The Bachelor franchise is shaking things up with the reveal of its next leading lady. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul will be the next Bachelorette, ushering in a much-needed change for the long-running reality show. Usually, the franchise chooses a fan-favorite from the previous season of The Bachelor to lead the spinoff show, but a recent decline in ratings may explain Taylor’s casting. The Influencer has a large, dedicated fanbase who will likely tune in to see her journey on The Bachelorette. Casting a controversial reality star may be the secret ingredient to reviving a once-beloved reality show that has become somewhat antiquated in recent years.
So, can Taylor Frankie Paul save The Bachelorette? I certainly think so. Here’s why…
Taylor Frankie Paul is a controversial pick for Bachelorette, but that’s not a bad thing
Wherever Taylor goes, controversy seems to follow. If you’re a fan of SLOMW, you’re aware that her love life is a bit of a mess. She and her ex-husband, Tate Paul, made headlines in 2022 after their “soft swinging scandal” was depicted on the show. The former couple agreed they could be intimate with other people as long as they didn’t “go all the way.” Controversy ensued when it was revealed that Taylor broke the agreed-upon boundaries. The infidelity ended the marriage. If you think that is messy, just wait. After her marriage ended, she began dating the man she had cheated with. Her rocky romance with Dakota Mortensen was captured on SLOMW.
Taylor Frankie Paul will save The Bachelor franchise from plummeting ratings
The Bachelor franchise is salacious in its premise, but relatively wholesome in practice. There are a few raunchy moments, but mostly it’s all romantic dates and premature “I love yous.” The leads (usually) are ready for a real relationship and protective of their reputation outside the show.
For many years, the ABC show cornered the market on dating shows. There wasn’t much competition, so the franchise didn’t need to revive its predictable format. But it’s a different world today. New dating shows pop up on a regular basis, and they keep getting more absurd. The Bachelor franchise is falling behind. They need some edge to keep up with shows like Love Is Blind and Too Hot to Handle. The cracks in the franchise became visible to fans in 2024 when the network chose to halt production for Season 22 of The Bachelorette. The network did not reveal the reason for the hiatus, but a source told the U.S. Sun that low ratings were to blame.
“The truth is, the last season of The Bachelorette had a disappointing decline in ratings. It hit a low amongst the 18-49 demographic, which is what everyone at the network focuses on most,” they shared.
“It’s a pretty clear indicator things are not where the network wants them to be – they haven’t done this since 2007, and that time was not for the same reasons,” they added.
Thankfully, the series’s hiatus only lasted one year. The spinoff with return in 2026 with Taylor at the helm. The Hulu Star may be exactly what the show needs. She’s funny, captivating, and a little controversial. Oftentimes, The Bachelorette leads seem pretty perfect. And while we love to watch a likable character find love, it makes for a boring season of reality television. Don’t hold your breath for a “JoJo Fletcher Caught in Soft Swinging Scandal” headline anytime soon.
When I think about my favorite seasons of The Bachelorette, it’s always the messy legends I remember. I loved Hannah Brown moving the podium away from Luke P. And when Kaitlyn Bristowe made history by sleeping with a contestant before fantasy suites, I thought it was iconic. Reality stars aren’t meant to be perfect, and we shouldn’t want them to be. After all, no one watches scripted TV about perfect people. Even the Gilmore Girls lie, cheat, and steal!
I personally can’t wait to watch Taylor’s journey on The Bachelorette.
The Bachelorette is available to stream on Amazon Prime.
TELL US – ARE YOU EXCITED TO SEE TAYLOR FRANKIE PAUL AS THE BACHELORETTE? DO YOU THINK IT’S A GOOD MOVE FOR THE FRANCHISE?
