Viewers expecting a glittering premiere of Taylor Frankie Paul’s ‘The Bachelorette’ this spring were in for an unexpected twist, not in the rose ceremony, but in the network’s own schedule. Instead of the much‑hyped new season, the network quietly replaced the premiere with a rerun of American Idol, swapping out romance for a repeat of the singing competition at 8 p.m. ET.

A season pulled at the last minute

The move came after ABC suddenly announced it would “not move forward” with the upcoming season of the dating franchise, days before it was set to debut. The decision shocked fans who had been following news of the new lead, with many already counting down to the premiere on social media. The original two‑hour episode, filmed months earlier, has now been pulled from the lineup with no clear date yet for when, or if, it will air.

Controversy behind the cancellation

Behind the scenes, the shake‑up is tied to controversy involving the season’s chosen star. A year-old video of Taylor Frankie Paul resurfaced, showing her in a physical altercation with an ex‑partner, which had previously triggered a domestic assault investigation and later drew renewed attention online. Disney Entertainment, which oversees ABC, said the network is “deeply shaken” by the situation and ultimately decided not to air the season as planned, prioritizing brand safety and viewer trust.

Idol rerun steps into the spotlight

With the spotlight shifted away from the dating show, ABC turned to a familiar standby. The rerun airing in the 8 p.m. slot is a previously‑broadcast episode of American Idol season 24—in this case, the eighth episode, which already featured guest mentors Keke Palmer and Brad Paisley. For longtime viewers, it offered polished performances and judge reactions, but not the fresh, high‑stakes energy that usually comes with a series premiere.Later in the evening, the network still introduced its new dating show Love Overboard, the Gabby Windey‑hosted series that was already scheduled for 10 p.m. The move suggests ABC is trying to keep at least part of its romance‑programming block intact, even as it recalibrates its plans around the shelved season.

Social media has been abuzz with speculation about the Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi universe potentially expanding with a spinoff centred on two characters from the newer generation. However, actor and former Union minister Smriti Irani has firmly put the rumours to rest, clarifying that she is not associated with any other television project at present.

The report read, “The series will focus on the characters Vrinda and Angad, played by Tanisha Mehta and Rohit Suchanti. Their storyline will branch out from the parent show, offering viewers a deeper look into their journey… Production work is underway, with additional cast members joining as the show moves closer to its premiere.”

Soon, the news grabbed everyone’s attention and began circulating across platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Smriti also stumbled across one such post, which stated that the reported spin-off is likely to bring a “modern perspective to evolving relationships”.

That’s when Smriti reacted to the buzz and set the record straight. Taking to the comment section, Smriti wrote, “May want to check PR content with authorities that have IP rights. I am not associated with any other show except Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.”

“No spin-off program is authorised for my engagement legally, which entitles use of my image and/or personality. Do check so that viewers are not misinformed,” added the actor turned politician.

Created by Ektaa Kapoor again, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 features actors like Ketki Dave, Kamalika Guha Thakurta, Hiten Tejwani, Gauri Pradhan, and Shakti Anand reprising their roles, with Rohit Suchanti, Aman Gandhi, Shagun Sharma, and Tanisha Mehta as the new additions.

Unlike the original, which ran for 1833 episodes over eight years, the reboot is a limited series of 150 episodes. The show premiered on 29 July 2025 on Star Plus and is also available digitally on JioHotstar.