Bachelor Nation is speaking out after ABC pulled The Bachelorette from its schedule. ABC announced its decision not to air the season on Thursday, hours after video of a 2023 domestic dispute between star Taylor Frankie Paul and ex-girlfriend Dakota Mortensen was leaked online.
Former Bachelorette star Rachel Lindsay was caught off guard when the news broke during a taping of her podcast, Bachelor Party.
Lindsay, who appeared on The Bachelor Season 21 before starring on The Bachelorette Season 13, was scheduled to record a Spotify podcast episode about the new season. After about three minutes, an announcement was made that the performance had been canceled. She was clearly in shock.
“I think it’s over. We were trying to think of different scenarios, because this is not just, ‘Oh, we put everything on one person. This person did this.’ This is the system that allowed something like this to happen,” she said. “At this point, the names ‘The Bachelorette,’ ‘The Bachelor,’ are tarnished. How do we move beyond that? We can’t do that.”
Then she asked, “How do you believe that this name, ‘The Bachelor,’ ‘Bachelorette,’ means something to people and still moves forward? You don’t believe it. When we moved Taylor Frankie Paul[from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives]we were already having doubts. Now it’s completely destroyed. Like, why did you guys think this was okay?” That’s a question that needs to be answered. We’re not going to get that from Taylor at this point. You could make that ‘Secret Lives’ argument. ”
Before their son was born, Paul was arrested for allegedly punching, choking and throwing a chair at Mortensen and pleaded guilty to aggravated assault. Her arrest delayed filming between the first and second episodes of “The Mormon Wife.” Although the police report was released and Taylor was on probation, video of the incident was not released publicly until Thursday.
“I think we also have to acknowledge that so many people are losing their jobs, and that’s part of the irresponsibility of the network,” Lindsey said. “Today’s industry is so selective when it comes to new shows that people even quit their old positions and the jobs don’t exist.”
“We just have to admit, who ignored these issues and videos and background (checks) and knew this could come to light and negatively impact the franchise? Whether it’s one person or multiple people, it’s a bigger loss now. It’s not just that the season won’t be aired. It’s that people are going to lose their jobs…Someone is going to have to take responsibility for not vetting this out.” ”
Three days before The Bachelorette was canceled, Mormon Housewives suspended filming for season 5 after new domestic violence allegations surfaced from both Paul and Mortensen.
After announcing the cancellation, Paul’s rep released a statement saying, “Taylor is extremely grateful for ABC’s support as her family’s safety and security is her top priority. After years of enduring extensive emotional and physical abuse and threats of retaliation in silence, Taylor has finally found the strength to confront her accusers and is taking steps to protect her and her children from further harm.”
