- Taylor Frankie Paul is reportedly involved in a “domestic assault investigation” with her ex, Dakota Mortensen (with allegations made in “both directions”).
- ABC reportedly still plans to go ahead with The Bachelorette, which is scheduled to premiere on March 22.
- Sources tell TMZ that the network was blindsided, and have hired a crisis PR manager.
Update 3/19/2026: ABC has officially canceled Taylor Frankie Paul’s season of The Bachelorette, which was scheduled to premiere this Sunday, March 22.
A Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson released a statement on Thursday, March 19, saying, “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.”
Original story 3/17/2026: Taylor Frankie Paul’s upcoming and very buzzy season of The Bachelorette is scheduled to premiere in just a couple of days on March 22, and suddenly the timing could not be worse. News recently broke in TMZ that Taylor and her ex, Dakota Mortensen, had a “blowup” so “intense” that production was halted on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season 5—which is currently filming in Utah.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the Draper City Police Department told People that there’s an open “domestic assault investigation” regarding Taylor and Dakota, that “allegations have been made in both directions,” and that “contact was made with involved parties on [Feb] 24th and 25th.”
So…will ABC still air The Bachelorette? According to Variety, “The investigation will not impact the release schedule or press plans for The Bachelorette.” However, TMZ reports that producers were blindsided and that “ABC has hired a public relations crisis manager to handle the fallout.”
Meanwhile, info on how Taylor’s season ends has been released by longtime Bachelor Nation spoiler source Reality Steve. You can read about who wins Taylor’s season, if they got engaged, and whether or not they are still together below.
