‘The Bachelorette’ cancelled after leaked video, adding to franchise’s long list of controversies

A leaked video showing an alleged altercation involving reality star Taylor Frankie Paul has prompted ABC to cancel a completed season of The Bachelorette, marking one of the most dramatic decisions in the franchise’s history.

The unaired season, which had already been filmed, was shelved after a 2023 video surfaced showing Paul appearing to punch, kick and throw chairs at her former partner while her young daughter watched and cried. The move is unusual for the long-running franchise, which has typically handled controversies as they unfolded on-air rather than scrapping an entire season.

The latest development adds to a string of controversies that have followed The Bachelor and its spinoff over the years, spanning issues of diversity, representation and conduct both on and off screen.

Longstanding criticism over diversity

For years, the franchise faced criticism over its lack of diversity, particularly in casting lead roles. A 2012 lawsuit alleged that contestants of colour were excluded from becoming the lead, though the case was later dismissed.

It was not until 2017 that Rachel Lindsay became the first Black lead on The Bachelorette, a milestone achieved after sustained public pressure. Lindsay later became a vocal critic of the franchise, calling for deeper structural changes in representation.

In 2020, Matt James was cast as the first Black lead of The Bachelor, a move widely seen as long overdue. More recently, Jenn Tran became the franchise’s first Asian American lead in 2024.

Despite these steps, contestants of colour have continued to face backlash, including racist commentary online, raising questions about whether parts of the audience have kept pace with the show’s evolving casting choices.

Host exit and racism controversy

One of the franchise’s biggest controversies came in 2021 involving longtime host Chris Harrison.

Harrison stepped down after defending contestant Rachael Kirkconnell amid criticism over photos showing her at an antebellum plantation-themed event and wearing a Native American costume.

He later apologised, saying, “By excusing historical racism, I defended it.”

Following his exit, former contestants Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe stepped in as hosts before Jesse Palmer was named the permanent host later that year.

The franchise has also faced criticism for moments within the show. A 2019 episode filmed in Singapore drew backlash after contestants mocked local cuisine, with critics citing a lack of cultural sensitivity.

Earlier, in 2014, former “Bachelor” Juan Pablo Galavis sparked outrage after saying he did not believe a gay or bisexual man should lead the show and describing gay people as “more pervert, in a sense” in an interview. He later apologised, attributing the remarks to a language barrier.