BACHELORETTE execs have had to do a ‘180’ to create the ‘sexiest, most dramatic season’ of the show yet, with Taylor Frankie Paul, The U.S. Sun can reveal.
Following a ratings slump with the network even putting the series on pause completely last year, production knew they had to shake things up to win back viewers for next season.
Taylor Frankie Paul poses in a tiny bikini on Instagram[/caption]
The reality star’s first look as the rose-holding Bachelorette[/caption]
Straying away from the tradition of choosing someone who’s already part of the franchise as the leading lady, producers decided to cast from outside the show in a rare move.
Taylor, 31, was announced as the next Bachelorette in September and has a far different past than most of the leads on the Disney-owned network.
In seasons 1 and 2 of Hulu’s The Secret Wives of Mormon Wives, Taylor put her swinging lifestyle with her ex-husband on full display and boasted about engaging in threesomes.
The Utah native also has a criminal past following her February 2023 domestic violence arrest, where she was charged with a physical altercation with her then-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen.
She was initially charged with aggravated assault, two counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child, child abuse with injury, and criminal mischief.
However, she ended up pleading guilty to a lesser charge of aggravated assault and was able to avoid further jail time.
According to a production insider, the change of pace in the casting decision was largely due to fan interest, which has drastically dropped in recent years.
“It’s no secret ratings were in the ground and viewers started abandoning the franchise in droves.
Taylor Frankie Paul drives a boat in a tiny white bikini[/caption]
Taylor with ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen[/caption]
“So the show had to pivot in a completely opposite direction from the past. I mean, it’s a Disney network so for decades the show was known for wanting wholesome, more traditional leads.
“That wasn’t working anymore, and they want to stir up the drama and did a complete 180 to someone with a criminal record and someone who is outspokenly into a very kinky sex life,” the source claimed.
They then spilled: “This potentially could be the sexiest season yet as the show is leaning into who Taylor is as a person and not trying to change her.
“The Fantasy Suites will be no-holds-barred so anything that Taylor wants will go.
“Producers want to turn up the drama, the sex factor, and the overall theatrics to try to revive the franchise.
“If this doesn’t work, the future of the show is in major jeopardy as it just doesn’t pull in the viewers and ad revenue it once did.”
SWINGIN’ GOOD TIME
Taylor was married to her first husband, Tate Paul, until their divorce in 2022.
A big factor in their split was the couple partaking in “soft swinging” amongst their Mormon friend group, which Taylor exposed on TikTok in May 2022.
She admitted on social media that she “stepped out” of the couple’s mutual agreement by “taking things too far” with another man and eventually developed feelings for him.
The violation of trust was the final straw for Tate, which led to their divorce.
Bachelorette Leads Seasons 1-21
Season 21 – Jenn Tran
Season 20 – Charity Lawson
Season 19 – Gabby Windey & Rachel Recchia
Season 18 – Michelle Young
Season 17 – Katie Thurston
Season 16 – Clare Crawley / Tayshia Adams
Season 15 – Hannah Brown
Season 14 – Becca Kufrin
Season 13 – Rachel Lindsay
Season 12 – JoJo Fletcher
Season 11 – Kaitlyn Bristowe
Season 10 – Andi Dorfman
Season 9 – Desiree Hartsock
Season 8 – Emily Maynard
Season 7 – Ashley Hebert
Season 6 – Ali Fedotowsky
Season 5 – Jillian Harris
Season 4 – DeAnna Pappas
Season 3 – Jen Schefft
Season 2 – Meredith Phillips
Season 1 – Trista Rehn
The scandal took the internet by storm and eventually became known as “MomTok” – growing immense attention and scrutiny from the public.
In the following weeks, Taylor was labeled as a “cheater” and “husband stealer” by the people online.
The ex-couple shares two children together: her daughter, Indy, 8, and son, Ocean, 5.
She also has a son, Ever True Mortensen, whom she welcomed with ex-boyfriend Dakota in March 2024.
ABC made an unprecedented decision this year by taking the 2025 Bachelorette season off the air.
The most recent Bachelorette, Jenn Tran, had her season air back in 2024.
Before Jenn, Charity Lawson, Gabby Windey, and Michelle Young were the most recent leads.
Taylor with son Ever, daughter, Indy, and a son, Ocean[/caption]
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season 1 cast[/caption]
