The Bachelorette is set to premiere its new season on Sunday, March 22nd, 2026. Unfortunately for ABC, the show’s lead, Taylor Frankie Paul, is in immensely hot water, and it has put the series into crisis mode. Now, the biggest question is whether or not to keep the show going or cancel it altogether. Keep reading for more details on what is currently happening behind the scenes.
The Bachelorette May Not See The Light Of Day
When Taylor Frankie Paul was cast as The Bachelorette, it was a controversial decision. She was already a known name from the hit Hulu series, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Moreover, the Pueblo, Colorado native already had a past. She was arrested on February 17, 2023, in Herriman, Utah, after a domestic violence incident involving her ex, Dakota Mortensen. She was ultimately sentenced to three years’ probation, but they have had an on-and-off romance. Allegedly, Taylor and Dakota slept together the night before she left to film The Bachelorette.
Now, she and Dakota have gone at it again, and it has caused SLOMW to halt filming for Season 5. Brands have dropped out of their sponsorships, and this has caused a massive headache for all involved. That being said, ABC is allegedly considering axing the whole season. Fans may recall this happened in Season 2 of The Golden Bachelor when Mel Owens said unkind things about older women. However, there were supposedly just talks of recasting. This whole season is in the can, so that would mean eating the money and never airing it.
An insider shared these details about where ABC is at with the season going forward:
“This has turned into a full-blown crisis. There are serious conversations happening about whether the show can move forward as planned.”
As aforementioned, sponsorships and brands have dropped their support, which is an all-around nightmare:
“This isn’t just bad press. It’s a potential brand disaster.”
It Was A Hot Mess From The Start
Fans of the show noted that casting Taylor Frankie Paul as The Bachelorette was an epic mistake. Moreover, they feel that it never should have happened, and ABC was wrong from the beginning. Yet, they likely just saw what Taylor could do for the ratings, not the potential for bad behavior:
- they were stupid to ask her, they saw ratings not repercussions.
- This was a terrible decision from the Jump. She is insane and not desirable mate. Disneys greed got the best of the them but could have seen this coming. Have they watched the show?
- It surprises me that Hulu – Disney – ABC didn’t do a psych evaluation on her, before casting her. I mean the SLOMW airs on Hulu. They know her past l. They only have themselves to blame.
Do you think that her season will see the light of day, or is it over for good? Let us know your thoughts, and keep up with TV Shows Ace for all of The Bachelorette news.
Amanda has been a professional freelance writer for over a decade, holding both a BA and an MA. Her passions include animals, iced coffee, gnomes, summer, music, and ‘Vanderpump Rules’.
