Disney Considers Its Options as ‘The Bachelorette’ and ‘Mormon Wives’ Reality Drama Continues

The future of two major unscripted television shows is uncertain following an incident involving Taylor Frankie Paul. ABC announced on Thursday that it has suspended Season 22 of The Bachelorette, mere days before its scheduled premiere. This decision follows the emergence of a video that reportedly shows Paul attacking her on-again, off-again partner, Dakota Mortensen, during which a child was also injured.

The Disney-owned network is currently evaluating whether to air the season featuring Paul, the implications for the long-standing dating franchise, and when to resume production on Season 5 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives—of which Season 6 has already been greenlit. There are also considerations on how to provide support for Paul and Mortensen during this challenging time.

These pressing matters occupied Disney executives on Thursday, as they released a statement indicating they would “not move forward” with the upcoming episode of The Bachelorette “at this time,” emphasizing their focus on “supporting the family.” The premiere was initially set for Sunday night.

The Bachelor franchise has faced numerous challenges over the past year, having paused The Bachelorette last season and experiencing the departure of two top showrunners following a significant production reduction.

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, produced by Jeff Jenkins Productions, has also encountered turmoil over the last two years yet has emerged as one of Hulu’s leading reality series alongside The Kardashians.

Mills, a Disney executive, participated in a Zoom call earlier this month with the cast and producers of Mormon Wives, during which the cast—including Jen Affleck and Jessi Draper—expressed their concerns about the show’s brand and the allegations surrounding Paul and Mortensen.

Draper raised a key concern during the discussion, asking Mills if he was aware of the incident involving Paul hurting a child. One cast member noted it was troubling that Disney was not fully aware of the details of a video depicting Paul throwing metal stools at Mortensen.

Mills attempted to navigate the sensitive topic carefully, stating, “This is not me putting my head in the sand, but it’s not me— you know, I don’t want to inquire, because I don’t know what that does.” Insiders described the call as a “wellbeing check” following the suspension of production on Season 5, prompted by Jeff Jenkins Productions hiring an external law firm for a workplace safety investigation.

Mills, who has been with Disney for 23 years and managed various controversies within the Bachelor franchise, reassured the cast that Disney would not “hide anything that is wrong for the sake of business” and encouraged them to share their concerns.

As executive producers on Mormon Wives, the cast felt apprehensive about their future, with some expressing worries that Paul was compensated more than they were, a claim Mills refuted.

The potential return of the show, with or without Paul, remains uncertain. However, production of Season 5 could gain significant viewer interest if it resumes and addresses the current situation.

On March 7, Mills conveyed optimism regarding the show’s future, stating, “I want this to continue, and I want everyone to continue really being successful, both with this show and beyond it. But I think really, just navigating through this thing and taking care of each other is the most important thing right now.”

A spokesperson for Paul mentioned that she is “very grateful” for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security.