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Fans of the Bachelor franchise are accustomed to hearing that the upcoming season will be the most “shocking” one ever. But this time, it’s the events leading up to the season that have been hard to believe. In fact, the life of season 22’s Bachelorette<\/em> became so controversial, the latest season won’t even make it on air.<\/p>\n On Thursday, just days before the newest season of The<\/em> Bachelorette<\/em>, starring Taylor Frankie Paul, star of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives<\/em>, was scheduled to premiere, ABC pulled the plug. <\/p>\n The shocking news came shortly after TMZ <\/em>published a video<\/a> from 2023 which showed Paul kicking, hitting, and throwing chairs at her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen. <\/p>\n \u201cIn 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 <\/em>at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family,” a Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson said in a statement.<\/a><\/p>\n While the video of Paul was troubling, it wasn’t the first hint of controversy to surface before the latest season of ABC’s hit reality dating show. It comes after reports that the filming of Mormon Wives<\/em> was paused amid an ongoing domestic violence investigation into Paul and Mortensen. Days ago, a spokesperson for the Draper police confirmed to People<\/em><\/a> the \u201cdomestic assault investigation” involving the two is active and said \u201callegations have been made in both directions.” Paul was previously arrested<\/a> in 2023 for alleged domestic violence and pleaded guilty<\/a> to one count of aggravated assault. <\/p>\n As for the Bachelor franchise, it’s far from the only controversy in recent years. Last year, after ABC opted out of filming a new season of The Bachelorette<\/em> season altogether. The decision came as two of the franchise’s executive producers exited<\/a> amid allegations of a “toxic workplace.” <\/p>\n The franchise has been accused of a long history of racist practices,<\/a> most visibly, a lack of diversity. The network let go of long-time host Chris Harrison in 2021 after a controversial conversation<\/a> with Rachel Lindsay, the first Black Bachelorette.<\/em> <\/p>\n Zooming out, the abrupt cancellation underscores how fragile even one of TV\u2019s most durable reality franchises has become. Once built on fairy-tale endings and predictable drama, The Bachelor<\/em> universe is now grappling with a steady drumbeat of off-screen controversies that are increasingly impossible to separate from what airs on screen.<\/p>\nInvestigation was already underway<\/h2>\n
A spokesperson for Paul told NBC News<\/em><\/a> in a statement that Paul is \u201cvery grateful for ABC\u2019s support as she prioritizes her family\u2019s safety and security.” The statement continued, \u201cAfter 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.” The statement also noted that Paul is preparing to share her story with the world. <\/p>\nA franchise with ongoing controversy<\/h2>\n