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Taylor Frankie Paul Throws ABC Into Another ‘Bachelor’-Shaped Reality Mess

What happened

ABC canceled Taylor Frankie Paul's season of The Bachelorette just days before its scheduled Sunday premiere. Paul, known from Hulu's "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," was set to be the franchise's newest lead. The abrupt cancellation comes after a turbulent year for the Bachelor franchise, including workplace toxicity allegations and the departure of top showrunners.

Why people care
The Bachelor franchise has been ABC's reality TV cash cow for over two decades, making any major disruption significant for the network. The last-minute cancellation represents another crisis in what's already been a disastrous year for the show, raising questions about whether the long-running franchise can survive its mounting problems.
The takes
Critics say

The franchise has become too toxic and problematic to continue, with this latest cancellation being the final nail in the coffin. After workplace allegations, departing showrunners, and now a lead causing enough problems to cancel an entire season, it's time to put The Bachelor out of its misery.

Franchise defenders say

The Bachelor has weathered controversies before and will bounce back from this setback. One problematic cast member doesn't define the entire franchise, and ABC will likely regroup with a new lead rather than abandon one of their most profitable reality properties.

Sources
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