The Bachelorette

Taylor Frankie Paul's reality show in Utah is on ice amid allegations of child and spousal abuse ... but her turn as the next 'Bachelorette' is still full steam ahead.

"The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" star is embroiled in a messy war of words and allegations in Utah with her ex and baby daddy, Dakota Mortensen ... but a pause in production on that show appears to have no effect on her other show, "The Bachelorette."

Taylor stars in the 22nd season of the ABC reality dating competition .... and she's reportedly in New York City promoting the show ahead of a premiere this weekend in Los Angeles.

The celebs have hit the rewind button -- playing back their 2016 era! Celebs like Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift, and Ryan Seacrest have ditched the perfectly polished pics for messy, blurry party shots ... these pics are all recently straight from the source ... and this candid chaos is straight out of the Tumblr days!

Gym, tan, laundry was well underway in '16, but the "Jersey Shore" crew brought their A-game for this selfie!

If Jessica Simpson makes a return to reality TV, it won't be on "The Bachelorette" ... according to what she just told us at LAX.

The "Irresistible" singer told our cameraperson she's still got the goods and doesn't need Hollywood's help finding a man.

She insisted, "I have options, I'm good."

This follows rumors that the former 'Newlyweds' star was in talks to join the ABC reality show after separating from estranged husband Eric Johnson.

The new face of "The Bachelorette" looks like she's ready to go back to her soft-swinging ways ... because Taylor Frankie Paul is already making out with guys on set.

Check out these photos of Taylor packing on the PDA with one of her suitors, Casey Hux, during filming in Las Vegas.

Taylor's in a black robe, and she's all over the Casey in a white bathrobe -- they're making out in what appears to be a hotel/casino.

Reality TV is the perfect place for politicians to start -- at least that's how Chris Lambton, runner-up of "The Bachelorette" Season 6 feels ... 'cause he's now running to be a state rep!

TMZ caught up with Chris -- who competed on Ali Fedotowsky's season of the hit ABC series in 2010 -- and he says his time on the show, followed by his multiple gigs as an HGTV host, gave him some of the best preparation possible to be now running for a state rep spot in Massachusetts.

It makes total sense -- Chris says "The Bachelorette" taught him how to interview and think on the spot, while also giving him a fantastic platform ... while hosting gigs with HGTV allowed him to learn from all sorts of people around the states. That's just part of why Chris says reality TV completely prepared him to represent his family and friends on Massachusetts' Cape Cod -- it's all in the clip!

Katie Thurston refuses to see her cancer diagnosis as terminal ... especially after the viral rumors about her death hit her hard when they started circulating in August.

We caught up with the former 'Bachelorette' after her appearance on "Good Morning America" Tuesday ... and, we had to ask how she was doing after the online rumor of her passing swept the internet.

Thurston says the early part of the death hoax was the hardest ... and, she tells anyone who might experience it to "show up for yourself" -- adding it's all part of the highs and lows of navigating cancer.

Taylor Frankie Paul's had plenty of ups and downs in her love life, which has seen her go from a marriage with her former husband, Tate Paul, to a long-term relationship with Dakota Mortensen.

And if the romances weren't compelling enough ... she welcomed kids with both of her former flames!

We're going to take a look at how her relationships with her past partners played out, before she committed herself to finding love on the small screen.

Taylor and Paul tied the knot in 2016, and she remained with him as she rose to fame through her "MomTok" videos.

The pair started a family with the birth of their daughter Indy in 2017, and they welcomed a son, Ocean, in 2020.

However, the social media figure filed for divorce in 2022 after she became embroiled in a scandal regarding her practice of "soft-swinging" -- meaning she, as well as her husband, got intimate with other people to varying degrees -- and her alleged affair with an acquaintance, after which the pair separated.

Taylor eventually moved on with another partner, and the pair eventually married and started a family. She remained on cordial terms with her former spouse after their split, and she told Today he would "always be an important figure" in her life.

Taylor moved on from both the scandal and her former marriage when she started dating Mortensen, who made his first appearance on her TikTok account in September 2022.

The pair's relationship wasn't always the smoothest, and she entered a plea in abeyance to a count of aggravated assault in August 2023 after her now ex-boyfriend claimed she'd attacked him, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.

Taylor and Mortensen reconciled following the incident, and she gave birth to their son Ever in March 2024.

The two remained together until December 2024, when they went their separate ways. She later told People both she and Mortensen had been "trying to heal" from the events of their relationship.

Taylor's love life is going to have some major updates in the near future, as she was announced as the next lead of "The Bachelorette" in September 2025.

The thing is, she didn't tell Mortensen about her casting, and she said letting her ex know she'd signed on to appear in the show wasn't on her "priority list" during a conversation with Us Weekly.

Taylor then expressed she felt as if the casting "wouldn’t be the best news" for the father of her third child.

Taylor Frankie Paul's been through plenty of ups and downs throughout her career in social media ... and we're here for all of them!

The TikTok powerhouse has gone from dealing with drama about her past marriage -- and her former relationship -- to raising her profile through her work on the small screen.

Here's a look at how the social media figure rose to fame, and how she ended up becoming a part of Bachelor Nation.

Taylor was brought up in Utah, and she was raised Mormon, although she told Decider she didn't feel any "pressure" to conform to the church's standards.

She rose to prominence through her usage of TikTok and was one of the main faces of "MomTok," a group of mainly Mormon content creators on the platform.

The social media figure eventually racked up five million followers on TikTok, and she also has two million followers on Instagram.

Taylor's online presence landed her a spot on the Time100 Creators List in 2025, and she told the publication she'd had to learn not to "take everything to heart" throughout her career in social media.

Taylor's been married before, as she tied the knot with her former husband, Tate Paul, in 2016. They welcomed a daughter, Indy, in 2017, and a son, Ocean, in 2020.

However, their relationship fell apart after Taylor became involved in a "soft-swinging" scandal in 2022, and she filed for divorce the same year.

She eventually moved on with Dakota Mortensen, with whom she welcomed a son, Ever, in 2024.

The thing is, Taylor's relationship with Mortensen was affected by her 2023 arrest for domestic violence, and she later entered a plea in abeyance to a count of aggravated assault, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. She ended up splitting with Mortensen in December 2024.

Taylor's social media career led her to opportunities in television, and she became one of the stars of the Hulu reality series "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," which premiered in 2024.

The show is centered on the lives of several MomTok content creators, including Taylor, and the program started as they dealt with the fallout from the "soft-swinging" scandal.

The program proved to be a hit with viewers, and its second season premiered in May 2025. A third season's currently set to make its debut in November 2025.

Taylor's become fond of appearing in front of the cameras, and she told Variety she'd "continue to do it as long as they’ll have me."

Taylor's career in reality television is branching out further, as she revealed she was set to serve as the lead on the 22nd season of "The Bachelorette" in September 2025.

She made the announcement about her new venture on an episode of the "Call Her Daddy" podcast. It's also worth noting she's a newcomer to Bachelor Nation, as all of the former Bachelorettes previously competed on "The Bachelor."

Taylor admitted she was shocked by the producers' decision to pick her as the new Bachelorette, and told Alex Cooper she "didn’t believe it until I got the invitation."

It's raining rose petals on Taylor Frankie Paul -- 'cause she's the new bachelorette!

The 'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' star was announced as the leading lady for Season 22 of the hit reality dating show on Alex Cooper's "Call Her Daddy" podcast on Wednesday.

This is a first for the franchise -- it usually casts well-liked suitors from previous seasons of "The Bachelor", and never someone who's already a reality star.

Nick Viall fielded plenty of potential partners while starring in "The Bachelor" and appearing in two seasons of "The Bachelorette" ... and he eventually found love off-camera with his now-wife, Natalie Joy.

The pair have been through lots of changes over the course of their relationship, which has seen them go from casually dating to raising a child together ... and working together to co-host their shared podcast.

We're going to take a look at the background of Viall's wife to see how she established herself before marrying her husband ... and we'll check out how they've had to deal with some serious, heavy events over the course of their marriage.

Joy's had a non-traditional career path, as she dropped out of high school at 15 in order to pursue her modeling interests, according to The New York Times.

She eventually transitioned out of the fashion world, and she began working as a surgical technologist in her hometown of Savannah, Georgia.

Oh, and in case you didn't know, surgical technologists help prepare patients before and after procedures, sterilize equipment, and provide support for surgeons during operations, according to the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.

In addition to her medical career, Joy's established herself as a media figure and often appears on her husband's podcast.

Joy's relationship with Viall, who's 18 years her senior, began after she slid into his DMs, and he later described his now-wife's actions as both unexpected and "funny" while speaking with E! News.

The pair eventually began seeing each other in June 2020 after an extended period of casual dating, and they moved in together five months later.

Joy and Viall made their red carpet debut in November 2021, and he let his fans know he had proposed to Natalie two years later.

The podcaster and his partner eventually made things official when they said their vows during a ceremony held in Joy's home state in April 2024.

The pair's wedding included plenty of guests -- including their daughter River, who was born just two months before the ceremony.

The thing is, the couple's journey through parenthood hasn't always been the easiest, as she revealed she was "actively miscarrying" their second child in a January 2025 episode of "The Viall Files" podcast.

Joy eventually got pregnant again, although she suffered another pregnancy loss two months later, and shared a message on her Instagram Story to express she might "never" feel the same again, according to E! News.

Hannah Brown is already technically a married woman … 'cause TMZ has learned she and her fiancé filed official paperwork with the court last month.

According to court records, seen by TMZ, "The Bachelorette" star and her fiancé Adam Woolard got legally hitched on June 21 in Tennessee. It's unclear if they had a ceremony in the States or just filed the paperwork with the courts.

Fast forward to now -- on Monday Hannah posted on Instagram to share that she was on her way to France for what fans assumed was her actual wedding. In reality, it's more of a formal celebration … the paperwork's already signed, sealed, and delivered back home in the States.

Hannah and Adam have been engaged since August 2023. They first started dating in early 2021. and have talked openly about planning a dreamy destination ceremony in Europe.

No word yet on exactly where or when the French festivities are going down, but one thing's for sure … they're already legally bound, vows or not.

Katie Thurston's cancer treatment has sent her body into menopause ... one of the many symptoms she's dealing with while fighting stage 4 breast cancer.

The former reality television star shared a video to social media ... telling her fans she's now experiencing hot flashes because her cancer treatment has forced her into menopause.

For those who don't know, chemotherapy is one of a few ways women can go through early menopause ... so, not totally shocking this is happening to Katie while she's dealing with her severe form of cancer.

"The Bachelorette" alum Gabby Windey just traded roses for rings -- she and comedian Robby Hoffman are officially hitched!

Gabby spilled the tea on IG Wednesday, sharing loved-up snaps from their top-secret, 20-minute Vegas "I do" -- which actually went down in January.

Gabby was in a stunning white lace gown and Robby was rocking a button-down white shirt ... and it was all about keeping it simple with just the two of them.

Katie Thurston's sharing a major life update ... telling her fans she's been diagnosed with breast cancer -- and, she plans to share every bit of it.

The 'Bachelorette' star shared the news in an Instagram post Saturday morning ... telling fans she and her fiancé, comedian Jeff Arcuri, planned to travel the world before settling in NYC -- but, they had to cut it short so she could deal with getting medical coverage for her illness.

She says her recent life has run her through a gauntlet of emotions ... from anger, sadness to denial -- before she emerged on the other side ready to fight cancer.

Jenn Tran is off the market -- she's just made her relationship with Sasha Farber Insta-official in the biggest way possible.

After weeks of keeping their sizzling "Dancing with the Stars" chemistry under wraps, Jenn finally hit the hard-launch button sharing a video of them enjoying a candlelit Valentine’s date night.

The pair were hitting all the V-Day staples ... sipping wine, feeding each other chocolate-covered strawberries, and getting cozy. And Jenn was looking utterly divine, with the dim lighting setting the perfect vibe for their romantic evening.

Rachel Lindsay is feeling lighter than air in 2025 ... especially after settling her divorce from ex-husband Bryan Abasolo.

We caught up with the former 'Bachelorette' star outside LAX on Tuesday, where she shared how she's doing after wrapping up a major part of her divorce from her former hubby.

As Rachel tells us ... she's feeling "great" after agreeing to the settlement, which saw her walking away with their North Hollywood home, a Porsche Macan, artwork and other assets.