Taylor Frankie Paul Responds After ABC Cancels ‘Bachelorette’

“We have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of ‘The Bachelorette’ at this time,” said a Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson

Taylor Frankie Paul is speaking out after her already-filmed season of The Bachelorette was canceled just days before it was set to premiere.

On Thursday, March 19, a video from 2023 was published by TMZ showing Paul throwing chairs at her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, prompting The Bachelorette, which was slated to premiere Sunday, March 22, to be pulled.

“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 in a statement.

A spokesperson for Paul says in a statement obtained by PEOPLE, “Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security.

After years of 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 that she and her children are protected from any further harm.”

“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.”

The decision came days after a source told PEOPLE that The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives halted its production on season 5 due to “some pretty serious stuff happening regarding [Paul’s] past.”

On Monday, March 16, a spokesperson for the Draper City Police Department confirmed to PEOPLE that there was an ongoing “domestic assault investigation” regarding Paul and her ex, Mortensen.

The spokesperson said “allegations have been made in both directions,” referring to Paul and Mortensen, confirming that “contact was made with involved parties on [Feb.] 24 and 25.”

Cinnabon, which recently announced “limited-time Bachelorette-themed packaging” and a menu item inspired by The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, said in a statement Tuesday that it had “made the decision to terminate its collaboration” with the shows.

Paul shares daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 5½, with ex-husband Tate Paul, plus son Ever, 2, with Mortensen.

Paul was previously arrested on suspicion of domestic violence in 2023 following an argument with Mortensen, 33, after which she faced misdemeanor charges of assault, criminal mischief and commission of domestic violence in the presence of a child.

When the footage of the 2023 incident was released by TMZ on March 19 — which saw Paul throw a chair at Mortensen, 33, in the presence of her daughter, Indy — a spokesperson for Paul told PEOPLE, “It’s sad to see the latest installment of his never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without any regard for the consequences for their child.”

“Releasing an old video, which conveniently omits context, on their son’s birthday is a reprehensible attempt to distract from his own behavior.

Thankfully, the public has seen this act before and knows who he is and sadly, many will recognize this pattern of manipulation, both in his actions on the show, and from their own experiences.”

The 2023 indictment, obtained by PEOPLE, also alleged that Paul threw “heavy, metal chairs” at Mortensen, which struck her daughter, matching what occurred in the video.

During a September 2025 interview on Call Her Daddy, Taylor said that the charges “were all dropped” and called the incident the “hardest time” in her life. “I never had hurt my daughter. I never intentionally did anything with my children,” she said.

The reality star broke her silence on the controversy to PEOPLE during a Tuesday, March 17 press preview in New York City, saying that “my heart hurts to see it, to go through it, especially at this time.”

“Just the timing is hard, and it’s a big deal. I feel like every premiere that I’ve experienced, I’ve never enjoyed fully, so this is another one … it’s extremely hard, and it took everything to get me here today,” Paul said.

“It’s just heavy. It’s a heavy time, and it’s unfortunate,” she added. “I’m struggling for sure, but also at the same time I feel like if I don’t show up, then I’m just giving these opportunities away and not enjoying what we’ve worked on and something super exciting that’s coming. I just feel like it was the right thing to do … show up even though it’s hard.”

In a statement shared with Entertainment Weekly, a rep for Mortensen said his “number one priority here is protecting” their son. “He knew there was a possibility it could come out, but he was not going to be the one to proactively do that because he has always wanted a decent relationship with Taylor. It’s been really hard to achieve that, but he wants to co-parent well,” the rep said.

They added, “He was just hoping that if he says nothing, as he usually does, it would go away. He’s never done any kind of sitdown interview about his side. He kind of just lets it all happen to him, and I think he realizes with the severity of everything now that he just can’t do that.”

On Wednesday, March 18, Paul appeared on Good Morning America, where she called the circumstances “so heavy.”

“When your life is broadcasted out there in these headlines, it’s like the end of the world, that’s what it feels like — I’m not going to lie,” she said. “I will say I’ve been here before and I got through it and I’ve shared my story and my light, and I’m hoping I can do that again.”