Month: March 2026

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As you’ve probably heard by now, Taylor Frankie Paul’s season of The Bachelorette has been canceled by ABC.

The decision was made just days before Taylor’s first episode was set to premiere, meaning that the whole season had already been filmed.

And we now know that Taylor got engaged to a man named Doug Mason in what was supposed to be her season finale.

Of course, the episode was filmed over a month ago, and now members of Bachelor Nation are wondering if these two are still engaged.

Who is Doug Mason?

As we’ll never get to see Doug’s dates with Taylor, we’ll have the whole story of their relationship.

But we do know about Doug himself.

Based on promotional materials released by ABC, he’s a 28-year-old ocean lifeguard from San Diego.

And according to his bio:

“Doug can ride a unicycle. Doug wants to learn guitar so he can serenade someone. Doug’s love language is great banter.”

Sounds like a nice guy! Of course, Taylor’s kids and her commitment to The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives would likely prevent her from ever moving out of Utah.

And an ocean lifeguard would likely have a hard time adjusting to life as a member of Taylor’s insular Mormon community.

That leads to our second big question:

Are Doug Mason and Taylor Frankie Paul planning a wedding?

Sadly, just a few weeks after Doug popped the question, multiple sources have confirmed that the engagement is off.

That claim seems to be corroborated by Doug’s Instagram comments on the issue:

“In light of everything that has happened, I am just sending prayers to Taylor because that was her moment and her moment was blocked,” Mason said on Friday via Instagram Stories.

“All we can do right now is just be hopeful, and I am headed off to run to watch the sunrise,” he continued, adding:

“I hope you guys have a great day, and let’s stay positive and show nothing but support for people in need.”

ABC’s decision to cancel the season was based on video that showed Taylor assaulting then-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen.

Even though Taylor was the aggressor in the video, Doug is not the first one to express sympathy toward her.

That’s likely because Paul has also accused Mortensen of abuse, and she’s promised that the truth will come out eventually.

“It’s sad to see the latest installment of his never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without any regard for the consequences for their child,” Paul’s rep said in a statement issued Thursday.

“Releasing an old video, which conveniently omits context, on their son’s birthday is a reprehensible attempt to distract from his own behavior,” the statement continued.

Thankfully, the public has seen this act before and knows who he is, and sadly, many will recognize this pattern of manipulation, both in his actions on the show and from their own experiences.”

We will have further updates on this developing story as new information becomes available.

Taylor Frankie Paul & Doug Mason Got Engaged on ‘The Bachelorette’: Are … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.

​The Hollywood Gossip

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This week, police arrested Joseph Duggar on charges of sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl.

Among the first of his siblings to speak out was disgraced sex offender Josh, who showered his younger brother with support — wanted or not.

Jill and her husband, Derick Dillard, have put out their own statement.

This is a painful, complex topic for them. What are they saying?

The Dillards are responding to Joseph’s arrest

On Thursday, March 19, Jill and Derick Dillard took to their family website to release this statement (below).

‘We were shocked yesterday evening to learn of Jill’s brother (Joseph Duggar’s) arrest,” the Dillards wrote.

“We first learned of anything related to his charges yesterday,” they shared.

The Dillards revealed that they only learned about this “via a text from a friend who messaged us about the recent media reports.”

So, a friend saw reports “of Joseph’s arrest and his alleged confession to molesting a juvenile female in 2020” and then texted Jill and Derick. There was no forewarning.

“We are shocked and heartbroken,” the Dillards wrote. “We strongly condemn abuse.”

As longtime observers of the Duggars are aware, Jill herself is a CSA survivor — one of the victims of her other brother, Josh.

Jill and Derick affirmed: “We support the rule of law and hope that justice will be achieved.”

That’s pretty vague (albeit understandably so), hoping for justice without suggesting what the most just outcome might be.

However, the Dillards soon became much more specific when they spoke about the victim — the 14-year-old girl who was 9 at the time of the alleged crime.

Their thoughts are, first and foremost, with the victim

“Our hearts go out to the innocent juvenile victim of this unspeakable crime,” Jill and Derick expressed, “and her family.”

Notably, it seems that the girl’s father was involved in uncovering the crime. He reportedly confronted Joseph.

“We pray God gives her strength, comfort, and hope,” the Dillards expressed.

“And,” the statement continued, “that she is able to get all the help and support she needs and deserves in the days ahead.”

The criminal charges stem from a fateful Florida vacation in 2020. However, coming forward about abuse sometimes forces victims to confront the reality of what has been done to them.

“We love our sister-in-law, Kendra, and our four nieces and nephews,” Jill and Derick emphasized.

Joseph was already a father of two in 2020.

“And,” the Dillards wrote, they “pray that they feel loved and supported during this time.”

They added: “As we cannot imagine the indescribable pain they feel as they process and grieve everything.”

Jill and Derick concluded by citing biblical verses: one about justice from Isaiah, and another about victims from Psalms.

Unfortunately, misdirected rage has targeted Jill and her sisters

Even under a post memorializing their stillborn daughter, trolls mocked Jill and Derick — asking if she is “proud” of her family.

There is a time and a place. And Jill has simply never been the right target for this kind of vitriol.

Some of her siblings do need to think long and hard about who they support.

Unquestionably, the extreme beliefs that the Duggars espouse make their community a perfect hunting ground for men who want to prey upon women and girls. Josh and now Joseph seem to be evidence of this.

But Jill has spoken against Josh repeatedly. She has challenged her family, and faced backlash for it. She’s not rallying to Joseph’s defense now — and as a CSA survivor herself, she should not be a target for harassment.

Jill Duggar Responds to Joseph Duggar Molestation Arrest, Learned About It When a Friend … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.

​The Hollywood Gossip