ABC says it will not move forward ‘at this time’ after a video surfaced tied to an alleged 2023 altercation between Taylor Frankie Paul and ex Dakota Mortensen.
ABC has pulled the plug on Taylor Frankie Paul’s season of “The Bachelorette” amid the recent domestic abuse investigation.
“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 spokesperson for Disney Entertainment Television tells Fox News Digital in a statement.
On March 15, production for season 5 of “Mormon Wives” came to a halt due to an alleged physical altercation between Paul and her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen that occurred in 2023, according to TMZ.
On Thursday, TMZ released video that shows Paul physically attacking Mortensen while in the presence of her daughter.
Authorities arrested Paul in 2023 on charges of aggravated ᴀssault, two counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child, child abuse with injury and criminal mischief.
Paul shares two children with ex-husband Tate Paul: Indy, 8, and son, Ocean, 5, Additionally, she and Mortensen share a one-year-old son, Ever.
The 2023 complaint alleged that Paul threw a phone, a wooden play set and “heavy metal chairs” at Mortensen during an argument. One of the chairs allegedly hit one of her children who was sitting next to Mortensen on the couch.
Paul pleaded guilty to aggravated ᴀssault, while the other four charges were dropped.
“It was a regret,” she previously told Fox News Digital about her arrest. “Hitting rock bottom, there’s only one way to go, and it helped me to go up. So, honestly, as bad as that night was, I think it was also like a blessing in disguise and maybe could have saved my life in a weird way, like, where I was just drowning in misery.”
Earlier this week, a spokesperson for the Draper City Police Department told People magazine that both Paul and Mortensen are part of an open “domestic ᴀssault investigation.”
The spokesperson added that “allegations have been made in both directions” and “contact was made with involved parties on [Feb] 24th and 25th.”
A representative for the Draper City Police has not responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Paul was announced as this season’s next “Bachelorette” in September. Earlier this week, she addressed the 2023 domestic violence allegations during an appearance on “Good Morning America.”
“Honestly, it’s been a heavy time to see the headlines, especially during this time of ‘The Bachelorette’ being released, and it’s supposed to be a really exciting time,” Paul said.
“I’m a person that will always speak my truth, and that’s what I’m known for. And, so, when the time is right, I will be. But right now, just trying to be in the present moment and focus on this.
“My kids do come first. My kids come first, and so it’s been like just a back-and-forth process trying to be here in the present moment, you know, worrying about home and headlines. It’s been stressful to be honest.”
