ABC’s decision to scrap Taylor Frankie Paul’s season of The Bachelorette just days before its premiere will cost the network a staggering $28 million.
Each of the 13 episodes cost more than $2 million per show in production costs, an insider told the Daily Mail on Thursday.
The network abruptly canceled Paul’s season on Thursday after a shocking 2023 video surfaced of the 31-year-old attacking her ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen, 33, with her minor daughter present.
Just hours after the footage was released, Disney Entertainment Television, which owns ABC, confirmed in a statement that the company had ‘made the decision to not move forward with the new season of The Bachelorette at this time.’
Disney said its ‘focus is on supporting the family’ after canceling the 22nd season of the reality romance show, which was set to begin airing on Sunday, March 22.
The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Paul and ABC for further comment.
ABC’s decision to scrap Taylor Frankie Paul’s season of The Bachelorette season just days before its premiere will cost the network a staggering $28 million
Paul said she ‘is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security’ through a representative on Thursday.
The reality star, who made her name appearing on Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, alleged in the statement that she suffered ‘extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation’ in silence for years.
‘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.’
Paul’s rep said that ‘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.’
They further claimed Paul has been staying quiet ‘out of fear of further abuse, retaliation, and public shaming’ and is now ‘seeking support’, going through her options and ‘preparing to own and share her story.’
The latest domestic assault allegations may have landed Paul into further hot legal water over her 2023 case.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill has now told TMZ that they are looking to determine if the new assault accusations may have violated her ongoing probation from that particular case.
‘We have received the police report for the new allegations, and it is our understanding the case is being screened by the Draper City prosecutor. We requested the police report so our prosecutors could evaluate how those new allegations may affect the case for which the defendant is currently on probation,’ Gill told TMZ.
Mortensen has since denied ‘baseless claims’ made about himself and their relationship in a new statement for The Daily Mail.
In a statement, he said: ‘As anyone who has seen the video will understand, this is a deeply upsetting situation. I am, unfortunately, used to these baseless claims about me and our relationship, which I categorically deny.
‘I am focusing on our son and his safety, and hope that Taylor will do the same.’
Paul said she ‘is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security’ through a representative on Thursday
No one appeared to be on the premises at the Villa de la Vina mansion in LA where the show is filmed from
The decision to cancel Paul’s season of The Bachelorette came hours after TMZ published video of the reality TV star apparently fighting with Mortensen in 2023.
In the video, Paul is seen repeatedly attacking Mortensen, with the video later becoming crucial evidence in a 2023 case in which she ultimately pleaded guilty to aggravated assault.
In the footage, she is seen having an outburst, throwing a stool at Mortensen, while a child, her daughter Indy, now eight, was present.
Mortensen, who was filming the incident, said in the clip: ‘This is called physical abuse.’
The child can be heard crying as Mortensen and Paul continued fighting. Mortensen then said, ‘Your daughter just got hit in the head by a metal chair.’
Together, they have a son named Ever, who is two years old.
Paul, a mother of three, was arrested after an alleged domestic violence incident in 2023 and pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in the third degree.
In response to the resurfaced footage, Paul’s representative told the Daily Mail, ‘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.
The decision to cancel came hours after TMZ published a video of the reality TV star apparently fighting with her ex-partner, Dakota Mortensen, in 2023
The reality star, who made her name appearing on Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, alleged in the statement that she suffered ‘extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation’ in silence for years
‘Releasing an old video, which conveniently omits context, on their son’s birthday is a reprehensible attempt to distract from his own behavior.’
But just two days before the video was made public, Mortensen filed for a protective order in Utah, citing a new alleged incident that took place in February, according to the outlet.
Mortensen claimed that a verbal argument turned into a physical confrontation, where Paul allegedly choked him.
He alleged that he had to physically remove her hands from his neck, after which she shoved him into a window and struck him.
Describing the situation as ‘chaotic’ and ‘frightening,’ Mortensen said their son woke up from the commotion, which included Paul screaming and yelling, according to TMZ.
In the petition, Mortensen also referenced Paul’s previous 2023 arrest for assault.
As part of his filing, he has requested temporary custody of Ever and asked for Paul to be prohibited from drinking or using drugs during her parenting time.
On Tuesday, People reported that filming had been paused on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives over ‘serious’ issues involving Paul.
The Draper City Police Department confirmed to People the existence of an open ‘domestic assault investigation’ into Paul and Mortensen.
‘Allegations have been made in both directions,’ a spokesman for the department told the publication, adding ‘contact was made with involved parties on [February] 24 and 25.’
Mortensen has said in his own statement that he denies the ‘baseless claims’ made ‘about me and our relationship’
A Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star has since confirmed the cast had agreed to pause filming due to the scandal.
The ongoing investigation has also impacted The Bachelorette’s brand partnerships.
On March 17, Cinnabon announced it was ending its collaboration with both Paul and the ABC show, despite having previously promoted new products tied to the series.
‘Cinnabon has made the decision to terminate its collaboration with The Bachelorette and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,’ the company said in a statement.
‘Recent developments and allegations surrounding the lead cast member led us to reassess this collaboration as it no longer aligns with our brand values.’
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org; all calls are toll-free and confidential.
