The Burbank-based Walt Disney Co. canceled an upcoming season of ABC’s “The Bachelorette” Thursday featuring reality star Taylor Frankie Paul, citing concerns related to a 2023 video involving the social media personality.
The unprecedented cancellation of the already filmed season of the long-running reality television show was announced Thursday, just days before its scheduled premiere Sunday.
TMZ on Thursday posted a 2023 video of an altercation between Paul and her ex, Dakota Mortensen. Paul is shown putting her partner in a headlock and throwing metal chairs at him.
“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,” a Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson said in a statement.
Paul has faced renewed scrutiny in recent days following reports of a domestic violence investigation, years after she pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in a separate incident.
ABC was aware of the 2023 domestic violence case when it cast Paul, according to the New York Times.
She rose to television prominence on the reality series “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” whose first episode included police body camera footage from her arrest.
Canceling the season is expected to result in a substantial financial loss for Disney.