Multiple contestants from Taylor Frankie Paul‘s season of “The Bachelorette” have spoken out following the news that ABC has halted its plans to air the dating series. The news came after TMZ published footage showing Paul throwing metal stools at her ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen while one of her children is nearby.
While most contestants’ public statements have been brief and unspecific thus far, 28-year-old Doug Mason made it clear he sympathizes with Paul.
“Yo, good morning everybody. In light of everything that’s happened, I’m just sending out prayers to Taylor, because that was her moment and her moment was blocked,” he said in a video posted to his Instagram story. “So all we can do right now right now is just be hopeful. I’m headed off to run to watch the sunrise. I hope you guys have a great day, and let’s stay positive and show nothing but support for people in need.”
Other contestants who have addressed the situation include Brandon Perce, Malik Evans, Johnnie LaRossa and Matthew Carroll.
Perce simply wrote “…” over a white screen on his Instagram story shortly after the news broke. Evans posted a story saying, “I’m doing okay. Hope to share more soon. Thank you to everyone who has reached out.” Other statements were similar, with LaRossa writing, “Appreciate everyone reaching out. Grateful for the experience,” and Carroll posting a news story and writing, “On pause for now. Thank you for everyone’s support and thoughtful messages.”
Paul rose to prominence as the founding member of the Mormon TikTok group #MomTok, which got its own Hulu reality show “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” in 2024. Though the footage didn’t leak until Thursday, just days before the previously scheduled March 22 premiere of “The Bachelorette,” the domestic incident was discussed in Season 1 of “Mormon Wives,” taking place shortly after the pilot was filmed and causing a delay in production of the rest of the season. Paul was arrested on the night of the incident and later pleaded guity to aggravated assault, while charges of domestic violence in the presence of a child, child abuse and criminal mischief were dismissed.
Paul responded to the the leak and the pulling of “The Bachelorette” via a spokesperson who said that “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” and called Mortensen “aggressive” and “jealous.” Read the full statement here.
The TMZ leak came three days after production on “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” Season 5 paused due to a new domestic violence investigation based on allegations from both Paul and Mortensen.
First Appeared on
Source link
Leave feedback about this