Rachel Lindsay Says The Bachelorette Was ‘Stuck in 2002’ Before Casting Taylor Frankie Paul: ‘I’m Thrilled’

Speaking to PEOPLE exclusively, Lindsay acknowledged that many longtime fans of the franchise were “shocked” at Paul’s casting

Rachel Lindsay attends the Alzheimer's Association California Southland Chapter presents The Magic of Music Gala at Vibiana on May 04, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Taylor Frankie Paul of 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' visits SiriusXM Studios on September 11, 2024 in New York City.


Rachel Lindsay (left), Taylor Frankie Paul.

While Rachel Lindsay is very open about her “love it-hate it” relationship with ABC’s The Bachelorette, she says the show made a great decision in casting its next lead, Taylor Frankie Paul.

Paul — who has been part of Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives since 2024 — was announced as the next lead on the ABC dating show earlier this month.

Lindsay, who appeared as the lead in The Bachelorette’s 13th season, says she’s “thrilled” with the news. Speaking to PEOPLE exclusively at the LadyWorld Festival in Miramar Beach, Fla. the former reality star acknowledged that many longtime fans of the franchise were “shocked” at Paul’s casting — particularly, because she already appears on a popular reality television series.

“I’m thrilled,” Lindsay, 40, says.

“I’m a fan of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. And I’ve been saying there needs to be change.

I’ve been asking for change in a particular way.

It has happened, but not fully, but I think that this is the show trying to step into 2025.

They’ve been stuck in 2002 for the longest time, and this is a really beautiful way, I think, for them to do it, and I’m very excited for what’s to come, and I think it’s a new day.”

THE BACHELORETTE - "Episode 1308" - Rachel has traveled to romantic locations around the globe in her search to find her soul mate. RACHEL LINDSAY


Rachel Lindsay.
Lindsay got engaged to the winner of her season, Bryan Abasolo, during the 2017 finale of The Bachelorette, with the duo tying the knot in August 2019.

However, Abasolo filed for divorce in December 2023, writing on Instagram at the time: “Rachel and I have made the difficult decision to part ways and start anew.

Sometimes loving yourself and your partner means you must let go.”

Their divorce was officially settled in January 2025.

Lindsay’s time with The Bachelorette franchise has been marred by other bumps in the road, such as in 2021, when the franchise and its host, Chris Harrison, came under fire when Rachael Kirkconnell, a contestant on Matt James’ Bachelor season, was called out for past racially insensitive social media posts.

Harrison addressed the situation during a 14-minute, unedited conversation with Lindsay, in which he defended Kirkconnell, and said people should have “a little compassion” in the wake of the resurfaced photos and questioned the “lens” of 2021 compared to 2018.

Harrison’s statements were met with backlash, and he eventually issued a statement apologizing for his remarks.

He then officially exited the franchise in June 2021.

Days after the interview, Lindsay condemned Harrison’s actions and said on her podcast, Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay, “I can’t take it anymore.

I’m contractually bound in some ways, but when it’s up, I am, too.

I can’t.

I can’t do it anymore.”

In the years since, Lindsay has been critical of the show.

However, she is also quick to point out that any criticism comes from a place of love.

Rachel Lindsay at Netflix's "America's Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys" at The Egyptian Theatre on August 11, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.


Rachel Lindsay at Netflix’s ‘America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys’ at The Egyptian Theatre on August 11, 2025, in Los Angeles, California.

“This is how you are with the things that you care about, right?” she tells PEOPLE at LadyWorld Festival.

“So when everyone thinks, ‘Oh, she’s so negative about it,’ I’m like, ‘No, I love it …

it changed my life and [made me] who I really am, but this is a new day.

The Bachelor has said, you know what, the fairy tale may be dead, but they’re gonna step into the TV world in a different way, and I think that they need to do that and Taylor Frankie Paul is the way to do it.”

Lindsay adds, “And Taylor Frankie Paul, however you feel about her, you know that she’s being honest about what it is that’s going on in her life.

So to bring that to The Bachelorette and to be the first to do it, I think that nobody can do it like her.

I actually adore her and I think that she is extremely refreshing.”

Lindsay appeared at LadyGang’s LadyWorld Festival in Destin, Fla., which took place Sept. 26-28.