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Bethenny Frankel insisted that Taylor Frankie Paul’s season of “The Bachelorette” being cancelled “doesn’t make any sense,” as she called out ABC for casting Paul in the first place.
“They knew about her domestic violence past, and apparently they cast her as the first non-Bachelor nation person, and they wanted the controversy and the redemption, so now they’re re-trading on that because the video was made public,” Frankel said in an Instagram video on Thursday.
The “RHONY” alum continued, “I mean, a picture’s worth a thousand words, and audio’s worth a thousand words, but if someone was already involved in domestic violence, why would they cast her?”
Frankel was referring to the recently released video that shows the “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star throwing chairs at ex Dakota Mortensen in front of her then-5-year-old daughter, Indy, during their 2023 domestic violence dispute.
Paul, 31, was arrested for the incident but all the charges were later dropped.
In her video, Frankel noted that reality TV “thrives on conflict, negativity, substance abuse, physical abuse, bankruptcy, DUIs, incarcerations.”
“So whenever people say, ‘Whatever happened to the reality reckoning?’ I say, the reckoning still continues,” added Frankel, who attempted a takedown of Bravo and Andy Cohen a few years ago. “I hear examples of it all the time.”
The SkinnyGirl founder also pointed out that “you don’t cancel a whole season if there’s not a pile of sh-t underneath it.”
“So the reality reckoning is and has been real and continues, because there are a lot of things going on legally that you haven’t heard of,” she went on. “Cases don’t wave a magic wand and get resolved the next day. There’s a lot underneath.”
Frankel predicted that crew members on “The Bachelorette” will speak out about the cancellation drama.
“The crew, they’re the ones rising, cause they’ve witnessed it all, made to be quiet about it all,” she explained.
“And watch what happens with the crews,” Frankel added. “Mark my words. You’re welcome.”
ABC pulled the plug on “The Bachelorette” Season 22 three days before premiere night.
“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,” the network told Page Six in a statement.
Meanwhile, Paul’s spokesperson told us that the reality star “is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security.”
“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,” the rep continued.
Paul “is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story,” the spokesperson also said.
ABC’s decision came on the heels of another alleged domestic abuse dispute between Paul and Mortensen, 33, that occurred in February.
An investigation into the alleged incident caused Paul’s other reality show, “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” to shut down production on Season 5 last week.
The day before ABC canceled “The Bachelorette,” Paul appeared on “Good Morning America” and compared the investigation to “the end of the world.”
“When your life is broadcasted out there in these headlines, it’s like the end of the world, that’s what it feels like — I’m not going to lie,” she said.
Paul added, “I will say I’ve been here before and I got through it and I’ve shared my story and my light, and I’m hoping I can do that again.”
English (US)