Taylor Frankie Paul Releases Statement Amid ‘The Bachelorette’ Cancellation

Taylor Frankie Paul has released a statement via her rep amid ABC pulling the plug on her season of The Bachelorette, which was scheduled to premiere Sunday, March 22.

“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,” her spokesperson told People. “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 rep also told Variety, “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.”

A statement from a Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson was previously released, which said, “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.”

Their statement came after TMZ released a video of a 2023 domestic incident between Taylor and her ex, Dakota Mortensen, earlier today.

The Bachelorette’s cancellation also comes amid reports that Taylor and Dakota were involved in a domestic dispute. A Draper City Police Department spokesperson told People there is an open “domestic assault investigation” regarding Taylor and Dakota and that “allegations have been made in both directions.”