Credit: Pixie Productions, ABC Press/Disney/Ser Baffo
The Bachelor alum Erica Rose Sanders exclusively spoke to Reality Blurb about whether she thinks ABC could sue Taylor Frankie Paul following her scandalous behavior, which led to the cancellation of The Bachelorette.
After a shocking video of the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star throwing barstools at Dakota Mortensen leaked yesterday, ABC ultimately decided to pull the plug on Taylor’s Bachelorette season, which was due to begin airing on Sunday.
According to a Page Six report, an insider claimed the cancellation could cost the network “$50 million [or more]” and insisted someone will be “fired” over this.
Another source spoke to Us Weekly, sharing, “ABC is livid over the situation. Taylor had a breach of contract, and they are internally investigating.”
“They have already lost a lot of money,” they added. “They face losing $40 to $50 million now that they’ve canceled.”
When speaking with us, Erica, who is an attorney, explained she doesn’t believe Taylor actually violated her contract, as the video footage that was released yesterday was from a “2023 incident.”
“It was public record before they hired and cast her,” she elaborated, insisting she doesn’t believe ABC can successfully sue her over the ordeal.
c/o Pixie Productions
However, Erica does believe Taylor can sue the network.
“She would prevail depending on if her TV contract contained a ‘morals clause’ or ‘conduct clause,'” she stated. “If a star is under active criminal investigation or if their behavior could damage the network’s reputation — and cause sponsors like Cinnabon to pull out — the network has the legal right to scrap footage without airing it. But they knew she was under investigation.”
As for why she believes ABC decided to suddenly scrap the show, given that so much information about Taylor’s past was already public fodder, Erica said they “just got pressured because of the video that was just released.”
Erica also indicated she was looking forward to Taylor’s season, regardless of the scandals.
“I actually was thinking it would be fun to watch after so many boring seasons,” she divulged.
When ABC/Disney decided not to move forward with airing Taylor’s season, they released the following 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.”
After the cancellation of the show, Taylor’s rep spoke out with a statement on her behalf.
“Taylor 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,” her rep shared.
“There are too many women who are suffering in silence as they survive aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to let them move on with their lives. Taylor has remained silent out of fear of further abuse, retaliation and public shaming,” her rep added. “She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.”
Her rep also gave another statement to PEOPLE, claiming it’s “sad to see the latest installment of his never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without any regard for the consequences for their child.”
“Releasing an old video, which conveniently omits context, on their son’s birthday is a reprehensible attempt to distract from his own behavior,” they elaborated, pointing a finger at Dakota. “Thankfully, the public has seen this act before and knows who he is and sadly, many will recognize this pattern of manipulation, both in his actions on the show, and from their own experiences.”