The anticipated new season of “The Bachelorette,” featuring Taylor Frankie Paul from “Mormon Wives,” has been unexpectedly canceled. This decision follows revelations concerning her ongoing legal challenges involving assault allegations with her former partner, Dakota Mortensen, as reported by TMZ.

Just hours before the cancellation, a video capturing a violent altercation between Paul and Mortensen from 2023 surfaced online, adding fuel to the controversy. Until this footage came to light on Thursday, ABC, the network in charge, was reportedly unaware of its existence.

The 31-year-old reality star’s season was slated to premiere on Sunday, marking a significant event in the series’ timeline. However, given the circumstances, the network decided to halt the launch.

A spokesperson from Disney Entertainment communicated to the outlet, “In light of the newly released video that surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of ‘The Bachelorette’ at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family.”

The 31-year-old star’s season of The Bachelorette was scheduled to debut on Sunday.

A Disney Entertainment spokesperson told the site: ‘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, and our focus is on supporting the family.’

The Daily Mail has reached out to her representative for comment.

The new season of the Bachelorette starring Mormon Wives standout Taylor Frankie Paul has been canceled, TMZ reported on Thursday

This comes just as her legal woes regarding assault claims with her ex Dakota Mortensen have been revealed

Footage of Paul attacking Mortensen in 2023 was first shared on Thursday morning.

She is seen having an outburst as she threw a chair at Mortensen while a child – her daughter Indy, now eight – was present. 

Mortensen was the person filming the violent incident. ‘This is called physical abuse,’ he said on the video.

The child can be heard crying as Mortensen and Paul continued fighting. Mortensen then said, ‘Your daughter just got hit in the head by a metal chair.’

Paul was arrested for alleged domestic violence in 2023 following an argument with Mortensen. Together they have a son named Ever, age two.

She pled guilty for aggravated assault.

In response to the resurfaced footage, Paul’s representative told the Daily Mail, ‘It’s sad to see the latest installment of his never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without any regard for the consequences for their child.

‘Releasing an old video, which conveniently omits context, on their son’s birthday is a reprehensible attempt to distract from his own behavior. Thankfully, the public has seen this act before and knows who he is. Sadly, many will recognize this pattern of manipulation, both in his actions on the show and from their own experiences.’

A Disney Entertainment told the site: ‘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, and our focus is on supporting the family’

Her season of The Bachelorette was scheduled to debut on Sunday

A Disney Entertainment spokesperson told the site: ‘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 , and our focus is on supporting the family’

Here the reality TV star is seen with her two children

But just two days before the video was made public, Mortensen filed for a protective order in Utah, citing a new alleged incident that took place in February 2026, according to the outlet.

Mortensen claimed that a verbal argument turned into a physical confrontation where Paul allegedly choked him.

He claimed he had to physically remove her hands from his neck, after which she shoved him into a window and struck him.

Describing the situation as ‘chaotic’ and ‘frightening,’ Mortensen said their son woke up from the commotion, which included Paul screaming and yelling, according to TMZ.

In the petition, Mortensen also referenced Paul’s previous 2023 arrest for assault.

As part of his filing, he has requested temporary custody of Ever and asked for Paul to be prohibited from drinking or using drugs during her parenting time.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Mortensen’s representatives for further comment.

On Tuesday it was reported that filming has  paused on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. 

Production of season five of the Hulu show is said to have been put on hiatus due to ‘serious’ issues involving star Paul.

‘They are not filming,’ a source told People. ‘Taylor [Frankie Paul] has some pretty serious stuff happening regarding her past, and they will see what happens. Until that resolves, they are off.’

The Draper City Police Department has since confirmed to the outlet the existence of an open ‘domestic assault investigation’ into Paul and her ex-boyfriend Mortensen. 

‘Allegations have been made in both direction,’ a spokesman for the department told the publication, adding ‘contact was made with involved parties on [February] 24 and 25.’

The Daily Mail contacted Hulu, ABC and the Draper City Police Department for comment.

Season five of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives has reportedly been put on pause 

A source has since told Variety that the filming hiatus is temporary, with production expected to resume soon. 

The hiatus will likely not have a major impact on the season five release date. 

Paul and her ex have reportedly been ordered to get psych evaluations, according to TMZ. 

Paul also has a son, Ocean, with ex-husband Tate. 

Paul rose to fame after becoming embroiled in a ‘soft-swinging’ scandal, which ultimately led to the creation of her Hulu show

The fourth season of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives was recently released

In a subsequent TikTok, Paul reflected on everything that had happened but remained defiant. 

Paul was part of a group of Utah couples who indulged in ‘soft swinging’ – a practice where partners are swapped but only with the understanding that they do not have full sex. 

But she caused a sensation when she admitted that she had broken the cardinal rule and ended up losing her husband, Tate, who divorced her, and most of her friends.