Bachelor star calls Taylor Frankie Paul scandal 'beyond messy' as he reveals where he stands on cancellation

A former star on The Bachelor is weighing in on the Taylor Frankie Paul scandal as the franchise that helped him find his wife now faces turmoil.  

Zach Shallcross is settling down in Austin, Texas after getting engaged on his season of The Bachelor in 2023.

But the franchise that chronicled his love story is now in a state of upheaval after it abruptly cancelled Paul's upcoming season of The Bachelorette following the release of video showing her throwing chairs at ex Dakota Mortensen in 2023. 

The bombshell cancellation sent shockwaves amongst fans of the show, who had been expecting to watch The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star hand out roses in a matter of days. 

As a former lead, Shallcross, 29, offers a unique perspective on the drama - which he called 'beyond messy' in an exclusive interview with The Daily Mail. 

'I think the show did a great job of cancelling it, I'll say that. I don't think the stuff going on right now needs to be pushed anymore than it is,' he told The Daily Mail at Clarins' Night of Extra soiree at the Academy Museum's Dolby Terrace on Friday.

Shallcross does hope Paul seeks the support 'she needs' and is sending 'good vibes' from the sideline to the situation. 

'I do hope Taylor gets the help she needs,' he added.

'It's beyond messy... I'm just going to steer clear of it and we don't support that stuff.'

'Send good vibes from the side and if you ever need anyone to talk to, you can talk to us, but just get away from that crazy stuff.'

Shallcross wed his final rose choice, Kaity Biggar, last year and they recently bought a house in Southeast Austin.

The newlywed called married life 'awesome' as he revealed their new home.

'We just bought a house and we're moving in a month and a half,' he told The Daily Mail.

The wholesome update is the type of image the ABC show has been striving to promote for years - yet now the franchise has been plunged into turmoil after it selected a woman with a history of domestic violence into the lead position. 

Paul's season of The Bachelorette was canceled just days before its premiere after a shocking 2023 video surfaced of the 31-year-old attacking her then-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, 33, with her young daughter Indy present.

After Paul threw a stool at Mortensen, Indy, who is now eight, could be heard crying, and Mortensen said: 'Your daughter just got hit in the head by a metal chair.'

Paul, a mother of three, was arrested after an alleged domestic violence incident in 2023 and the video later became crucial evidence in the case, in which she ultimately pled guilty to aggravated assault in the third degree.

That case was public knowledge for years before another domestic violence investigation was opened over a supposed incident from this February. Mortensen was granted a restraining order against Paul on Friday after characterizing her as an 'immediate threat' to his safety.

Disney Entertainment Television, which owns ABC, released a statement confirming the company had made the decision not to move forward with the new season of The Bachelorette, just hours after the footage of the domestic violence incident was released.

Disney said its 'focus is on supporting the family' after canceling the 22nd season of the reality show, which was set to begin airing on Sunday, March 22.

The canceled season will reportedly cost the network a staggering $28 million.

In the now-viral video of the altercation between Paul and her ex, the reality star is seen having an outburst, throwing a stool at Mortensen, while a child, her daughter Indy, now eight, was present.

Mortensen, who was filming the incident, said in the clip: 'This is called physical abuse.'

The child can be heard crying as Mortensen and Paul continued fighting. Mortensen then said, 'Your daughter just got hit in the head by a metal chair.'

Together, they have a son named Ever, who is two years old.

The reality star, who made her name appearing on Hulu's The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, has released a statement alleging she suffered 'extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation' in silence for years.

'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.'

Paul's rep said that '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.'

They further claimed Paul has been staying quiet 'out of fear of further abuse, retaliation, and public shaming' and is now 'seeking support,' going through her options and 'preparing to own and share her story.'