Taylor Frankie Paul approves of Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Hartman as the next Bachelor.
“Well he’s cute,” Taylor, 32, commented under a Friday, November 13, Instagram announcement about Hartman’s casting on The Bachelor.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives alum also shared a GIF of herself with an expression of curiosity.
Like Taylor, Hartman is an unconventional pick to become the Bachelor because — unlike many of his predecessors — he has no prior connection to the franchise.
“I have a tough time having a conversation with one girl, [so] 30 is gonna be pretty tough,” he joked on Good Morning America on Friday.”I’m excited but also very nervous.”
Hartman revealed that he’d consulted former NFL star and Bachelor lead turned host Jesse Palmer before signing on for season 30 of the ABC reality competition.
“Honestly, at first I was like, ‘No way,’” he admitted. “I got really lucky and talked to Jesse Palmer, and he kind of gave me the insight, what it is and what it’s not.”
Fans have yet to see The Bachelorette season 22 after ABC shelved the show three days before its planned March premiere due to Taylor’s personal problems. Taylor and ex Dakota Mortensen were involved in a domestic violence investigation in Utah at the time.
“We have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of The Bachelorette at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family,” a Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson told Us in a March 19 statement.
While the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office ultimately opted not to pursue domestic violence charges against either party, Taylor has since been involved in custody disputes with both Dakota and her ex-husband, Tate Paul. (Taylor and Tate welcomed children Indy, 9, and Ocean, 6, during their marriage, and she also shares Ever, 2, with Dakota.)
It now seems unlikely that fans will ever see The Bachelorette season 22 after Taylor spoiled the ending on a Mormon Wives episode, revealing contestant Doug Mason had popped the question to her in the unaired finale. However, Taylor confirmed that she hooked up with Dakota once she returned home from Bachelorette filming.
“[I said,] ‘Yes.’ Yes, I did [get engaged],” she told her Mormon Wives castmates in season 5. “Then, I come home. Obviously [me and Dakota] were texting. ‘When are you going to be home?’ I don’t know how it led to it, but he came over.”
Doug spoke out in September to insist that he’d “moved on” from his experience on The Bachelorette.
“That experience has been looming in my life for some time, and although I’ve been moved on for a long time, I think it’s important that I expressed to you guys that I have,” he told his Instagram followers.
Doug went on to say, “I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to go on the show, and I met some brothers and I learned a lot about myself. I have officially moved on and this is me saying that I am going that way, so I hope that everybody can understand that it was in my past and now focusing on my future.”
The Bachelor returns on ABC Sunday, March 21, 2027, at 8 p.m. ET.
