Nick Viall is weighing in on ABC’s decision to cancel Taylor Frankie Paul’s season of “The Bachelorette”—but a resurfaced podcast clip shows he was once one of the biggest voices backing her as the lead.
The former “Bachelor” star addressed the situation on a recent episode of “The Viall Files,” calling it a complex and evolving story while sharing what he’s heard about how everything unfolded.
His comments come as a September episode of the podcast has started making the rounds online again, highlighting just how strongly Viall supported Paul’s casting at the time.
ABC confirmed last week that the network would not be moving forward with airing the season as planned, pulling it just days before its scheduled premiere after a video tied to a 2023 incident involving Paul surfaced publicly, People reported.
Nick Viall Previously Said Taylor Frankie Paul Was ‘Made’ for the Role
ABCShortly after Paul was announced as the next Bachelorette, Viall didn’t hold back when talking about the decision—and said he takes credit for the idea.
“Taylor Frankie Paul is your next Bachelorette. You’re welcome, Bachelor Nation. You’re welcome, ABC,” he said on the September 11 episode of his podcast.
When co-hosts joked that he must have had insider information, Viall laughed it off and leaned into the idea.
“It was literally my idea three months ago. I gave them the idea,” he said.
Viall also explained why he believed Paul was such a strong fit for the role of Bachelorette.
“She was tailor made to be the Bachelorette,” he said, describing her as “everything that makes a great Bachelorette,” including being “smart, articulate, beautiful, vulnerable, [and] honest.”
He added, “She’s going to be great,” and suggested the casting could even help “reset the franchise.”
At the time, Viall called the casting a strong move for the franchise and ABC alike, and said he hoped it wouldn’t be messed up.
Nick Viall Situation ‘Very Sad’ as He Reacts to ‘Bachelorette’ Cancellation
GettyFollowing the sudden cancellation of the season, Viall revisited the topic on his podcast this week—this time with a much more serious tone.
He described the situation—which includes the show’s cancellation following the release of a video from a 2023 altercation involving Paul and her ex, Dakota Mortensen—as “very sad” and “very dark,” adding that it’s “a terrible situation for everyone involved,” including Paul, her family, and others connected to the show.
Viall also encouraged people to be mindful when discussing the fallout online, noting that “there are people’s lives being ruined” and calling it “a very scary situation.”
While discussing the events leading up to the cancellation, he said the situation involved “a lot of nuance” and described it as “a story that is truly just beginning,” suggesting more details could still come to light.
During the conversation, Viall said his understanding—based on what he had heard from others connected to the franchise—was that some people involved in the show were surprised by how the situation unfolded.
He also reacted to the resurfaced video tied to the investigation into Paul, which shows a 2023 domestic violence incident involving Paul and Mortensen, calling it “very disturbing” and “incredibly hard to watch.”
GettyAs part of the broader conversation, Viall, his co-hosts, and his guests—including Emily D. Baker, a former deputy district attorney in Los Angeles County; Variety entertainment journalist Emily Longeretta; and former “Bachelor” and “Bachelor in Paradise” contestant Susie Evans—discussed the situation at length, sharing their perspectives as more details continue to emerge.
