The future of “The Bachelorette” is suddenly wide open, and fans already have their pick. Following the cancellation of Season 22 amid controversy surrounding Taylor Frankie Paul, viewers are rallying behind a new name to take the lead: Olympic rugby star Ilona Maher. And now, she’s finally weighing in on the growing buzz.
Bachelor Nation Alum Jill Chin Says Ilona Maher Is The ‘Right Choice’
The push for Maher didn’t come out of nowhere. Bachelor Nation alum Jill Chin took to TikTok as news of the cancellation spread, making it clear she already had someone in mind for the role, and she didn’t hold back.
“You know who is the RIGHT choice for ‘The Bachelorette?’” she asked. “You wanna know who I wanted as ‘The Bachelorette,’ who never would never would have done any of this?” She then pointed to a photo of Maher behind her and added, “This queen right here.” “An Ilona Maher season would have SLAYED,” Chin declared.
Fans quickly echoed the sentiment, with many saying Maher has been their dream pick for years.
Maher Reacts To Fan Frenzy With Humor
Maher is well aware of the growing support, and she’s taking it all in stride. Speaking with Entertainment Tonight at the “Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary” special premiere in Los Angeles, the two-time Olympian addressed the rumors with a lighthearted response.
“It’s very sweet. The only way I would do it, I was talking to Joey Graziadei, the only way I would do it, he would have to executive produce, Alan [Bersten] would have to executive produce,” she said. “My whole friends would, they’d have to check everybody off.”
Maher’s comment about Alan refers to her connection with “Dancing With the Stars” pro Alan Bersten. For those unfamiliar, Bersten has strong ties to Bachelor Nation. He previously won Season 28 alongside Hannah Brown and even went on a date with former “Bachelorette” Gabby Windey in 2023.
Taylor Frankie Paul Drama Led To Season Cancellation
The conversation around a new lead comes after a dramatic turn for the franchise. Taylor Frankie Paul was originally set to star in Season 22, but plans were scrapped after a domestic violence scandal made headlines.
A video obtained by TMZ showed her throwing chairs at her ex, Dakota Mortensen, with one nearly hitting a child. According to a police report, the child, who was five at the time, was injured during the incident and had “a goose egg on her head.”
The video surfaced after a source claimed that production on Season 5 of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” was paused following Paul’s alleged second domestic violence incident involving Mortensen in February 2026.
Taylor Frankie Paul Sentenced To Probation In Assault Case
The video became a key piece of evidence in a felony aggravated assault case, which ultimately ended in a plea deal. Paul was sentenced to three years’ probation, which is set to expire in August. As part of the agreement, four additional charges, including domestic violence in the presence of a child, child abuse, and criminal mischief, were dropped.
In the aftermath, Dakota Mortensen was granted a temporary restraining order, alleging that Paul posed an “immediate threat” to his safety. The order bars Paul from contacting Mortensen and their two-year-old son, Ever, until a scheduled court hearing on April 7.
ABC Cancels ‘The Bachelorette’ Season Amid Scandal Fallout
In response to the controversy surrounding the newly released video, ABC ultimately pulled the plug on the season entirely, leaving the future of the show, and its next leading lady, up in the air.
“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,” the statement from ABC read. “Our focus is on supporting the family.”
Behind the scenes, however, the situation had already been escalating. According to an insider, tensions reportedly escalated during an individual date when contestant Casey Hux brought up Paul’s 2023 domestic violence arrest in an attempt to understand her past, but the conversation quickly took a turn as Paul had “a full-fledged meltdown” and “stormed off set.”
Meanwhile, as fans loudly back Ilona Maher and Maher playfully entertains the idea, the question now is whether the franchise will actually make the move to make the Olympian the next lead.
