Disney Executive Details Unexpected Utah Run-In With Taylor Frankie Paul Before The Bachelorette

ABC thought it had its next Bachelorette locked: Taylor Frankie Paul — yes, the MomTok name you know from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives — a single mom with a messy, very public past and a crystal-clear pitch. Then the premiere got yanked at the last minute, and now the whole thing is in limbo. Here is how it actually went down.

The pitch: not chaos, just honesty

Before the offer, Disney exec Rob Mills met Taylor in Utah. He says they were not chasing a train-wreck season. What sold them was how direct she was about her life: she has three kids by two different men, it is hard, and she wanted a real partner. The show named her the Season 22 lead in fall 2025.

Taylor is 31. She shares daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 5, with ex-husband Tate Paul, and son Ever, 2, with ex Dakota Mortensen. Mills also pointed out the obvious wrinkle: a single parent lead ups the stakes, because they are weighing what is best for their kids as much as themselves. And while it is not new territory — Jason Mesnick and Emily Maynard led seasons after having children, and the franchise has featured plenty of single parents — putting a mom at the center still changes the tone.

Filming right after a breakup, and talking about everything

Taylor went into production late last year, shortly after one of her splits from Dakota, 33. On set, she did not dodge the past. In a March interview, she said she told the men to ask anything, framed herself as an open book, and got especially candid with the finalists about her history and life as a mom.

Then ABC hit pause days before the premiere

The season was slated to debut March 22. Days before that, ABC pulled it after video resurfaced connected to Taylor’s 2023 arrest. Taylor pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in February 2023 following an alleged altercation involving Dakota and was placed on probation.

Her spokesperson called ABC’s support appreciated and said Taylor was prioritizing her family ’s safety. The statement also alleged she had endured years of abuse and threats of retaliation and said she is now taking steps to protect herself and her children. ABC has not said whether the season will ever air. According to Mills, once the network saw the 2023 video, the decision to shelve the premiere happened quickly.

"I love the season, and if people who enjoy the show — Bachelor Nation — get to see it, I think they will love it as well. Obviously, I would love for people to experience it."

Where things stand (and how we got here)

• Fall 2025: Taylor Frankie Paul is announced as The Bachelorette Season 22 lead.
• Late last year: Filming begins shortly after a breakup with Dakota Mortensen; Taylor tells suitors she is an open book about her past and motherhood.
• March 22: Premiere date set; ABC pulls the episode a few days before after 2023 arrest footage resurfaces.
• Now: ABC has not decided if the season will air; Mills says the pull was a fast call and still hopes the audience can see the season.