Taylor Frankie Paul, the TikTok influencer and star of ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,’ has shared her heartache after abrupt cancellation of her season of ‘The Bachelorette’ just days before its premiere.The decision came on March 19, 2026, following the release of a 2023 video by TMZ showing Paul in a physical altercation with her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen. A Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson confirmed the pull, stating, “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 video that changed the course of a wonderful series
The footage depicted Taylor Frankie Paul throwing chairs at Mortensen in front of her child, reigniting an ongoing domestic violence investigation in Utah involving the pair. Paul and Mortensen, both part of the #MomTok community of Mormon influencers, have a complicated history. Paul first rose to fame in 2022 after revealing she had “stepped out” of her marriage through swinger arrangements with other couples, leading to her divorce from her first husband, Tate Paul. She later began dating Mortensen, but their relationship turned volatile, prompting authorities to step in late last year.
Contestants left feeling betrayed
Filming for Taylor Frankie Paul’s “Bachelorette” season wrapped months ago, with the show set to debut on March 22 under host Jesse Palmer. The cancellation blindsided contestants, who reportedly feel “betrayed” after sacrificing time and emotions for the opportunity. One unnamed contestant told E! News, “We all sacrificed so much to participate in this. We entered with open hearts and treated her with kindness and respect, giving her a second chance.” Production on season 5 of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” has also paused amid the probe.
Taylor Frankie Paul’s emotional response
In an exclusive interview with People magazine, Taylor Frankie Paul got candid about the emotional toll. “Just the timing is hard, and it’s a big deal,” she said. “I feel like every premiere that I’ve experienced, I’ve never enjoyed fully, so this is another one … it’s extremely hard, and it took everything to get me here today.” Despite the pain, Paul chose to attend a related event, explaining, “I’m struggling for sure, but also at the same time I feel like if I don’t show up, then I’m just giving these opportunities away and not enjoying what we’ve worked on and something super exciting that’s coming. I just feel like it was the right thing to do … show up even though it’s hard.”“It’s just heavy. It’s a heavy time, and it’s unfortunate,” Paul added, her voice carrying the weight of public scrutiny. Fans of the 32-year-old influencer, known for her raw honesty about faith, family and fame, have rallied online with messages of support.
