Bachelorette Alum Shane Parton Speaks Out, Sending Prayers to Taylor Frankie Paul and Family

ABC just pulled the emergency brake on The Bachelorette season 22, and the timing is wild. Three days before the premiere, the network shelved the entire season centered on Taylor Frankie Paul after a newly surfaced video linked to her already ongoing domestic violence mess dropped online. The footage, the fallout, and the cast reactions all hit at once. Here is what actually happened and where everyone stands.

ABC shuts down the season days before premiere

On Thursday, March 19, 2026, after TMZ published a video from a Taylor/Dakota Mortensen confrontation that originally led to her 2023 arrest, Disney Entertainment announced that ABC would not air the new season.

'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. '

Translation: the season is canceled for now. Not delayed. Not re-edited. Stopped.

Why this blew up now

The TMZ clip shows Taylor throwing a chair at her ex, Dakota Mortensen, during a physical altercation. That incident ties back to her 2023 arrest; she later pled guilty to aggravated assault that year and the lesser charges were dropped.

Taylor’s camp says the video is not the whole story. Her spokesperson called it selectively edited and part of a 'never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign' to harm her, and slammed the upload timing as being on their son’s birthday to distract from Dakota’s own behavior.

Dakota, for his part, told Us Weekly the situation is deeply upsetting, that he denies what he called baseless claims about him and their relationship, and that his focus is their son and the child’s safety.

Complicating all of this, Draper City Police in Utah confirmed in February that Taylor and Dakota are in an open domestic assault investigation with allegations made in both directions. Production on Taylor’s Hulu show 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' was paused once that investigation became active.

Then, on March 19, Dakota filed for a restraining order against Taylor, describing her as emotionally volatile in court filings. Taylor and Dakota share a 2-year-old son, Ever. Taylor also has two children with ex-husband Tate Paul: Indy, 8, and Ocean, 5.

Behind the scenes with the suitors

Earlier this month, the men from Taylor’s season were already bracing together. Multiple contestants were privately leaning on each other and, per reporting, felt upset and let down by both Taylor and the whole situation. After ABC pulled the season, several of them went public.

• Taylor Frankie Paul: Through a spokesperson, she says she is grateful for ABC’s support, is prioritizing her family’s safety, and is preparing to tell her side. She alleges she has endured years of mental and physical abuse and threats of retaliation, says she stayed quiet out of fear of more abuse and public shaming, and is now exploring her options to protect herself and her kids.
• Clayton Johnson: The singer-songwriter praised the cast on Instagram, calling it one of the best groups of men he has ever been around, highlighting integrity, respect, and heart, and saying any woman would be lucky to be with any of them.
• Brad Ledford: Kept it minimal with a single Instagram Story post that read '...'
• Richard Van De Water: The Charleston-based photographer posted an Instagram Story nodding to new music from Ella Langley ('Choosin' Texas'), shrugged on camera, and said, 'That’s all I got to say.'
• Doug Mason: In a video, he said he is sending prayers to Taylor because 'that was her moment and her moment was blocked.' He urged positivity and support for people in need and signed off while literally heading out for a sunrise run.
• Shane Parton: On the April 7 'Bachelor Happy Hour' podcast, he said the contestants come third, fourth, or fifth in importance right now, stressing that the priority is a healthy situation for all families involved. He said he is praying for everyone, especially the kids.

Where things stand

ABC’s decision followed the release of the video and landed on top of an already active police investigation and a fresh restraining order filing. The network’s choice to pull the season three days before launch is a sledgehammer move, and it leaves the franchise, the contestants, and Taylor herself in limbo. For now, Taylor’s team says she is focused on her family and preparing to speak in full. The men from the season seem to be supporting each other and, mostly, keeping it classy. We will see if this season ever sees daylight in any form, but at this moment, it is not airing.