Who did ABC cancel The Bachelorette for?

ABC pulls Taylor Frankie Paul’s Bachelorette season

ABC canceled the new season of The Bachelorette starring Taylor Frankie Paul after a disturbing video tied to a past domestic dispute surfaced. The decision came from Disney Entertainment Television, which said it would not move forward with Paul’s new season.

The cancellation followed the emergence of footage described as showing Paul physically assaulting her ex, Dakota Mortensen, in an incident dating to 2023. Multiple write-ups in the coverage connect the backlash directly to the leaked video and domestic-violence allegations.

What happens next

Because the show’s season was scrapped shortly before its planned premiere, ABC needed an alternative to fill the time slot. The listings in the coverage indicate reruns or replacement programming were set to air in place of Paul’s season, at least temporarily.

Why it matters

The cancellation shows how quickly major networks can change course when severe allegations become public—especially when footage is involved. It also affects everyone downstream of production: contestants, advertisers, and the franchise’s continuity.

The situation also fueled wider debates about reality TV casting decisions and the systems behind choosing contestants, while underscoring how quickly a single high-profile controversy can derail an entire season.