'PR Stunt': Riley Gaines Melts Down Over Reports of Taylor Frankie Paul's 'Bachelorette' Season Airing After Scandal

Riley Gaines isn't holding back her thoughts about reports that Taylor Frankie Paul's season of The Bachelorette is still headed to television despite months of controversy.

The conservative activist reacted after news surfaced that ABC plans to air Paul's previously shelved season in July.

After TMZ reported that Paul's season would move forward, Gaines reposted the article on X and accused the network of creating drama to attract viewers.

“ABC was going to do this all along. They knew her history of abuse before she was cast. Pulling it in the first place was absolutely a PR stunt to get more viewers,” she wrote.

Gaines then referenced the allegations surrounding Paul's past legal troubles.

“She hit her 5-year-old daughter in the head with a metal chair in an attempt to hit her boyfriend. No thanks,” she added.

According to a source who spoke to TMZ, network executives have taken notice of Paul's efforts to rebuild her public image following her discussions about personal growth and healing.

The reality star's season was originally scrapped after a video resurfaced in March showing her allegedly attacking ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen during a 2023 altercation.

The clip featured Paul throwing several metal chairs at Mortensen while her youngest daughter, Indy, was nearby.

Mortensen can be heard confronting Paul about her behavior.

"This is called physical abuse," Mortensen said in the clip. "See, Taylor? This is all you do. The only thing you know how to do is hurt me. You think this is okay? It's not okay."

Paul allegedly responded while the altercation continued. She can be heard saying she doesn't "give a f---" before continuing to hit and kick him.

Around the same time, reports also emerged that she was being investigated over another alleged domestic violence incident involving Mortensen in February.

The outlet reported that ABC was already aware of Paul's 2023 arrest before casting her, as the network conducts extensive background checks on potential contestants and leads.

Additionally, bodycam footage from her arrest was featured in the premiere episode of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives in September 2024.

Industry insiders suggested the abrupt decision could have major financial consequences.

"Someone’s gotta get fired from this. It’s ridiculous," an insider told Page Six.

The source also claimed the cancelation may have cost producer Warner Bros. Discovery and parent company Disney more than $50 million.

Despite the controversy, ABC executives have previously praised the season and Paul's journey throughout the filming process.

On April 22, the executive vice president of unscripted at Walt Disney Television, Rob Mills, addressed the situation after the network initially pulled the show.

"I had met with Taylor. She had said, 'Look, I’m raising three kids with different fathers; one, I have a phenomenal co-parenting relationship with. The other one is a challenge, but I’m really looking for a partner and somebody who can help me.' Her motives were really very sincere. Walking into that, that was a really exciting story to tell through the lens of The Bachelorette. Obviously, with everything that happened and everything everyone’s going through, that’s the hard part. Everything that Taylor’s had to go through has been really hard. The season itself is really, really fantastic. It was a great journey for her,” he said, according to an outlet.