ABC Cancels Bachelorette Season After Resurfaced Video Shows Alleged Domestic Abuse

The network could lose tens of millions of dollars due to the last-minute cancellation.

Mar. 20, 2026 at 4:21am

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ABC has canceled the upcoming 22nd season of The Bachelorette after a resurfaced 2023 video showed lead Taylor Frankie Paul allegedly attacking her ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen. The network could lose tens of millions of dollars due to the last-minute cancellation, which came just days before the season's scheduled premiere. The video showed Paul throwing chairs at Mortensen while their young daughter was present, leading to Paul's arrest for alleged domestic violence.

Why it matters

The Bachelorette is one of ABC's highest-profile reality TV franchises, and the last-minute cancellation of a season is highly unusual. The incident highlights growing concerns about domestic violence in the entertainment industry and the challenges networks face in vetting and managing talent with troubled personal lives.

The details

According to reports, each episode of The Bachelorette costs an estimated $2 million to produce, and the season was expected to be between 9 and 13 episodes long. The network also had advertising deals and "trade out" agreements with brands that could be impacted by the cancellation. The franchise also has a popular podcast that could be affected.

  • In 2023, the alleged incident of domestic violence occurred between Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen.
  • On March 19, 2026, a video of the alleged incident surfaced, leading ABC to cancel the upcoming season of The Bachelorette just days before its scheduled premiere on March 22.

The players

Taylor Frankie Paul

The lead of the canceled 22nd season of The Bachelorette, who was arrested in 2023 for alleged domestic violence against her ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen.

Dakota Mortensen

Taylor Frankie Paul's ex-boyfriend, who was allegedly attacked by Paul in 2023 in an incident that was caught on video.

ABC

The television network that canceled the upcoming season of The Bachelorette due to the resurfaced video of the alleged domestic violence incident involving Taylor Frankie Paul.

Warner Bros. Unscripted TV

The production company that owns The Bachelorette franchise and now faces the challenge of distributing the canceled season internationally.

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What they’re saying

“It's sad to see the latest installment of his never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without any regard for the consequences for their child. Releasing an old video, which conveniently omits context, on their son's birthday is a reprehensible attempt to distract from his own behavior.”

— Taylor Frankie Paul's spokesperson

“As anyone who has seen the video will understand, this is a deeply upsetting situation. I am, unfortunately, used to these baseless claims about me and our relationship, which I categorically deny. I am focusing on our son and his safety, and hope that Taylor will do the same.”

— Dakota Mortensen

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.