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‘The Bachelorette’ Implodes: Why Taylor Frankie Paul’s Casting Was Doomed From the Start — And Disney Knew the Risk

What happened

ABC pulled the entire Season 22 of 'The Bachelorette' starring Taylor Frankie Paul just before its scheduled premiere amid domestic violence allegations and fallout from a 2023 video. The network scrambled to delete promotional content from their website within hours of the announcement. Paul had already filmed the complete season and spoken to press about the ending before ABC yanked it from the schedule.

Why people care

The Bachelor franchise was already struggling after multiple failed engagements and declining ratings, making this casting gamble particularly high-stakes for ABC. A complete season cancellation after filming is extremely rare and expensive, suggesting the network knew about potential issues but moved forward anyway.

The takes

Critics say

ABC and Disney knowingly took a massive risk by casting Taylor Frankie Paul despite apparent red flags, prioritizing ratings and buzz over due diligence. The network's scramble to delete content suggests they were caught off-guard by predictable controversy, showing poor judgment in the casting process.

Network perspective

ABC needed to make bold moves to revive the struggling Bachelor franchise after years of declining interest and failed relationships. The network acted responsibly by pulling the season when new information came to light, prioritizing safety and brand integrity over sunk production costs.

Sources