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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 Taylor Frankie Paul's season of The Bachelorette just days before its scheduled Sunday premiere amid domestic abuse allegations involving Paul and her ex Dakota Mortensen. The network made major changes to the season before ultimately canceling it entirely. Paul has since spoken out, alleging she suffered 'extensive mental and physical abuse.'

Why people care

The Bachelorette was already struggling after Jenn Tran's failed 2024 season, and ABC was banking on Paul to revive interest in the franchise. Paul was known from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, making this a high-profile crossover casting that has now spectacularly backfired for Disney.

The takes

Paul says

Taylor Frankie Paul claims she has been the victim of 'extensive mental and physical abuse.' She broke her silence after ABC shelved the season, suggesting she was wrongly portrayed as the aggressor in the domestic situation.

Critics say

Industry observers argue that Disney and ABC knew the casting was risky from the start given Paul's controversial past. The decision to pull an entire season just days before premiere suggests the allegations were serious enough that the network couldn't salvage the content.

Sources

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