ABC Reportedly Losing Millions After Canceling Taylor Frankie Paul’s ‘Bachelorette’ Season

ABC is already feeling the fallout from their decision to cancel Taylor Frankie Paul’s season of The Bachelorette.

After video showing a physical altercation between the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star, 31, and her ex Dakota Mortensen surfaced, the network announced its decision not to air Paul’s season of the reality dating series, which was set to premiere Sunday, March 22.

TMZ reported on Thursday, March 19, that the decision is coming at a huge cost.

Sources with direct knowledge told the outlet that the show costs around $2 million per episode to produce, and while Sunday’s episode is reportedly the only one finished, others were in the works and being edited.

According to TMZ’s sources, post-production staff members will have to be laid off, and ABC may lose a “fortune” of money due to various “trade outs” (such as airlines, hotels and other brands that paid money in exchange for facetime on the show).

Another issue the network is reportedly facing is who will be the upcoming Bachelor, since the next leading man was intended to be picked from Paul’s cast of singles, so the eventual casting will likely hurt ratings.

The TMZ report stated that there’s allegedly a feud regarding who will be covering all of the money lost, as well as who is responsible for casting Paul.

In the footage from the 2023 altercation (which prompted the show’s cancellation), the mother of three can be seen hurling metal barstools at Mortensen, 33. One of the stools struck Paul’s then-5-year-old daughter, Indy — whom she shares with ex-husband Tate Paul — in the head.

The MomTok founder was arrested in February 2023 and charged with one felony count of aggravated assault and two felony counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child, along with one misdemeanor count each of child abuse and criminal mischief.

She later accepted a plea deal and pleaded guilty to a third-degree felony count of aggravated assault. Her four other charges were dropped with prejudice, and the felony would drop to a misdemeanor as long as she adhered to the terms of the deal, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

In a statement to People, a rep for Paul said in part that she is “currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.”