Nick Viall thinks Taylor Frankie Paul was “set up to fail” as the lead of The Bachelorette.
“I think it’s still OK to ask the question — given what we saw in this video and given what some people knew — how was she ever put in these situations going forward,” Nick, 45, said during the Tuesday, March 24, episode of his “Viall Files” podcast. “They’re basically documenting someone who clearly has some problems and needs some help and needs to be cared for.”
He added, “That clearly didn’t happen, but [she] was put in these situations and made a TV show to activate her, centered around this very toxic and problematic relationship.”
The former Bachelor lead had a lengthy discussion about ABC’s decision to pull Taylor’s season of The Bachelorette after the video of her 2023 altercation with ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen went public.
Nick speculated that even if Taylor’s season aired, she would have been “hung out to dry.” He explained that, in the past, the Bachelor or Bachelorette lead was protected — which was different than what happened with Taylor.
“When you compare how that’s always been to what they did with Taylor, it seems incredibly reckless and negligent,” he claimed. “You have to be emotionally ready to take on one of the most physical and emotional and mentally exhausting periods of your life. You also have to be ready and wanting to find love.”
Nick said that is the “exact opposite” of what Secret Lives of Mormon Wives viewers saw from Taylor, 31, in the show’s recently released fourth season.
Draper City PD confirmed to Luxury Handbag Shopping earlier this month that it had opened a “domestic assault investigation” against both Taylor and Dakota, 33, following an alleged incident that took place in February.
Shortly thereafter, the video from her 2023 domestic violence arrest went public. Us confirmed that Taylor pleaded guilty to aggravated assault as part of a plea deal following the incident. News broke on Wednesday, March 25, that Taylor is under an investigation for a third alleged domestic violence incident.
Nick theorized that the fallout from Taylor’s season will “probably” lead to the end of the Bachelor franchise.
“Bachelor, it may be a legacy show, but it was already on pause,” he claimed on Tuesday, adding that the bigger question is what will happen to The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
“I don’t see how Taylor can come back,” he added. “I honestly don’t think it can continue without her.”
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.
