association with it. Former Bachelor star Grant Ellis said the network “needed to take a stance.”
Court Hearings and Protective Orders
The legal proceedings have run alongside the TV fallout. Both Paul and Mortensen filed dueling petitions for protective orders — Mortensen filed his the same day the TMZ video dropped. At an April 7 hearing, Third District Court Commissioner Russell Minas, who described the pair’s dynamic as “very toxic,” addressed the unsupervised visitation concern, restricting Paul from having unsupervised time with her and Mortensen’s son. At an April 30 hearing, Minas granted both protective order requests. Each party must stay at least 100 feet from the other for three years. No charges were ultimately filed against either; the Salt Lake County DA cited statute-of-limitations issues and insufficient evidence.
Paul cannot currently have unsupervised time with her and Mortensen’s 2-year-old son, Ever, due to what the court called a history of volatile behavior in front of children. Custody mediation is scheduled to reconvene on June 1.
Is the Season Gone For Good?
Maybe not. Walt Disney Television’s reality chief Rob Mills told Deadline’s Reality TV Summit on May 1 that the situation remains “day-to-day,” adding: “I think her season is a wonderful season, by Bachelor standards. If it gets seen, I’m sure people will absolutely enjoy it.” On May 4, Reality Steve speculated the season could still air this summer, with a potential announcement possibly coming at Disney and ABC’s Upfront on May 12.
Mills confirmed the broader franchise isn’t going anywhere — The Bachelor Season 30 and Bachelor in Paradise Season 11 are both set for 2027. For now, though, the timeslot Paul was supposed to own has been filled with America’s Funniest Home Videos reruns since March 25. No replacement Bachelorette has been named.
The Bachelor franchise has survived scandals before. It has never had to unair a season. The May 12 Upfront should clarify what ABC plans to do next.
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