Their journey for airtime has come to an end.
The men who set out to find love with Taylor Frankie Paul on âThe Bacheloretteâ might take legal action after their season was axed.
Sources told TMZ on Saturday that five contestants from the competition series are considering bringing a lawsuit against ABC and Warner Bros. Discovery.
A disturbing 2023 video showing Paul throwing chairs at her ex, Dakota Mortensen, during a domestic violence incident was leaked on Thursday, leading the network to cancel the upcoming season, which was set to premiere on Sunday.
Insiders also told the outlet that the five contestants feel that Warner Bros. Discovery, which produced the season, built an unsafe working environment by allowing Paul to be in intimate settings with them given her past history.
On Harvey Levin and Mark Geragosâs â2 Angry Menâ podcast, the co-hosts explained that some of the men also put their lives on hold, quit their jobs and lost financial opportunities in exchange for exposure on television while competing for Paulâs heart.
However, ABC is already in hot water, as the season cancellation is set to cost the network tens of millions, insiders tell Page Six.
âIt could be $50 million [or more]. Someoneâs gotta get fired from this. Itâs ridiculous,â a source shared.
âThey had to know. Did they not do a background check on her? Itâs a disaster. Itâs going to cost them millions! Itâs gotta be, with production, $10 to $15 million, maybe more,â the second insider elaborated.
The show also negotiated freebies for clients, such as hotels, that were set to be featured on the show.
On Thursday, a Disney spokesperson confirmed to Page Six that the network was pulling the plug on the âSecret Lives of Mormon Wivesâ starâs season.
âIn light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of âThe Bacheloretteâ at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family,â they said.
The series will instead be replaced by re-runs of âAmerican Idol,â another insider revealed to Page Six.
An industry source told us, âThey had no choice but to pull [the show],â after the video came out. âItâs a show for women. What woman and what mom is going to watch a woman throwing chairs with a child nearby.â
The 2023 incident occurred while the TikTokerâs daughter Indy, who was 5 at the time, was present in the room.
Paul was arrested at the time and charged with misdemeanor assault, criminal mischief and commission of domestic violence in the presence of a child.
All of the charges were dropped, and the pair reconciled that same year. Paul and Mortensen then called it quits for good in 2024 after welcoming son Ever, 1.
Paulâs rep said in a statement Thursday that the video âconveniently omits contextâ and Mortensenâs ânever-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without any regard for the consequences for their child.â
Mortensen, meanwhile, denied her allegations, saying, âI am focusing on our son and his safety, and hope that Taylor will do the same.â
A rep for ABC and âThe Bacheloretteâ didnât immediately respond to Page Sixâs request for comment.
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