While The Bachelorette has seen its share of difficult seasons, there’s usually been some initial drama right from the start, with at least one contestant arriving in a limo to kick things off.
Before viewers even saw Taylor Frankie Paul, a divorcée from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, begin her search for love by handing out a single rose, season 22 became unexpectedly dramatic. Now, that storyline has come to an end without really getting started.
ABC has canceled the upcoming season, which was scheduled to begin March 22nd. The decision came after TMZ released video showing a physical fight from 2023 between the show’s star, Paul, and her boyfriend at the time, Dakota Mortensen, on March 19th.
Oh my gosh, you guys, I just saw the news! Disney just put The Bachelorette on hold! They released a statement to TopMob News saying that after what happened – that video that just dropped today – they’re not moving forward with the new season right now. It’s awful, but honestly, they said their priority is supporting the family involved, and that’s… well, that’s what matters most, I guess. I’m devastated about the show, but I understand. It’s just… everything is so crazy right now!
A representative for Paul told TopMob the video is part of an effort to damage Taylor’s reputation and that it selectively leaves out important information.
A representative for Taylor Paul stated to TopMob that she appreciates ABC’s support while she focuses on ensuring her family’s safety and well-being, which led to her decision to cancel her current commitments.
While the idea of mixing up an already dramatic franchise with a controversial reality show wasn’t inherently a problem, it would have been a first for ‘The Bachelorette’: the chosen lead was currently under investigation for a possible domestic assault. This caused concern among fans.
Filming for the fifth season of SLOMW was temporarily halted while officials looked into claims involving Paul and Mortensen. A Draper City Police spokesperson told People magazine on March 16th that they had spoken with those involved on February 24th and 25th, and that both sides had made accusations against each other.
When The Bachelorette continued with its original plans, Paul—who has a 2-year-old son named Ever with Mortensen, and two other children—Indy, 8, and Ocean, 5—from a previous relationship with Tate Paul—found himself back in the public eye.
It’s been tough seeing the news lately, especially with the new season of ‘The Bachelorette’ coming out,” she said on ‘Good Morning America’ on March 18th. “This should be a really happy and exciting time for everyone.
Regarding the investigation, she said she’s always honest and will share her side of the story when the time is right.
Paul was known for being honest, and it was well-known that she and her husband, Tate, who she married in 2016, had decided to separate. She revealed in a 2022 video that their attempt at a “soft-swinging” relationship hadn’t worked out.
Paul confessed that despite their agreement to remain faithful, she had cheated.
She started dating Mortensen in July 2022.
In 2023, Paul was arrested and faces several charges, including aggravated assault, two counts of domestic violence with a child present resulting in injury, child abuse, and criminal mischief, according to court records released by the Salt Lake County District Attorney and reported by TopMob News.
She admitted guilt but with a condition: if she follows certain rules, the aggravated assault charge will be dropped. All other charges were also dismissed as part of the agreement.
She and Mortensen had a baby, Ever, in March 2024, and her subsequent arrest was discussed during the September premiere of the show The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
Looking back, that was the worst point for me, without a doubt,” Paul told TopMob News. “He stuck with me through it because he knew what was really happening privately. It was a terrible night, and I really regret how things went. Dakota had faced similar struggles, so he understood what I was going through. He told me he wanted to help me get through it.”
She explained they were still in therapy and figuring things out. While it wasn’t ideal, she confirmed things had improved significantly.
After accusations surfaced and caused a halt to filming on the fifth season, Mortensen’s representative told Entertainment Weekly on March 18th that his main concern is the well-being of Ever.
I heard from his representative that he wasn’t surprised about the investigation becoming public. Apparently, he’d always known it could happen, but he didn’t want to be the one to bring it up himself. He really values having a good relationship with Taylor and didn’t want to risk damaging that.
In a recent interview with EW, Paul explained that she and Mortensen are currently not speaking directly, but are still co-parenting their child, Ever. She stated she’s using a third party to handle all communication and exchanges – like pick-ups and drop-offs – because they aren’t on good terms, and she believes this is the best way to manage the situation.
She explained she’d been trying to keep things private, not wanting to create a spectacle for her son, and to avoid all the details becoming public. However, that wasn’t what [Mortensen] intended to do.
However, the upcoming premiere of The Bachelorette kept the rapidly developing controversy constantly in the spotlight.
“It’s really tough to look beyond this right now, to be honest,” Paul shared on GMA. “When your personal life becomes public news like this, it feels devastating – like everything is falling apart.”
But, she noted, “I’ve been here before and I got through it.”
Paul explained that she accepted the offer to be on The Bachelorette because it’s really hard to date when you’re a mom to three kids. She saw the show as a chance to get out, break free from a difficult situation in Utah, go on dates, and also have her children visit her.
Paul continued, “It’s more tiring than you might think, but you’re working towards finding someone you’ll truly love.”
When asked about a mysterious man who showed up in one of her TikTok videos, she simply said, “Yes, someone I know.”
She confirmed it was happening, but playfully refused to share details, saying she didn’t want to spoil the surprise.
Instead, the bloom has never come off the rose so quickly.
Now that the romance has faded, let’s take a look back at what happened to all the couples from past seasons of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette.
Status: Dating
Before his season of The Golden Bachelor even began, Mel Owen faced some criticism for comments he made on the MGoBlue Podcasts With Jon Jansen. He stated he wouldn’t consider women over 60 and preferred they didn’t have artificial hips or wigs.
Although his longtime partner, Peg Munson, is also in her sixties, their relationship is full of energy and excitement. The former NFL player described her to Glamour as being remarkably high-spirited.
Even though he didn’t kneel during his final game in November 2025, the athlete—who is also a lawyer—presented a Neil Lane diamond ring, explaining, “This symbolizes our dedication to each other and gives us the space to build our future together.”
Status: Engaged
Spencer Conley, who made a good impression on Jenn Tran with his friendly personality during The Bachelorette, found romance on season 10 of Bachelor in Paradise. He shared a post with Jess Edwards (who previously tried to connect with Joey Graziadei on The Bachelor) hinting that they were falling for each other – a common way on the show of saying they’re not quite ready to say “I love you.” In an August 2025 Instagram post, Spencer joked that he’d “already won.”
Jess echoed the sentiment, posting on social media, “Just really happy about this guy and everything!”
They were overjoyed to get engaged after deciding to prioritize their relationship over a $250,000 prize, and were then surprised with a $190,000 check as they left.
“Everything that we’ve been through,” Jess said, “has led us to this exact moment.”
Their relationship brought Jess to Dallas. She told Mel during the November 2025 After the Finale Rose special that she would be moving to Texas within a few weeks.
Status: Dating
Bailey Taylor Brown shared on Instagram in August 2025 that her date with Jeremy Simon was the best first date she’d ever had, after taking him out during the tenth season of Paradise. But could it also be their last? Bailey, who originally competed for Grant Ellis’s affection, and Jeremy, who almost won over Jenn on The Bachelorette, managed to get through their biggest fight yet when Bailey discovered Jeremy had hesitated about sending Susie Evans home.
Their romance continued to blossom while they were in Costa Rica. Even though they didn’t make it to the end of Bachelor in Paradise, they decided to keep dating after the show finished filming. They’ve already met each other’s families and are making plans to live in the same city together.
Oh my gosh, I was completely losing it when I saw Bailey post on Instagram in September 2025! She wrote about how lucky they are to have found each other, and honestly, I nearly screamed! It just feels so right, and she’s so excited about the future – it makes me unbelievably happy for them both! I’m already dying to know what’s coming next!
Status: Dating
It appears that Andrew Spencer, who competed for Katie Thurston’s heart on season 10 of Paradise, and Alexe Godin from Grant’s season are still very much together after filming. Just six days after Andrew publicly called Alexe his “love” on Instagram in August 2025, she reciprocated, calling him her “darling” in a post of her own.
Okay, so they chose love during the BiP finale, which was EVERYTHING, but honestly? They still walked away with $125,000! Like, can you believe it? They got the romance and a huge chunk of change! I’m obsessed!
Oh my gosh, you guys, I’m seriously losing it right now! Alexe just said it himself – he’s walking away with more than just cash, he’s leaving with love! It’s the most incredible thing ever, honestly. Like, money is cool and all, but LOVE? That’s what really matters, and he gets it! I’m completely obsessed!
The show will feature Alexe’s exciting news: she’s moving to Chicago with Andrew, and they’re taking their relationship to the Windy City.
In September 2025, she shared on Instagram that she’d found someone who’s just as quirky as she is, and she’s excited to build a life with them.
Status: Split
During the finale of Bachelor in Paradise, a tense situation unfolded when Sean McLaughlin claimed Kat Izzo had hidden a laptop and was secretly corresponding with an ex-boyfriend through letters. Kat, who works as a nurse practitioner, strongly denied contacting her ex while on the show.
She asked if they were still together before this happened. He replied that they were, explaining he hadn’t expected to meet anyone new.
Despite not making it to the final test on Paradise, Kat and Dale continued dating. The show later revealed that the two—Kat, who was previously on Zach Shallcross’ season, and Dale, a former contestant from Clare Crawley’s season—traveled the U.S. together and were planning a future together, including moving closer to each other.
Seeing Kat’s post from August 2025 really got me. Dale’s comment underneath – ‘It was tough at times, but we navigated it together…and I wouldn’t change a thing’ – honestly, it just perfectly sums up their journey. It’s so heartwarming to see how they faced everything as a team, and he clearly wouldn’t trade a single moment of it. It really resonated with me as a long-time follower!
But their journey came to a close in early 2026.
Kat mentioned on the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast in January that he wasn’t willing to move from New York City.
She said he didn’t see San Diego as a place where he could advance his career. She admitted she never got a clear explanation and wasn’t sure what his real reasons were.
Status: Just friends—for now
After leaving season 10 of Bachelor in Paradise, Gary Levingston and Leslie Fhima (who was a finalist on Golden Bachelor) seemed to have a promising future together, even sharing a video about creating new memories. However, Leslie, who once inspired musician Prince, isn’t certain she wants to pursue a romantic relationship with Gary.
She shared that she and Gary talk constantly. Appearing on Bachelor Happy Hour in August 2025, she said he’s become one of her closest friends – someone she can always rely on for support and advice. They’re always there for each other and have each other’s backs.
Even though they live far apart – she’s in Minnesota and he’s in California – she’s still optimistic about things. She explained that, for her, the most important part of any relationship, especially a romantic one, is building a friendship first. She wants to be with someone she considers her best friend as they both get older.
Status: Just friends
Kim Buike, a frontrunner on Golden Bachelorette, has found love with Faith Martin, who previously received the first impression rose from Gerry Turner. Despite being eliminated on season 10 of Paradise, the couple is still together. In August 2025, Faith shared a video on Instagram showing Kim enjoying a date with her in Washington, confirming their relationship.
Eventually, they came to the conclusion that they were better suited as friends than as a couple.
Faith shared in a September 2025 Instagram video that she and the other person talk about two or three times a week, even though they live five and a half hours apart. She clarified they aren’t in a romantic relationship and never were, but they did have a strong connection while filming the show.
Grant initially connected with twenty-five women on The Bachelor, but he ultimately chose Juliana Pasquarosa. Unfortunately, the couple broke up less than three months after their proposal was shown on television.
Grant announced on Instagram on June 13th that he and Juliana have decided to break up. He explained that they both tried their best and cared deeply for each other, but after careful consideration, they realized they weren’t compatible for the future.
Joan Vassos, who was a contestant on The Golden Bachelor and later became the first Golden Bachelorette, is engaged! After appearing on Gerry Turner’s season and then leading the first season of The Golden Bachelorette, she accepted a proposal from contestant Chock Chapple.
During the November 2024 finale of The Golden Bachelorette, Joan shared a message of hope, saying, ‘We’re proof that even later in life, things can still work out.’ Just before Chock proposed in Bora Bora, she told him, ‘I’ve been waiting for this moment, in this beautiful place, to tell you that I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you – waking up with you every morning and kissing you goodnight.’
Even though they’re currently in a long-distance relationship, they’re gradually starting to plan their future together.
As a lifestyle expert, I’m always hearing about timing, and it’s so relatable! I recently shared with my followers that my partner and I are planning our wedding for 2027, and the biggest reason is family. Our kids are all grown up and starting to plan their own lives – and weddings! – so we figured we’d wait until the dust settles on their big days before focusing on ours. It’s all about finding the right moment when everyone can truly celebrate together.
During the finale of The Bachelorette season 21, it seemed like Jenn Tran, who previously appeared on The Bachelor, had found love with her final choice, Devin Strader. However, Jenn later revealed in September 2024, during the After the Final Rose episode, that Devin became distant as soon as filming ended.
Jenn explained to Jesse Palmer that he had strongly declared his love for her, but the very next day acted as if those feelings never existed. She said all the promises and affection he’d expressed were suddenly gone.
The situation escalated when Devin posted a 13-minute video on Instagram explaining his perspective. In the video, he took responsibility for his actions and detailed the reasons behind their breakup, which he had initially discussed in a 15-minute phone call.
Jenn said he ended their relationship during a phone call in August, but he insists she pressed him for answers when he was attempting to tell her in person.
He said he hadn’t seen another option, especially since he wanted to tell her face-to-face. Ultimately, she made him reveal it.
Jenn then met Sasha Farber while competing on Dancing With the Stars, and the two began dating. They continued to dance together even after being eliminated from the show in October 2024, but eventually broke up in 2025.
Greg Grippo, who appeared on Katie Thurston’s season of The Bachelorette, began dating Victoria Fuller from Bachelor in Paradise in November 2022. They announced their relationship on the season eight finale of Bachelor in Paradise, but Greg shared in April 2024 that they had broken up.
Okay, so you will NOT believe this! Before the Bachelor in Paradise finale even aired, Victoria Fuller and Greg Grippo were already a thing – can you even?! But get this, before that happened, Victoria was engaged to Johnny DePhillipo! Seriously, they were engaged on the show, and then…poof! It all ended before she ran into Greg’s arms. I’m still reeling, honestly. It’s just…so much drama!
Gerry Nist and Theresa Nist got engaged in November 2023, at the end of the first season of The Golden Bachelor. They then got married in a televised ceremony in January 2024. They are now divorced.
However, three months after their nuptials, the couple announced that they were breaking up.
Gerry and Theresa have been having open and honest talks about their relationship and living arrangements. As a result, they’ve mutually decided to get a divorce, as they shared during an appearance on Good Morning America in April 2024.
They reached a divorce settlement in June 2024, according to court records reviewed by TopMob News.
In April 2025, Gerry shared on the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast that he was seeing someone and things were progressing nicely.
Tennis star Joey has found his future wife! After dating 32 women, he proposed to project manager Kelsey Anderson in March 2024. He told Kelsey, “I can’t wait another minute to tell you that I love you,” before asking her to marry him. Joey explained that Kelsey’s positive energy makes him incredibly happy, a feeling he’d never experienced before. He shared that meeting her showed him just how wonderful his life could be.
John Henry Spurlock, who competed for Charity Lawson’s affection, and Kat Izzo, from Zach Shallcross’ season, found a connection on season nine of Bachelor in Paradise, though it took a while to develop. John Henry proposed with a Neil Lane diamond, telling Kat she was everything he was looking for. However, shortly after the show’s finale, they announced their breakup. In a joint social media post, they explained that their differing career goals led them to realize they weren’t a long-term match, but they remained thankful for the support they received from family, friends, and fans.
Eliza Isichei, who previously dated Clayton Echard, is engaged! Despite some initial nervousness, she happily said yes when Aaron Bryant proposed to her by the ocean. She was especially touched that Aaron asked her mother for her blessing, admitting she was so emotional she couldn’t control what she said.
However, the couple revealed in December 2023 that they have decided to end their engagement. They explained that while watching the show back was difficult, they are parting ways amicably with positivity and respect for each other.
Despite initially being disappointed that boyfriend Aven Jones didn’t propose in a traditional way—something he had apparently been ready to do on The Bachelorette with Rachel Recchia—Kylee Russell accepted his proposal to try and make their relationship work on Paradise. Although she had already picked out an engagement dress, she felt it was the right decision, explaining that “love is all about taking risks.” Sadly, just two days after the show’s finale aired in December 2023, Kylee announced on social media that they had broken up due to Aven being unfaithful. Aven later apologized, admitting he had made serious mistakes and hurt Kylee.
Charity Lawson is thrilled with how her season of The Bachelorette ended! She hinted to TopMob News, “I am happy with how this season turns out!” – a statement that didn’t quite capture the excitement of the August 2023 finale. During the finale, Dotun Olubeko, an integrative medicine specialist, proposed to Charity, a child and family therapist, getting down on one knee and declaring their love was “perfect.” He then asked, “Would you do me the honor of turning this fairytale into a reality?”
Though they’re planning a wedding for 2025 or 2026, Charity will first be hitting the dance floor on Dancing With the Stars. Dotun surprised her on The Bachelorette: After the Final Rose, saying, “I know you like to cut up, you like to dance and you like to get down. You know that we’ve talked about this—about how amazing this opportunity would be. And I am so happy to be the one to tell you that you’re gonna be on Dancing With the Stars! Baby, let’s go!”
Zach Shallcross proposed to Kaity Biggar at the end of season 27 in March 2023, despite some challenges during the Fantasy Suites. He told her, “I am so in love with you. You are my world. The love I feel for you is something I could have never imagined.” In July 2023, the couple, who are based in Texas, announced they had moved in together on Instagram.
Kaity and her partner got married on May 23, 2025, in a small, intimate chapel ceremony. They had originally envisioned a bigger wedding, but Kaity realized it wasn’t necessary. As she shared on the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast in June 2025, she wanted to focus on what truly mattered – their love and connection – and felt she was getting too caught up in minor details.
However, one thing especially impressed her. The aunt who signed her up to compete for Zach’s affection discovered the charming chapel near Austin where they held their wedding. “It was exactly what we wanted,” Kaity shared.
Danielle Maltby and Michael Allio, who seemed like a promising couple after meeting on Bachelor in Paradise, have broken up. Both had faced personal tragedy – Danielle lost her fiancé to a drug overdose, and Michael’s wife passed away, leaving him with their young son, James. After a year of Danielle moving to Ohio to be with Michael, he revealed they had split. On a podcast, Michael explained that while they loved each other, they weren’t compatible, and he was grieving the loss of both the relationship and the future they had planned together.
Brandon Jones proposed to Serene Russell on season seven of Paradise, telling her he would love her forever. However, their relationship didn’t last. Just five months after getting engaged on the show, the couple announced their split in a May 2023 Instagram post. They explained that trying to work through their issues privately had been very difficult with so much public attention. They shared that the breakup was painful and that they still cared deeply for each other, asking for kindness from the public.
Pilot Rachel and her fiancé, Tino Franco, broke up after he kissed someone else while their season of the show was still airing in 2022. Tino later admitted on the podcast The Viall Files that he deeply regrets his actions. He said it was unfair to Rachel, that he’s still ashamed of it, and wishes he could have handled things differently.
Susie Evans and Clayton Echard’s relationship was quite a rollercoaster. After Susie initially turned Clayton down during the 2022 Bachelor finale, they briefly reconnected off-camera, only to break up again after about six months. Susie, a videographer from Los Angeles, has said the split was necessary for her own well-being. In a November 2022 blog post, she explained that she wasn’t truly happy and felt like she was losing her spark. While they shared some good times, she realized she wasn’t living her best life and felt out of sync with who she wanted to be.
Susie then dated Justin Glaze, who appeared on Bachelor Nation, but they ended their relationship in August 2024.
Michelle, an elementary school teacher from Minnesota, accepted a proposal from Nayte Olukoya, a sales executive from Texas, on a reality show and received a $200,000 check towards a future home. However, the couple ultimately split six months after the season finale aired in December 2021, realizing they weren’t a good long-term match. Nayte later admitted on the podcast The Viall Files that their relationship was filled with arguments and a lack of connection, and he regretted not having a final conversation with Michelle in person. Michelle later began dating Jack Leius in 2023, and they announced their engagement the following year. They were married in Minnesota in June 2025.
Viewers were really hoping for a long-term relationship between Maurissa Gunn and Riley Christian, picturing a happy future for them. However, the couple from season seven of BIP only lasted a few months. In a statement released in January 2022, Maurissa (who previously dated Peter Weber) and Riley (a former contestant on Tayshia Adams’ season) announced they were breaking up. They explained that they both needed to focus on personal growth and hadn’t expected to split up.
Status: Split
The first same-sex couple to get engaged on Bachelor in Paradise – during season six – revealed they had broken up in 2019 on Halloween.
We’ve always cared deeply for each other, and making the best decision for both of us has always been our top priority. With love and sadness, we’ve decided to separate so we can both focus on growing as individuals. This is what we believe is best for our future and for where we are right now, as shared in a joint statement.
Despite a breakup during season seven of Bachelor in Paradise, Noah Erb and Abigail Heringer realized they were meant to be together. The couple, who initially connected on Tayshia’s season and Matt James’ season respectively, have moved from San Diego to Noah’s hometown of Tulsa after Abigail purchased her first house. She shared on Instagram in July 2023 that they’re excited to start a new chapter, including wedding planning. Noah proposed to Abigail in August 2023 at a beach house in San Diego.
Serena Pitt and Joe Amabile, who first connected on reality TV, secretly tied the knot in October 2022! The couple, engaged after leaving Paradise, decided to have a small ceremony at City Hall near their home in New York City about a year before their planned larger wedding in September 2023. Serena, now co-host of the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast with Joe, shared the news with a playful message: ‘We are still having a wedding this September but who doesn’t want to get married twice!’ Joe Amabile first gained attention on Becca Kufrin’s season of The Bachelorette in 2018, and Serena was a finalist on Matt James’ season.
Kenny Braasch proposed to Mari Pepin with a Neil Lane diamond ring during the 2021 finale of Paradise, declaring his deep love for her and saying he couldn’t imagine life without her. Mari, who first appeared on The Bachelor and captured Matt’s attention, relocated from Maryland to Kenny’s hometown of Chicago to begin planning their future together. Before their November 2023 wedding – a 65-guest oceanfront ceremony in Puerto Rico – the couple solidified their bond with matching tattoos during a May 2023 trip to the Bahamas. Kenny was previously eliminated by Tayshia Adams in week five of Paradise.
Status: Married
Becca, formerly of The Bachelorette, and Thomas Jacobs, who appeared on Katie Thurston’s season, found love on season seven of Bachelor in Paradise in 2021. They initially split up during filming, but later got back together. In May 2022, they announced their engagement, revealing that Becca had proposed. She told TopMob News she hoped their unconventional approach would inspire others to break tradition. Thomas returned the gesture by proposing to her in October of the same year. In September 2023, they welcomed their son, Benson, with Becca sharing on Instagram that no words could express how much love they felt for him. Just weeks later, on October 13th, the couple spontaneously tied the knot.
Read More
- 4 TV Shows To Watch While You Wait for Wednesday Season 3
- Best X-Men Movies (September 2025)
- Gold Rate Forecast
- PlayStation Plus Game Catalog and Classics Catalog lineup for July 2025 announced
- 10 Best Buffy the Vampire Slayer Characters Ranked
- All 6 Takopi’s Original Sin Episodes, Ranked
- 40 Inspiring Optimus Prime Quotes
- Every Creepy Clown in American Horror Story Ranked
- 10 Most Memorable Batman Covers
- 10 Great Netflix Dramas That Nobody Talks About
2026-03-20 00:51