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The once-flourishing reality series seems to be losing its luster.
Rachel Lindsay, a beloved former star of “The Bachelorette,” has expressed her belief that the franchise’s reputation has been “tainted” in the wake of Taylor Frankie Paul’s domestic violence controversy.
During Thursday’s episode of E!’s digital series “Hot Goss,” the 40-year-old shared her perspective, having earlier remarked that the scandal had “destroyed” the show. “I’m very logical,” Lindsay noted, as she pondered potential routes for the franchise to take. “I keep trying to figure out how they can navigate through this. I’m sure they will find a way, as they are a business. Whether it involves introducing a new ‘Bachelorette’ or possibly awaiting a statement from her, since she hasn’t commented yet.”
Lindsay, who took on the role of “Bachelorette” in 2017, reflected on how the 2023 incident captured in a leaked video offers a different perspective, despite Paul having previously shared details of the situation.
Lindsay — who was the “Bachelorette” in 2017 — explained that “it’s different” to watch the 2023 incident in the leaked video, despite Paul previously disclosing the details.
“It’s a hard watch,” she admitted before speculating that “somebody [at ABC] will have to take the fall.“
“And then we will see what they knew. I do think some people didn’t know everything. Like me at first, I didn’t know that she was a felon. It’s wild to think about,” she added, referring to Paul’s 2023 felony aggravated assault charges, which she pleaded guilty to. Though the charges were dropped, she is on probation until August 2026.
After a video of Paul throwing chairs at her ex Dakota Mortensen was leaked on March 19, days before the new season of “The Bachelorette” was set to premiere, ABC decided to ax the show.
At the time, the network told Page Six in a statement, “In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of ‘The Bachelorette’ at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family.”
Despite the network pulling the episodes, the reality TV star still “cannot see a road forward with the franchise.”
“Listen,” Lindsay stated. “There are a lot of people who are begging for this to still be released, but I think that there are people who are disturbed. Maybe some people did not know the history. So I think some people are disturbed by it.”
As the podcaster put it, “I think when you think of the name now, you’re going to think about this.”
Lindsay also pointed out the fact that ABC has not officially confirmed Season 22 won’t air, explaining, “They haven’t said ‘Hey, the season’s done. We’re never going to air it.’ So, I think they’ve kind of left the door open and they are probably seeing what happens in the court of public opinion. What happens with her sponsors?”
Addressing the reports that the show’s contestants will take legal action after ABC pulled the plug on the show, she admitted to understanding why they will want to do so.
“It’s unfair, so I understand the sentiment behind it. There were fathers on this cast that left their families,” she shared. “Some people quit their jobs. Some people took a pay cut so I understand the sentiment of, ‘What do we do now?’”
As a reality TV vet — and an attorney — Lindsay said she believes the men “should still be under an NDA, they should not be able to talk about the season, filming, anything that happened.”
However, “they should be released to be able to do brand deals, appearances and other shows,” she mused.
As to the future of the show, Lindsay pondered, “Who would want to be the ‘Bachelorette after? Who would want to at that point? I will not go back. I don’t know who would want to step in after this. Again, I think it’s a little tainted. Maybe with time but will I watch? No.”
The 2023 video surfaced after it was reported that filming for Season 5 of Hulu’s “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” had been halted amid a separate domestic violence investigation involving Paul and Mortensen from earlier this year.
Mortensen filed for a restraining order against Paul earlier this week, alleging that she choked him last month in the presence of their son. He was granted temporary custody of their 2-year-old son, Ever, on Friday.
Since then, it has been revealed that Paul is under investigation for a third incident, which occurred in 2024.