“Traitors”' Maura Higgins responds to theory she could be the next Bachelorette amid Taylor Frankie Paul scandal
“Traitors”' Maura Higgins responds to theory she could be the next Bachelorette amid Taylor Frankie Paul scandal
Leigh BlickleyWed, March 25, 2026 at 5:28 PM UTC
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Maura Higgins in 2025.Credit: Gareth Cattermole/Getty
From Fiji to the Scottish Highlands to... the Bachelor mansion?
Love Island and Traitors alum Maura Higgins is rumored to be in the running for the next season of the Bachelorette after ABC pulled Taylor Frankie Paul's season of the reality dating competition from its schedule.
The theory took off on Instagram after Deuxmoi posted the blind item on Wednesday with the caption, "She would be SO good as The Bachelorette!"
"ABC exec friend said they are looking into getting Maura Higgins to be the new Bachelorette and do a live shooting of it," the post read.
The Irish reality star herself responded in the comments section, sharing an eyes emoji — perhaps signifying her interest and curiosity... or suspicion. Some fans were excited by the proposition, while other commenters were hoping the show would go back to a non-famous lead.
Higgins recently gained attention as the Faithful runner-up of The Traitors season 4, which was won by Traitor and fellow Love Islander Rob Rausch. (He ended up buying Higgins a Hermès Birkin bag to apologize for betraying her.)
Entertainment Weekly reached out to ABC for comment on the casting speculation.
Taylor Frankie Paul in a 'Bachelorette' promo photo.Credit: Michael Kirchoff/Disney
The Deuxmoi post also silenced rumors that Paul's The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives co-stars Layla Taylor and Miranda McWhorter would be co-leads on the franchise.
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"They shut down Layla and Miranda as dual season and are trying to steer away from the SLOMW girles," the upload read.
On Thursday, ABC canceled Paul's season of The Bachelorette after video leaked of a 2023 altercation in which Paul could be seen throwing a chair at her then-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen in the presence of her oldest child. (Paul shares two kids with her ex-husband Tate Paul and a son with Mortensen.)
"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 in a statement to EW on Thursday.
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Ahead of the scheduled March 22 premiere of The Bachelorette, news broke that another alleged incident involving Paul and Mortensen was under investigation. The Draper City Police Department confirmed at the time that there was a "domestic assault investigation" involving the exes, revealing "allegations have been made in both directions" and "contact was made with involved parties on [Feb.] 24th and 25th."
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives stars are due in court on April 7 after Mortensen was granted a temporary restraining order against Paul. Police in West Jordan, Utah confirmed to EW that they are now investigating additional allegations that were reported last month and have reviewed video "believed to have been recorded in early to mid-2024."
Production on season 5 of Mormon Wives has also halted.
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
