Taylor Frankie Paul‘s season of The Bachelorette was scrapped by ABC three days before the already-filmed season was set to air, but the star is still reportedly getting paid her full salary.
TMZ reported that Paul, who also stars on Hulu‘s hit reality series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, will receive her six-figure The Bachelorette payment due to her contract being for “services rendered,” which she fulfilled by filming the entire season.
Outlets have speculated that Paul’s salary would be around $250,000, which is in line with previous buzzy Bachelorettes. Paul came in as a breakout star already from four seasons of Mormon Wives, where her salary on that other Disney property would presumably rise each year, which would likely help her negotiations going into her season.
The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to ABC for comment on the report. As THR previously reported, ABC is facing a $30 million-plus loss if the season never airs.
The Bachelorette was pulled following TMZ posting video of the 2023 domestic violence incident that led to Paul’s prior arrest, which kickstarted her reality TV career on Mormon Wives. Disney executives knew her guilty plea on the 2023 assault charge, as it was public record and heavily featured on that series, however they viewed the video when the rest of the public did, and the disturbing footage (which also showed Paul’s then-5-year-old daughter being struck by a chair) prompted the decision to nix season 22 of The Bachelorette, which had been set to premiere on March 22.
The decision also comes as Paul is under investigation related to two other alleged incidents — one stemming from 2024 and another from last month, after she completed filming for The Bachelorette. Both incidents involve her ex Dakota Mortensen, with whom she shares son Ever, 2.
Mormon Wives halted filming on their forthcoming fifth season amid the news that Paul and Mortensen were contacted by police in February over the incident last month, which is being investigated by the Utah’s Draper City Police Department. The production company on Mormon Wives, Jeff Jenkins Productions in association with 3BMG and Walt Disney Television Alternative, launched their own investigation separate from the law enforcement probe, which is ongoing. The cast was told that filming on season five will remain on pause until production’s investigation concludes, THR has reported.
In a statement via her rep, Paul has told THR amid the ongoing uncertainty, “Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security. 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. 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.” (THR also reached out to her rep about the salary report.)
The Bachelorette took a risk by casting the already controversial Paul in hopes of jolting the franchise back to life after a hiatus season and declining ratings. Heading into the season, however, the gamble was paying off — news of her casting was met with fan excitement and a preview of the season that aired after the Oscars drew more than 5 million viewers. But amid the latest scandal, many question what the future of The Bachelorette — or even the whole of the Warner Horizon-produced franchise — will look like next if the series can weather the current storm.
