ABC’s cancellation of the new season of “The Bachelorette” is going to cost the network tens of millions, insiders tell Page Six.
“It could be $50 million [or more]. Someone’s gotta get fired from this. It’s ridiculous,” an insider told Page Six.
The former “The Secret Lives of Mormon” star, Taylor Frankie Paul, was set to star in the new season of “The Bachelorette.”
After TMZ posted a disturbing 2023 video showing Paul throwing chairs at her ex, Dakota Mortensen, during a domestic violence incident on Thursday, Disney pulled the plug on ABC’s hit series, three days before its Sunday premiere.
“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,” a Disney spokesperson told Page Six.
A network insider told us the last minute cancelation will without a doubt “cost them millions!”
“They had to know. Did they not do a background check on her? It’s a disaster. It’s going to cost them millions! It’s gotta be, with production, $10 to $15 million, maybe more,” they said.
And that’s before negotiating freebies for clients such as hotels that were set to feature on the show.
The source added that the costs are even higher because they’d have to arrange some “givebacks” for advertisers, which means the ads meant to run on “Bachlorette” will now need to appear in other shows, meaning they can’t be sold to new advertisers.
The highly rated “Bachelorette” will be replaced by re-runs of “American Idol,” on Sunday, another insider revealed to Page Six.
Meanwhile, “it’s going to be a big headache” for ABC and Disney vet, Debra OConnell, who was named as Chairman of Disney Entertainment Television this week. “This is a nightmare for her. She has to clean up the mess,” the insider said.
A Disney source explained, “Debra and her leadership were aligned on the decision after they saw the video for the first time.”
They added, “Everyone was aware of the domestic dispute and saw the body cam footage – which was covered in ‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ – but the world saw what happened for the first time today.”
An industry source told us, “they had no choice but to pull [the show],” after the video came out. “It’s a show for women. What woman and what mom is going to watch a woman throwing chairs with a child nearby,” they said.
A rep for Disney did not comment.
A spokesperson for the reality TV star tells Page Six: “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,” it continues. “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.”
