ABC has canceled Taylor Frankie Paul’s new season of The Bachelorette, which was scheduled to premiere this Sunday night. The network will reportedly air a rerun of American Idol Season 24 in the show’s time slot.
American Idol to Replace The Bachelorette on ABC
Earlier this week, it was announced that the new season of The Bachelorette, featuring Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul, will no longer air on ABC. The news follows reports that Paul is being investigated for a domestic violence incident involving her ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen.
On Thursday, TMZ published footage from 2023 of Paul throwing chairs at Mortensen while her daughter was in the room. Paul was arrested that same year for alleged domestic violence against Mortensen, with whom she shares a son named Ever.
“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,” a Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson said Thursday.
According to People, ABC will be airing a rerun of American Idol, which is currently in Season 24, in the show’s scheduled time slot this Sunday. New episodes of the singing competition air on Monday nights. The show is currently in its Hawaii round, as the Top 20 performs for America’s votes.
SEE ALSO: ‘AMERICAN IDOL’ CONTESTANT HANNAH HARPER IS STRUGGLING WITH THE SHOW’S SCHEDULE
How Is Paul Responding to the Controversy?
“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,” a spokesperson for Paul told People.
The spokesperson went on to say that the video released by TMZ “conveniently omits context,” calling it an attempt by Mortensen “to distract from his own behavior.” They added, “Thankfully, the public has seen this act before and knows who he is and sadly, many will recognize this pattern of manipulation, both in his actions on the show, and from their own experiences.”
During a press preview of the new season before its cancellation, Paul said, “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.”
