The men who appeared on Taylor Frankie Paul’s scrapped season of The Bachelorette are speaking out.

On Thursday, March 19, ABC pulled the premiere of its upcoming 22nd season of the dating show just three days before it was set to premiere.

“In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, 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 said.

Earlier on Thursday, TMZ published footage from 2023 that showed Paul physically attacking her ex, Dakota Mortensen, while her daughter was nearby.

After news of the cancellation, some of the men who went on Paul’s season spoke out on social media.

Doug Mason posted a video on his Instagram Stories reacting to the news and said, “I’m just sending out prayers to Taylor, ’cause that was her moment and her moment was blocked.” He said that “all we can do right now is just be hopeful” and asked fans to “stay positive and show nothing but support for people in need.”

“I’m doing okay. Hope to share more soon,” Malik Evans wrote in a post on his Instagram Stories. “Thank you to everyone who has reached out.”

Brandon Perce kept things brief and posted just a blank white photo with “…” written over it, while Matthew Carroll reposted a video from his local news outlet, the IndyStar, which confirmed the show’s cancellation. “On pause for now,” he wrote over the video. “Thank you for everyone’s support and thoughtful messages.”

Johnnie LaRossa also shared a reaction to the news. “Appreciate everyone reaching out. Grateful for the experience,” he wrote. He also gave a shoutout to the 21 other men he met during the show. “I’ve gotta say the group of guys were truly unbelievable,” he wrote. “Nothing but respect for them. Love you boys, and any woman would be lucky to have each and every one of them!”

Clayton Johnson similarly reflected on the group of men who went on season 22 in his own post, writing, “I can honestly say this was one of the best groups of men I’ve ever been around.”

“So much integrity, respect and heart across the board. Even the tough moments never took away from that,” he wrote. “Any woman would be lucky to be with any of these guys.”

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On March 16, three days before The Bachelorette was pulled, a source told PEOPLE that The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives paused filming on season 5 due to “some pretty serious stuff happening” in Paul’s life “regarding her past.”

A spokesperson for Utah’s Draper City Police Department then confirmed that there is an open “domestic assault investigation” regarding Paul, 31, and Mortensen, 33, stemming from a February 2026 incident. The couple share 2-year-old son Ever. Paul also has daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 5½, with ex-husband Tate Paul.

Prior to the show’s cancellation, a source close to the Bachelorette cast told PEOPLE that several of the contestants were “losing their minds” over the drama. “They’re extremely disappointed. They felt betrayed when they found this out because they all went into this to genuinely get to know Taylor,” the source said.

At the same time, though, another insider told PEOPLE that Paul was “on great terms with the men from The Bachelorette.”

Following ABC’s decision to pull The Bachelorette, a spokesperson for Paul told PEOPLE: “Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security. After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, 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.”

“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,” the statement continued. “Taylor has remained silent out of fear of further abuse, retaliation and public shaming. She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.”

Mortensen then spoke out in a statement of his own, saying, “As anyone who has seen the video will understand, this is a deeply upsetting situation. I am, unfortunately, used to these baseless claims about me and our relationship, which I categorically deny. I am focusing on our son and his safety, and hope that Taylor will do the same.”