Jesse Palmer is fielding questions about the future of The Bachelorette in light of the continued controversy surrounding season 22 lead Taylor Frankie Paul — whether he likes it or not.
Jesse, 47, served as the grand marshal of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, Virginia, on Saturday, May 2. While waving to fans from a white convertible, two crowdgoers shouted, “Jesse, release Taylor’s Bachelorette!”
Jesse appeared to laugh off the fan comment, per social media footage, declining to further address the situation.
Taylor, 31, helmed the latest season of The Bachelorette, due to premiere on March 22. Just days before the premiere was set to air, ABC canceled the season’s release after footage of Taylor’s 2023 domestic violence arrest resurfaced online.
“We have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of The Bachelorette at this time,” a spokesperson for Disney Entertainment Television told Us Weekly in a March statement. “Our focus is on supporting the family.”
Taylor later issued a statement, thanking ABC for the network’s “support” during a difficult time for the reality TV star.
“Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security,” a rep for the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star wrote in a statement. “After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm.”
Taylor was arrested in February 2023 after a domestic violence incident with her then-boyfriend, now-ex Dakota Mortensen. She pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault as part of a deal to dismiss additional charges pertaining to child abuse. The influencer was subsequently placed on probation.
Footage from the incident was leaked in March, showing Taylor physically assaulting and throwing chairs at Dakota, 33, in front of her daughter. (Taylor shares daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 5, with ex-husband Tate Paul, as well as son Ever, 2, with Dakota.)
Dakota and Taylor were later the subject of an additional police investigation in Utah after additional and separate alleged altercations, including an alleged domestic violence incident in February. A judge granted the now-exes protective orders and awarded Dakota sole custody of Ever until a future court hearing. Taylor, for her part, was granted supervised visitation until the hearing. Local authorities also declined to file charges against Taylor pertaining to the alleged February incident.
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It is also possible that Taylor’s Bachelorette season will eventually air.
“Everything with that is one day at a time,” Disney executive Rob Mills told Deadline late last month about the season’s future. “The day all of that stuff happened, really our first sort of concern was really for Taylor and the family and everyone involved in that … it was really more on a human level.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
