Nick Viall wasn’t actually planned to be the next Bachelor this whole time like we thought.
More:Forget Bachelor in Paradise news, Nick Viall is the next Bachelor
In fact, Season 12 Bachelorette contestant Luke Pell thought he had the position nailed down. He had his bags packed and everything.
Pell spoke to Us Weekly to explain how everything went down with ABC’s last-minute change of heart.
“We were all satisfied, had agreed to the contracts and everything was moving forward,” Pell explained. “I was checked in to my flight to come to LA. I got a call from producers Sunday night at about 10 p.m. They said ABC had decided to quote-unquote go in a different direction. I was supposed to fly out Monday morning at 9 a.m. I had my bags packed and everything. Most dramatic Monday ever!”
And the airline ticket wasn’t the only thing Pell and the show had already planned for his entrance into Bachelor Nation as the next Bachelor.
“We had planned for intro filming and had planned to have my sister come on for a date and give advice as part of the show,” Pell admitted. “I met with the wardrobe guys. Everything was moving forward. Everyone on the production level was expecting it to be me, as well.”
More:Lace Morris found love on Bachelor in Paradise and wants everyone to know it
Despite the last-minute switch, in which ABC decided Viall was a better fit for the title, Pell said he doesn’t have hard feelings.
“I’ve come to accept the decision. From all my years in the military, I’ve learned that some things are out of my control. I put it in the past, and I’m moving forward. It was a huge surprise, but the element of surprise and unexpected decisions is what the show thrives off of.”
Personally, while I loved Pell during JoJo Fletcher’s season of the show, I definitely think Viall will be a better fit. After all, Viall is a veteran of the show at this point. He vied for Andi Dorfman’s affections on Season 12 of The Bachelorette and Kaitlyn Bristowe’s love in Season 11. Both times he was the runner-up, walking away heartbroken. Now, he’s appearing on Bachelor in Paradise, and though it seems that he’s found a relationship with Jen Saviano, clearly things don’t work out in next week’s finale.
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The forth time may be the charm for Viall, and personally, I’m rooting for him to find love this time around. Neil Lane can only lend the man so many rings, after all.
As for Pell, he’s planning to look for love on his own and taking control of his own destiny from here on out.
“I don’t want to wait in the wings for what decisions they can make for my life. I want to head back into taking control of my own destiny.”
He added that he probably wouldn’t agree to do the show if producers approached him again.
Do you think Luke Pell should have been the Bachelor or was Nick Viall ultimately the right choice?
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