Taylor Frankie Paul’s season of “The Bachelorette” was less than a week out from the premiere when ABC decided to pull the plug, canceling the show following the release of a controversial video.
So, with this news, ABC has made plans for the two-hour premiere episode that was going to air on Sunday, March 22, at 8 p.m. ET. PEOPLE reports that in “The Bachelorette’s” place, ABC will air a rerun of the beloved singing competition show American Idol.
There is no replacement for Taylor Frankie Paul set at this time, with ABC having already filmed her season. The decision has been made to not air the season publicly due to the latest news and allegations.
Why ABC Decided To Cancel ‘The Bachelorette’
On Thursday, March 19, ABC made the decision to pull Paul’s season amid all the controversy surrounding the reality television star that has surfaced over the last week.
However, what was the final straw for the network was a video involving Paul and her ex, Dakota Mortensen, that was released. The two shared a two-year-old son, 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 spokesperson told TMZ.
In light of this decision, ABC is also set to lose a lot of money, as each episode costs around $2 million to produce, per TMZ.
Taylor Frankie Paul Speaks Out Following ABC’s Decision
Following the news, a spokesperson for Paul shared a statement with PEOPLE.
“Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security,” the statement said. “After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm.”
“There are too many women who are suffering in silence as they survive aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to let them move on with their lives,” the statement continued. “Taylor has remained silent out of fear of further abuse, retaliation and public shaming. She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.”
Mortensen has yet to speak out regarding the show’s cancellation, but he did break his silence regarding the video.
“As anyone who has seen the video will understand, this is a deeply upsetting situation,” he told US Weekly. “I am, unfortunately, used to these baseless claims about me and our relationship, which I categorically deny. I am focusing on our son and his safety, and hope that Taylor will do the same.”
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
