'The Bachelor' Alum Zach Shallcross and Kaity Biggar Predict the Future of the Franchise

The couple, who met on Season 27 of the show, weigh in on the recent cancellation of 'The Bachelorette' Season 22 amid controversy surrounding lead Taylor Frankie Paul

Mar. 21, 2026 at 9:12pm

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Zach Shallcross and Kaity Biggar, who found love on Season 27 of 'The Bachelor' in 2023, shared their thoughts on the recent cancellation of 'The Bachelorette' Season 22 due to controversy surrounding lead Taylor Frankie Paul. The couple expressed sympathy for the contestants who had to give up their lives to be on the show, only to have the season cancelled. They predicted the franchise will need to take a break and 'go back to the drawing board' to repair the damage, but also noted that some of the 'Bachelorette' contestants could potentially appear on future seasons or 'Bachelor in Paradise'.

Why it matters

The cancellation of 'The Bachelorette' Season 22 amid the Taylor Frankie Paul controversy highlights the challenges and risks faced by contestants on reality dating shows, who must leave their normal lives behind to participate. Shallcross and Biggar's perspectives, as former 'Bachelor' contestants themselves, provide valuable insight into the emotional toll this can take and the need for the franchise to carefully consider its future direction.

The details

ABC pulled the 2026 season of 'The Bachelorette' just days before the planned premiere, after video surfaced showing a domestic violence incident between lead Taylor Frankie Paul and her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen. In the clip, Paul is seen throwing multiple stools, one of which appears to hit her daughter. Shallcross and Biggar believe the franchise needs to take a break and 'go back to the drawing board' to repair the damage, but they also noted that some of the 'Bachelorette' contestants could potentially appear on future seasons or 'Bachelor in Paradise'.

  • On Thursday, ABC cancelled the 2026 season of 'The Bachelorette' just days ahead of the planned premiere.

The players

Zach Shallcross

A former contestant on Season 27 of 'The Bachelor' who found love with Kaity Biggar.

Kaity Biggar

A former contestant on Season 27 of 'The Bachelor' who found love with Zach Shallcross.

Taylor Frankie Paul

The lead of the cancelled Season 22 of 'The Bachelorette', who was involved in a domestic violence incident with her ex-boyfriend.

Dakota Mortensen

The ex-boyfriend of Taylor Frankie Paul, who was involved in the domestic violence incident that led to the cancellation of 'The Bachelorette' Season 22.

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What they’re saying

“The tough thing is you're giving up your job, leaving your pets behind, your family. You are completely removed from everything you know and placed in this bubble, and then for nothing to ever come from it is disheartening for them, probably.”

— Kaity Biggar

“As cliché as it sounds, everything happens for a reason, so maybe there's a purpose that it didn't happen. Maybe there's an opportunity for every single one of those guys that would be much better than what probably would have happened, to be honest.”

— Zach Shallcross

“I think there's a lot of repairing that needs to happen, I just don't think much will happen for a while. Everyone needs a break and they need a clean break. I'm glad they did what they did and cancelled, because if you didn't, that's insane. Back to the drawing board. Let's end it where it is, maybe.”

— Zach Shallcross

“I think I would go. If you're trying to find your person to fall in love with, sometimes great opportunities and relationships stem from that.”

— Kaity Biggar

“What a life experience, too, to give it a go, regardless of how it goes. I would say absolutely, it could happen.”

— Zach Shallcross

The takeaway

The cancellation of 'The Bachelorette' Season 22 highlights the emotional toll and risks faced by reality show contestants, who must leave their normal lives behind to participate. Zach Shallcross and Kaity Biggar's perspectives as former 'Bachelor' contestants provide valuable insight into the franchise's need to carefully consider its future direction and take steps to repair the damage caused by the Taylor Frankie Paul controversy.