Home / Arts and Entertainment / Olympic Star Maher Eyed for Bachelorette Lead Role
Olympic Star Maher Eyed for Bachelorette Lead Role
26 Mar
Summary
- Ilona Maher, an Olympic rugby star, is a fan favorite for The Bachelorette.
- The upcoming season was canceled due to controversy surrounding Taylor Frankie Paul.
- Paul faced legal issues after a domestic violence incident was caught on video.
Fans are rallying behind Olympic rugby star Ilona Maher to become the next "Bachelorette" after the abrupt cancellation of Season 22. The season was scrapped following a domestic violence scandal involving its originally chosen lead, Taylor Frankie Paul.
A video surfaced showing Paul throwing chairs during an altercation with her ex, Dakota Mortensen, which resulted in a child being injured. This incident became key evidence in an aggravated assault case, leading to Paul's sentencing of three years' probation in February 2026.
In response to the controversy, ABC canceled the season, stating their focus was on supporting the family. Meanwhile, Maher has playfully responded to the fan fervor, joking about potential executive producer roles for friends should she accept the lead position.
Taylor Frankie Paul was granted a temporary restraining order barring her from contacting Mortensen and their child. The incident also reportedly caused internal conflict during filming, with a contestant bringing up Paul's past arrest, leading to a heated on-set reaction.
