The last-minute decision to shelve season 22 of The Bachelorette is expected to trigger “millions” of dollars in losses and potential job cuts.
Earlier today, Disney Entertainment Television canceled the upcoming season of the reality dating show, which had been scheduled to premiere on Sunday, March 22.
The decision came shortly after TMZ published a video of this season’s lead, TikTok influencer Taylor Frankie Paul, brawling with her ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen in 2023.
The footage showed Taylor kicking Dakota and throwing multiple metal chairs in his direction. He pleaded with her to stop because her 5-year-old daughter was in the room. The little girl screamed and cried for help during the altercation.
Related: ‘The Bachelorette’ Season 22 Canceled Over Taylor Frankie Paul Abuse Video
A police report said the child was struck during the fight and had a knot on her head. The incident led to Taylor’s arrest. She pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and was sentenced to three years probation, which is scheduled to end in August.
Both she and Mortensen are said to be under investigation by the Utah Division of Children and Family Services after another incident this year.
TMZ, which has been at the forefront of covering the scandal, reported Thursday that The Bachelorette “costs around $2 million an episode to produce, and there’s already finger-pointing.”
Filming was completed on the season, but most of the episodes still needed to be edited. With the season shelved, the show’s “huge” post-production staff is now in limbo and facing layoffs.
The series also has “trade outs” with hotels, airlines, and other companies that offer money or services to be featured on camera, potentially leading to more losses for ABC.
Taylor Frankie Paul stars on Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, about a group of Utah-based TikTok influencers. The single mother-of-three has millions of followers on social media and is known for her “MomTok” videos.
Her arrest details are public record, yet she has continued to land TV and brand deals.
Warner Horizon Unscripted Television, a division of Warner Bros., produces The Bachelorette for Disney and ABC.
Earlier today, Variety reported “ABC will lose tens of millions of dollars,” including license fees to Warner Bros. if the season never airs.
Sources told the outlet Warner Bros. executives “had concerns” about casting the influencer, “given her well-known history of domestic violence,” yet a decision was made to move forward.
Another insider told the outlet Warner Bros. “agreed” to have her be the face of The Bachelorette after being told she and Mormon Wives are “important” money-makers for Disney.
Hulu, which is owned by Disney like ABC, paused production on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives earlier this week as the scandal exploded.
The Bachelorette faced another scandal over its vetting process in 2018, after news surfaced that contestant Lincoln Adim was convicted of indecent assault and battery just one week before season 14 premiered.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on a cruise ship in Boston, Massachusetts in 2016, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office told Urban Hollywood 411 at the time.
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