Taylor Frankie Paul was confronted about her 2023 domestic violence arrest while filming her now-canceled season of “The Bachelorette.”
An insider told TMZ that contestant Casey Hux brought up the case while on a date with Paul.
Paul then “got very emotional” about the topic, the insider claimed.
Another source alleged that the “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star “had a full-fledged meltdown” and “stormed off the set.”
Hux allegedly brought up Paul’s arrest to see if she had “learned from the experience and how she’d grown from it.”
At the time of the date, Hux had not seen the viral video of the domestic violence incident that led to Paul’s arrest, the outlet noted.
Paul filmed Season 22 of “The Bachelorette” late last year, with over two dozen men — including Hux — vying for her heart.
ABC chose Paul as the leading lady even though she was arrested in 2023 and charged with misdemeanor assault, criminal mischief and commission of domestic violence in the presence of a child following a fight with her ex Dakota Mortensen, with whom she shares son Ever, 2. (All the charges were later dropped).
The network ultimately axed the season after TMZ released video footage that showed Paul throwing chairs at Mortensen in front of her daughter Indy, who was 5 at the time.
“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,” the network told Page Six in a statement on March 19.
The show was set to premiere three days later.
Insiders have told Page Six that the scrapped “Bachelorette” season is going to cost ABC tens of millions
“It could be $50 million [or more]. Someone’s gotta get fired from this. It’s ridiculous,” an insider told us.
Meanwhile, five contestants from the season are considering suing ABC and Warner Bros. Discovery, TMZ reported on Saturday.
Insiders claimed that the contestants feel producers built an unsafe work environment by allowing them to be in intimate settings with Paul, given her history.
Paul, for her part, said in a statement via her rep that she’s “grateful for ABC’s support” and is prioritizing “her family’s safety and security.”
“She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support and preparing to own and share her story,” the statement added.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.
