Taylor Frankie Paul has returned to social media after ABC canceled her season of The Bachelorette amid domestic violence allegations.
Posting via her Instagram Stories on Thursday, March 26, Taylor, 31, thanked her supporters amid the scandal.
“Thank you to every check in, call, prayer sent,” she wrote. “Your unconditional kindness and check in can be someone’s lifeline.”
Taylor, best known as a star on Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, was set to lead the 22nd season of Bachelorette. Us Weekly confirmed on March 19 that ABC no longer planned to air the episodes after resurfaced 2023 footage of Taylor assaulting ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen.
“We have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of The Bachelorette at this time,” a spokesperson for Disney Entertainment Television told Us in a statement. “Our focus is on supporting the family.”
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Taylor also issued a statement about the programming change.
“Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security,” a rep for the social media star said in a statement shared with Us. “After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm.”
Taylor’s rep continued, “There are too many women who are suffering in silence as they survive aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to let them move on with their lives. Taylor has remained silent out of fear of further abuse, retaliation and public shaming. She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.”
Taylor started dating Dakota, 33, after her 2022 divorce from ex-husband Tate Paul, with whom she shares two children — Indy, 8, and Ocean, 5. Taylor and Dakota later welcomed son Ever in March 2024, continuing to see one another on and off.
Taylor claimed to Us in September 2025 that she and Dakota separated for good earlier that year before she was named the next Bachelorette. The MomTok influencer left to film The Bachelorette shortly after hooking up with Dakota, and the show wrapped in December 2025.
Nearly two months later in February, Utah police opened a domestic violence investigation after Taylor and Dakota got into an altercation.
“There’s more to the context to everything and it’s unfortunate,” Taylor exclusively told Us on March 17. “It’s been hard, and it sucks to be in this position. The mother that I am, that is something I will always stand my ground on. I believe that I am a good mother and I have always treated my kids very well.”
Dakota, for his part, released his own statement and stated that Ever’s well-being is “No. 1 priority.”
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“He knew there was a possibility it could come out, but he was not going to be the one to proactively do that because he has always wanted a decent relationship with Taylor,” a rep for the DadTok star said at the time. “It’s been really hard to achieve that, but he wants to coparent well.”
Dakota also filed a restraining order against Taylor, requesting sole custody of Ever.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
