The Bachelorette Canceled, Franchise Faces Scrutiny

0:00From the Daily News Now Network, this is Corey with the story with Entertainment and Celebrity News today. ABC just canceled the upcoming season of The Bachelorette starring Taylor Frankie Paul, days before its March 22nd premiere. The move followed a leaked video from TMZ showing Paul throwing chairs at her boyfriend Dakota Mortensen, with her young daughter nearby. Former Bachelorette star Rachel Lindsay called it a death blow to the entire franchise. Paul and Mortensen both appeared on the reality series, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. This builds on a 2023 domestic incident where Paul faced arrest, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, and got probation that was set. To end this August, but is now under review. Lindsay, who led her season back in 2017, admitted she was initially thrilled about Paul as the lead. She overlooked deeper details at first, but now sees the Bachelor and Bachelor rep brands as permanently damaged by the systemic issues that let this happen. Paul's team released a statement thanking ABC for the support, while she prioritizes family safety after enduring years of mental and physical abuse.

1:08Mortensen meanwhile is focusing on co-parenting their two-year-old son and hopes for a workable relationship moving forward. As the long-running franchise faces the setback, both Paul and Mortensen navigate their personal challenges amid public scrutiny, leaving the future of these dating shows wide open.