Taylor Frankie Paul is an independent soul who won't be swayed by others' opinions. After her season of 'The Bachelorette' was canceled due to domestic violence allegations, she was met with a TikTok video suggesting she step away from social media during this tumultuous period in her life. The user wrote, "Taylor Frankie Paul Get Off Your Phone Challenge. Why are you engaging with people and reposting TikToks? Her world has just imploded. I'd say her team should take her phone away, but no, she's actively reposting TikToks that support her and responding to comments on Instagram." In response, Taylor, 31, retorted, "Want me to stare at the wall instead?"
The cancellation of season 22 of 'The Bachelorette,' which was set to premiere on March 22 with Taylor as the lead, was announced days earlier by ABC. This followed the release of a 2023 video by TMZ on March 19 depicting an altercation between the reality star and her ex, Dakota Mortensen. In the clip, the eldest of her two children with ex-husband Tate Paul can be heard crying as the dispute unfolds. (Taylor previously pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault following the incident and remains on probation until August.)
On the same day as the video's release, Dakota filed for a protective order and was awarded temporary custody of their 2-year-old son until a hearing on April 7, according to a protective order obtained by People on March 20.
Recently, Taylor's representative addressed the situation in a statement to E! News: "After years of silently enduring extensive mental and physical abuse, as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to confront her accuser and take steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm." The spokesperson added, "There are countless women who suffer silently as they navigate aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to let them move on with their lives."
In his own statement to E! News on March 19, Dakota said, "I am unfortunately accustomed to these baseless claims about me and our relationship, which I categorically deny."
