Trigger Warning: This story contains descriptions of domestic violence. The video embedded may be disturbing to viewers.
ABC has cancelled Taylor Frankie Paul‘s season of The Bachelorette— which was set to premiere on Sunday— following the release of a disturbing video of Taylor fighting with her baby daddy Dakota Mortensen in 2023.
The video— which was leaked by TMZ earlier Thursday— shows Taylor pushing, kicking and even throwing a metal stool at Dakota (which ended up hitting one of Taylor’s kids). Taylor pleaded guilty to aggravated assault for that incident, but according to TMZ, the video from the assault had not been released or viewed publicly until Thursday.
A Disney Entertainment spokesperson confirmed to the site that the video being leaked was the final nail in the coffin for Taylor’s ‘Bachelorette’ season.
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“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,” the statement reads.
TMZ also states that the higher-ups at the network had not seen the video until the site posted it Thursday morning.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Taylor Frankie Paul repeatedly attacked Dakota Mortensen during the 2023 incident in which she pled guilty to aggravated assault; video shows that one of her children was struck during the fight.
Trigger Warning. https://t.co/77CKYpLxvn pic.twitter.com/avr49EacY3
— TMZ (@TMZ) March 19, 2026
Taylor’s other show, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, is also currently on pause due to an alleged incident that occurred in February between Taylor and Dakota. Both have been accused of domestic violence and have each have been ordered to undergo psychological exams.
During the February incident, Taylor and Dakota–- who are parents to one-year-old son Ever–- got into an argument, during which Taylor allegedly choked her ex, ripped his necklace off, and grabbed his throat and face, all while their son was in the room.
A source told TMZ that Dakota called the police on the night of the incident, but that Taylor convinced him to change his story and tell police that everything was fine. After the exes made up, Taylor allegedly returned to Dakota’s home the following night where the two engaged in another argument that allegedly turned physical.
That incident caused Taylor to lose a brand deal with Cinnabon, just days after the baked goods company posted a joint collaboration with both ‘The Bachelorette’ and ‘SLOMW’ on social media. The brand had been planning some Bachelorette-themed promotions, including limited-edition CinnaPacks packaging. Cinnabon also planned to release a Swirled Soda inspired by a viral drink from ‘Mormon Wives,’ complete with themed cup sleeves. The product line has since been scrapped.
Before news broke on Thursday that her ‘Bachelorette’ season was cancelled, Taylor’s rep provided a statement to Variety regarding the release of the 2023 video.
“It’s sad to see the latest installment of [Dakota’s] never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without any regard for the consequences for their child,” the rep stated. “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 the own experiences.”
UPDATE! Dakota has filed for a protective order against Taylor and is now for full custody of Ever.
TMZ reported Thursday that Dakota provided details of what he says happened during his altercations with Taylor on February 23 and February 24. In his protective order request— which was filed in Utah on Tuesday– Dakota claims that he was at Taylor’s home with Ever when an argument escalated and became physical. He claims Taylor choked him, and that he had to “physically remove her hands from his neck while she shoved him into a window and struck him.”
Dakota has filed for temporary custody of Ever and requests that Taylor be barred from drinking or using drugs while Ever is in her care.
Taylor’s ex-husband (and other baby daddy) Tate Paul also applied for protective order against Taylor on Tuesday. Taylor’s baby daddiii actually ran into each other at the courthouse when both were there to file for their orders.
11 Responses
Watching that paper clip of a woman go ham on a grown man the way she did, no matter what set her off, as well as no care whatsoever for her young daughter standing right there, tells you all you need to know about her. That IS who she is. The fact that she’s always boohooing about his player status while she’s mosh pitting him behind closed doors is crazy. Girly needs Jesus.
Anyone who sees that video should see how manipulative he is. He allows her, because let’s be real he could easily overpower her, to put him in a chokehold and keep throwing chairs. He never removes her daughter from the situation either he just keeps egging her on and recording so he can play the victim. He is only releasing a video that is 3 years old to prevent her from being the Bachelorette. He had no problem with filming with her for Mormon wives after this had happened because it benefitted him. #teamtaylor
Yes because a man not fighting a woman makes him manipulative. 🙄 what a wild take. Good men don’t hit a woman because they CAN take them out easily. Do you have any idea the amount of control it took for him not to grab her up by her hair and toss her into the yard? As soon as he would’ve fought back you’d be the first one here saying “she weighs as much as his jean, real men control themselves.”
Who was following who in that video? Who threw the stool which hit a child? Explain how that’s on him.
Good. I saw the video and it was horrendous. My heart breaks for what her children have seen.
I’m actually shocked. I didn’t think they had it in them to cancel. It was the video that did it. It’s one thing to hear about it second hand. It’s quite another to watch her doing it. I’m glad they pulled the plug on it honestly.
I have had one paragraph of this post ringing in my head.
“It’s sad to see the latest installment of [Dakota’s] never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without any regard for the consequences for their child,” the rep stated. “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 the own experiences.”
This is Jenelle Evans and Amber Portwood level of delusion. “Without any regard for the consequences of their child?” ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! She violently assaulted Dakota in front of them, she injured her daughter throwing a metal chair which could have killed her had it hit her in the head. When did she have regard for her children? And “it’s taken out of context?” There is no context that justifies her commuting domestic violence and endangering her children. Apparently this is routine for her.
It’s also shocking how all of the other women vouched for her. She truly seems totally unhinged.
Read in another article that the metal chair she threw did hit her daughter in the head and resulted in a goose egg injury.
I totally agree…the entire story is horrible, but that statement put it over the top. From a PR perspective, it’s incredibly tone-deaf and destructive; from a human perspective, it’s despicable victim-blaming BS. If that’s the direction she’s choosing to go in, I don’t foresee her coming back from this professionally. Above all, I’m so sorry there are children involved.