Taylor Frankie Paul Bachelorette Contestant Reacts to Season Cancelation
Details about Taylor Frankie Paul‘s now-canceled Bachelorette season are coming to light.
After ABC axed season 22 of the dating show days before its premiere over a 2023 video of Taylor and her ex Dakota Mortensen caught in a physical altercation, one contestant who vied for her heart spoke out about his experience on set, alleging there was “a lot of drama” between cast members.
“Not to the point of being violent, but she exploded on a couple of us during the show,” he exclusively told E! News. “I just thought she was leaning into the drama.”
The contestant also alleged that Taylor wanted her suitors to play “Truth Box,” a game introduced by the 31-year-old’s Secret Lives of Mormon Wives costar Jessi Ngatikaura Draper on the Hulu series, in which the cast submitted anonymous questions to each other to air out their grievances.
“Every single one of the guys, we all had beef with each other,” he explained. “None of us agreed to do the Truth Box. We said, ‘We’ll tell each other to our faces exactly what we think of each other in front of you. We don’t need a Truth Box to hide behind.'”
Although the contestant “didn’t agree with some of the guys” on how they handled the tension building inside the mansion, he said he appreciated how “everybody was very open about their feelings about everybody.”
He added, “Everybody were great dudes.”
That is why he’s now “so f–king pissed” about the season being canceled.
“We all gave up so much to go do this. We all came in with open hearts,” he shared. “Obviously, the way she acted and the way she treated all of us in hindsight is just a waste of time, a waste of energy, a waste of emotional intelligence.”
Disney/John Fleenor
And while the contestant was admittedly emotional when he saw the video of Taylor and Dakota’s 2023 physical confrontation, he hopes that the MomToker “gets the help that she needs.”
As he put it, “It’s pretty heavy for all of us.”
E! has reached out to ABC for comment but hasn’t heard back. A Disney Entertainment spokesperson previously told E! regarding the cancellation, “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.”
In the wake of the cancellation, her rep told E! News in a March 19 statement that the reality star is “very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security.”
“Taylor has remained silent out of fear of further abuse, retaliation, and public shaming,” the spokesperson continued in part. “She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.”
Disney/Bahareh Ritter
Days before the cancellation, E! News confirmed that production on season five of Mormon Wives had been halted following a separate alleged altercation between Taylor and Dakota, who share a 2-year-old son together. Utah police told People that a “domestic assault investigation” has been opened and “allegations have been made in both directions.”
For his part, Dakota—who has recently filed a restraining order against Taylor—denied the allegations against him, calling them “baseless claims.”
“As anyone who has seen the video will understand, this is a deeply upsetting situation,” he told E! News in a March 19 statement. “I am focusing on our son and his safety, and hope that Taylor will do the same.”
For more details on recently-canceled shows, read on.
Peacock/NBCUniversal
RENEWED: Ashanti and Nelly: We Belong Together
Music to our ears! The Peacock reality series following Ashanti and Nelly‘s decades-long love story will return for season two.
Sophy Holland/Bravo
ON PAUSE: The Real Housewives of Miami
The Bravo series has halted production after season seven ended in October due to low ratings, according to multiple outlets. Fingers crossed we get our drama-loving Florida ladies back ASAP.
Ryan Muir/TBS/Warner Bros. Discovery
RENEWED: Impractical Jokers
Comedians Brian “Q” Quinn, James “Murr” Murray and Sal Vulcano will return for more laughs and pranks when season 13 of the TBS series premieres.
Prime Video/Amazon MGM Studios
RENEWED: Cross
Prime Video’s thriller series will solve more mysteries and murder cases on season three.
Netflix
NOT ENDING, BUT…: With Love, Meghan
The royal’s Netflix series With Love, Meghan, which released seasons one and two in 2025, has not been renewed for a third season on the streaming platform, but is instead continuing with one-off episodes.
A spokesperson for the Sussexes told Variety in a story published March 17, “With Love, Meghan will continue as seasonal specials.”
Disney/Anne Marie Fox
RENEWED: Paradise
The post-apocalyptic drama starring Sterling K. Brown will return for season three on Hulu.
Ben Symons/Peacock
RENEWED: Love Island USA & Love Island: Beyond the Villa
Peacock’s hit dating reality competition series and its spinoff will return this year for seasons eight and two, respectively.
Sonja Flemming/CBS
RENEWED: Marshals
The Duttons aren’t going anywhere. The Yellowstone spinoff starring Luke Grimes was renewed for a second season at CBS.
Paramount/CBS Media Ventures
RENEWED: The Drew Barrymore Show
Drew Barrymore‘s eponymous daytime talk show will be back for seasons seven and eight.
AMC Networks
RENEWED: The Audacity
The new AMC drama has already been renewed for a second season ahead of its season one debut in April.
Prime Video/Amazon MGM Studios
ENDING: The Boys
In the fifth and final season, it’s Homelander’s world, completely subject to his erratic, egomaniacal whims. Hughie, Mother’s Milk, and Frenchie are imprisoned in a “Freedom Camp.” Annie struggles to mount a resistance against the overwhelming Supe force. Kimiko is nowhere to be found. But when Butcher reappears, ready and willing to use a virus that will wipe all Supes off the map, he sets in motion a chain of events that will forever change the world and everyone in it. It’s the climax, people. Big stuff’s gonna happen.
MTV/Paramount Networks
ENDING: Jersey Shore Family Vacation
Get ready to GTL one last time. MTV announced the upcoming eighth season of the reality show will be it’s last.
The final season premieres May 7.
Disney
RENEWED: Abbott Elementary
School will be back in session when Quinta Brunson‘s Emmy-winning ABC comedy returns for season six.
NBC
RENEWED: Destination X
NBC has renewed the travel and adventure reality competition series for a sophomore season.
Netflix
RENEWED: Little House on the Prairie
Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s enduring book series has been renewed for season two ahead of its season one debut.
Simon Ridgway/HBO
RENEWED & ENDING: Industry
The HBO drama will return for a fifth and final season sometime next year.
MGM+/Amazon MGM Studios
RENEWED: Robin Hood
MGM+ has renewed the adventure drama for season two.
Warner Bros.
RENEWED: The Jennifer Hudson Show
Jennifer Hudson‘s eponymous talk show will return for season five.
Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
ENDING: The Kelly Clarkson Show
Kelly Clarkson‘s NBC daytime talk show will conclude later this year after season seven. And while the musician noted that it was “not an easy decision” to say goodbye, she revealed that she ultimately chose to walk away to focus on her kids River, 11, and Remington, 9, who she shared with late ex-husband Brandon Blackstock.
“Stepping away from the daily schedule will allow me to prioritize my kids, which feels necessary and right for this next chapter of our lives,” Kelly wrote in a statement on X Feb. 2. “This isn’t goodbye. I’ll still be making music, playing shows here and there, and you may catch me on The Voice from time to time.”
Netflix
RENEWED: Black Mirror
On Jan. 9, Netflix announced that the Charlie Brooker-created anthology series will be returning for an eighth season.
Warrick Page/Max
RENEWED: The Pitt
Noah Wyle is ready to scrub back in as Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch for season three of The Pitt. Indeed, just one day before the Jan. 8 season two premiere, HBO Max confirmed the series would return for a third in 2026.
2025, FX
RENEWED: The Lowdown
Lee Raybon (Ethan Hawke) will have another season to expose corruption and mystery in the self-proclaimed truthstorian hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma, with the FX series being greenlit for its second season Jan. 7.
Eric Ogden/Paramount+
RENEWED: Mayor of Kingstown
Say goodbye to the McLusky family. The Paramount+ series was renewed for its fifth and final season, the streaming service announced Jan. 5.
CAROLINE DUBOIS/NETFLIX
RENEWED: Emily In Paris
Bonjour, season six! Emily In Paris was greenlit for a sixth installment two weeks after its season five premiere on Netflix.
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