Fans Petition ABC to Cancel Taylor Frankie Paul’s ‘Bachelorette’ Season After Assault Video Resurfaces

Fans are calling for ABC to cancel season 22 of The Bachelorette featuring Taylor Frankie Paul as the lead after footage from a domestic violence incident that occurred in 2023 has resurfaced online.

Fans behind the petition argued that featuring Taylor 31, sends “a dangerous message,” writing, “As a society, we must take a stand against any form of abuse and refuse to glorify those who perpetuate violence.”

They added that the push is “not about depriving someone of their livelihood,” but rather “standing up for the values of decency, respect, and justice.”

On Thursday, March 19, TMZ released video footage of Taylor’s 2023 physical altercation with her now ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen. The disturbing clip featured the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star putting Mortensen, 33, in a headlock and hitting him with her hands.

She then began throwing metal stools toward him, and one of the stools struck her daughter, who she shares with ex-husband, Tate Paul. The little girl can be heard crying before screaming out for her mother.

Taylor was arrested in 2023 after the altercation, and she was charged with assault, criminal mischief and commission of domestic violence in the presence of a child, according to a statement from the Herriman City Police Department.

In August 2023,Taylor entered a plea in abeyance tied to a third-degree felony aggravated assault charge. The agreement allowed for the charge to be lowered to a Class A misdemeanor if she meets the conditions over three years.

As part of her probation, she is barred from using alcohol or illegal drugs, according to court records obtained by People. Four other charges were dismissed with prejudice.

The 2023 incident was featured in the first season of Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, and fans saw Taylor and Mortensen, 33, reconcile. She later gave birth to their son, Ever, on March 19, 2024.

Taylor was previously chosen to be the lead of season 22 of The Bachelorette, and season 4 of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives showed her time leading up to leaving to film the popular reality dating show. The night before she left — and despite being broken up — Taylor and Mortensen slept together once again.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that filming on season 5 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives was halted after an investigation involving both Mortensen and Taylor was opened, according to the Draper City Police, per People.

On Thursday, March 19, TMZ reported that ABC had officially pulled the plug on Paul’s season.

Following the release of the footage, a rep told TMZ, “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 and selectively edited video on their son’s birthday is a reprehensible attempt to distract from his own behavior.”