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Taylor Frankie Paul is breaking her silence after ABC canceled her season of The Bachelorette three days before its premiere.
On Thursday (March 19), the network pulled the upcoming season 22 of its hit reality dating show ahead of the scheduled March 22 premiere amid a domestic assault investigation involving its star and her ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen. The move came hours after TMZ shared a newly unsurfaced video from 2023 capturing a physical altercation with Mortensen, including Paul throwing chairs at her ex while her daughter was reportedly in the room. According to the outlet, Paul previously pleaded guilty to aggravated assault for the incident.
"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 spokesperson for Disney Entertainment Television said in a statement on Thursday.
Following the cancellation, Paul spoke out through her reps to address the situation.
"Taylor is very grateful for ABC's support as she prioritizes her family's safety and security," her spokesperson said in a statement obtained by People. "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."
The statement continued, "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."
The decision to cancel Paul's season of The Bachelorette follows another alleged domestic dispute between Paul and Mortensen from February, with a spokesperson for the Draper City Police Department confirming on Monday (March 16) that there was an ongoing "domestic assault investigation" involving the exes and that "allegations have been made in both directions."
Paul and Mortenson, who share 2-year-old son Ever, began dating in summer 2022, but she confirmed in January 2025 that they had split. She is also a mom to daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 5, whom she shares with ex-husband Tate Paul. Her other reality show The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives also halted production of its fifth season last week over "some pretty serious stuff happening regarding [Paul's] past."
After the 2023 footage was released, a spokesperson for the reality star condemned the "old" video they said "conveniently omits context," People reports.
"It's sad to see the latest installment of his never-ending, desperate, attention-speaking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without any regard for the consequences for their child," the rep said. "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."