ABC and Disney Entertainment Television have made the unprecedented decision to pull the upcoming 22nd season of The Bachelorette. The series, which was set to star Taylor Frankie Paul, was scrapped just days before its scheduled premiere on March 22, 2026. The network confirmed in a statement that they will "not move forward" with the season at this time, leaving the franchise's immediate future in question.

The cancellation follows the recent leak of a 2023 video depicting Paul physically assaulting her former partner, Dakota Mortensen. The footage reportedly shows the incident occurring while the couple's young daughter was present. Amidst ongoing domestic assault investigations involving Paul, ABC opted to replace the high-profile season debut with an American Idol rerun.

This marks the first time in the history of the reality franchise that an entire season has been shelved so close to its air date. Disney Entertainment Television has not announced plans to recast the lead or reschedule the 22nd season. The Guardian and Forbes have reported that the move comes as the network faces intense pressure regarding the casting of Paul following her previous legal issues.