Man-beating Bachelorette scandal could see Disney DUMP ABC amid growing concerns TV channel is 'albatross around neck' of entertainment giant
The entirety of ABC could be pawned off by parent company Disney in what can only be called a shrewd PR move, according to Hollywood's go-to source for insider information.
Puck's Matt Belloni made the bold prediction in this week's 'What I'm Hearing' newsletter.
He had been reacting to the network's handling of the domestic violence scandal involving The Bachelorette star Taylor Frankie Paul that saw execs scrap an already-shot season of the show last week.
Belloni questioned 'whether this embarrassing scandal impacts new [Disney] CEO Josh D’Amaro’s tolerance for ABC and its general-interest content'.
'Plenty in the investment community believe they’re an albatross, and they come with big P.R. headaches in the news - and, occasionally, unscripted - divisions,' he wrote.
A domestic violence scandal so early into D'Amaro's CEO stint 'might be enough to question whether the whole ABC enterprise is worth the brand risk,' according to Belloni. D'Amaro replaced longtime CEO Bob Iger last month.
Belloni referenced a 2023 interview CNBC carried out with Iger to strengthen his theory.
At the time, Iger told the network that traditional TV assets 'may not be core to' the company's success and that he was leaving the door open to a possible 'sale'.
The entirety of ABC could be sold by Disney to avoid backlash spawned by the star of season 22 of the Bachelorette, Taylor Frankie Paul. Utah police are currently looking into an alleged instance of 'domestic assault' Paul was apart of
![Puck's Matthew Belloni pondered whether the embarrassing scandal impacts new [Disney] CEO Josh D’Amaro’s tolerance for ABC.' D'Amaro - seen here with fellow Disney exec Dana Walden - took over the company last month](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2026/03/24/18/107382185-15675097-Puck_s_Matthew_Belloni_pondered_whether_the_embarrassing_scandal-a-16_1774376541998.jpg)
Puck's Matthew Belloni pondered whether the embarrassing scandal impacts new [Disney] CEO Josh D’Amaro’s tolerance for ABC.' D'Amaro - seen here with fellow Disney exec Dana Walden - took over the company last month
'[A]t some point, D’Amaro will need to address the question Bob Iger considered back in 2023 and ultimately punted on: Should Disney even own ABC and its cable networks, or are they, as Iger suggested, “non-core”?' Belloni wrote.
Disney Chairman Debra OConnell also signed off on the season, Belloni pointed out. OConnell oversees all of ABC's programming, both news and entertainment.
Sources told Belloni that OConnell will not be fired over the slip-up, nor will anyone else.
The former Hollywood Reporter editor added that OConnell's approach to ABC's programming remains something to the effect of 'stay-the-course'.
The saga surrounding the 22nd season of the Bachelorette, meanwhile, began late last week, when TMZ shared video of the show's star hitting, kicking, and throwing furniture at her ex-partner, Dakota Mortensen, in February 2023.
Paul, 31, was arrested that month, but the footage was never-before-seen.
The Salt Lake Tribune reported that police obtained video of the altercation at the time of her arrest. It showed the reality star throwing 'heavy metal chairs' in her then-boyfriend's direction - one of which appeared to strike her five-year-old daughter.
As the footage circulated, ABC confirmed Utah cops were conducting a separate 'domestic assault investigation' into both Paul and Mortensen that began last month.
Disney Chairman Debra OConnell - who oversees all of ABC's programming - signed off on the season in question. She's seen here with ABC News boss Almin Karamehmedovic at the Oscars last year
A mugshot taken of Paul following an arrest in 2024 has also since been released. The star's checkered history forced execs to pull the plug last Thursday - three days before her season was set to premiere
In March of last year, she was also charged with one felony count of aggravated assault and two felony counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child for the filmed incident, along with one misdemeanor count each of child abuse.
Paul also entered a plea in abeyance in August 2023 to a third-degree felony count of aggravated assault.
TMZ broke the news on March 15 that filming for Paul's other show, season 5 of Mormon Wives, was halted due to a major fight between Paul and Mortensen.
The decision to cancel from ABC came four days later, on Thursday - three days before the show was set to premiere.
The Daily Mail approached the network and its parent company for comment. Belloni's take was published on Monday.
