Grant Ellis Takes Shots, Taylor Frankie Paul Fires Back

When you’re in the public eye, the hits keep coming—whether you’re ready for them or not. Taylor Frankie Paul, 31, learned that the hard way this week when Grant Ellis, 32, decided to take some pointed jabs at her controversial Bachelorette season in a series of Instagram videos.

On Wednesday, May 6, Ellis posted a video that was clearly meant to sting.“Let me get some felonies and become a Mormon so I can get cool with Bachelor Nation,”he wrote while shaking his head and laughing. He didn’t name Paul directly, but the internet made the connection instantly. The implication was sharp: Paul’s legal troubles and her faith background somehow earned her the Bachelorette gig despite the chaos surrounding her casting.

Paul wasn’t about to let that slide. The next day, on Thursday, May 7, she clapped back in an Instagram comment with grace and a touch of attitude.“Yes I’m FAR from a perfect princess bachelorette,”she wrote, before pivoting to something that reframed the narrative entirely:“Feel free to tell him I was also told I was one of the kindest leads they’ve had to both cast and crew ❤️that’s how.”It’s a smart move—acknowledge the messiness, then remind people there’s another side to the story.

The backdrop here matters. Paul’s season has been shelved by ABC since March, when a 2023 video surfaced showing her throwing a chair at ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen while her daughter Indy, now 8, was present. She’d pleaded guilty to felony aggravated assault in connection with that incident. The network pulled her season from the air, citing the newly released footage as the reason. Since then, Paul has been working behind the scenes, and according to sources, she’s hopeful her season will eventually air—with a redemption narrative attached.

Ellis doubled down on Friday, May 8, suggesting his runner-up, Litia Garr, should have been the Bachelorette instead.“2 back to back POC [people of color] woulda been the move,”he captioned another clip. It’s a critique that hits on representation, network decisions, and timing all at once.

What we’re watching unfold is the messy, human side of a franchise that’s typically polished within an inch of its life. Paul’s clap-back shows she’s not disappearing quietly, and Ellis’s continued jabs suggest the Bachelor Nation drama machine isn’t done with this story yet.