Taylor Frankie Paul video forces shock ‘Bachelorette’ cancellation days before premiere

A new season of The Bachelorette has been abruptly cancelled after a leaked video involving its lead, Taylor Frankie Paul, surfaced online, triggering widespread backlash just days before its scheduled premiere.

The season, which was set to debut on Sunday, was pulled on Thursday after footage from a 2023 incident began circulating. The clip, first reported by TMZ, appears to show Paul placing her partner in a headlock and throwing metal chairs at him while their child is nearby.

“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,” a Disney spokesperson said. “Our focus is on supporting the family.”

Paul, who rose to fame through The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, had already been under renewed scrutiny after reports highlighted a past domestic violence investigation. She had previously pleaded guilty to aggravated assault following a separate 2023 incident.

In a statement shared through her team, Paul pushed back against the timing and context of the leak, describing it as part of a wider pattern of behaviour.

Taylor Frankie Paul has responded to a leaked video from 2023 that appears to show her throwing metal stools at her ex, Dakota Mortensen, while her child is nearby.

A spokesperson for Paul said: “It’s sad to see the latest installment of his never-ending, desperate,… pic.twitter.com/kiM4OW3hAC

— Variety (@Variety) March 19, 2026

Her response quickly intensified the conversation online, with viewers sharply divided over both the video and her explanation.

Many users criticised the situation, arguing the footage “doesn’t need context” and raising concerns about the presence of a child during the altercation. Others questioned why the show had moved forward with her casting at all, pointing to her past legal history.

The fallout marks one of the most serious controversies to hit The Bachelor franchise, and one of the rare instances where a season has been pulled so close to its premiere date.