The Bachelorette alum Blake Horstmann exclusively told Us that it’s time for the Bachelor franchise to take “a break” amid the controversy surrounding Taylor Frankie Paul’s casting.
“I think they are trying to find their way again,” Blake, 37, told Us in a joint interview with wife Giannina Gibelli to promote their “He Said, G Said” podcast on Thursday, July 23. “They got lost a little bit there for a little while, and I think [actually] they’re lost right now.”
Blake has a lengthy history with Bachelor Nation, having finished as runner-up to Garrett Yrigoyen on Becca Kufrin’s Bachelorette season 14 in 2018. He later returned to compete on Bachelor in Paradise season 6.
“I do still believe in the process [of The Bachelorette]. I do believe in the show, and I don’t think it’ll ever really go away. I think it needs a break and then they come back,” he added. “But, yeah, Taylor Frankie Paul was an interesting choice that I think [it] clearly backfired, and it’ll be interesting to see where they go from here.”
The former Bachelorette star — who recently tied the knot with wife Giannina, 33 — is far from alone in questioning Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor’s casting for The Bachelorette season 22. Many took issue with Taylor landing the coveted job from the jump because, unlike her predecessors, she has no prior connection to the franchise.
The debate over her involvement in Bachelor Nation exploded in February when she was involved in a domestic violence investigation with ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen. ABC reacted to the incident by pulling The Bachelorette season 22 off its schedule three days before its scheduled March 22 premiere.
“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 told Us on March 19.
On April 14, Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill effectively closed the domestic violence case by choosing not to press criminal charges against anyone involved.
Still, Taylor has remained embroiled in two separate legal disputes as she continues to battle with Dakota, 33, and ex-husband Tate Paul over the custody of her three children. (Taylor shares daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 6, with Tate and 2-year-old son Ever with Dakota.)
Us reported in May that Taylor was personally hopeful that her season of The Bachelorette will eventually see the light of day.
“She has been doing the work behind the scenes, taken accountability and is focused on moving forward in a more positive way,” an insider told Us at the time. “The hope is that viewers would connect with that growth and see a different side of her, making this season feel like a true redemption moment rather than just a return to TV, but right now her priority is her family and her mental health.”
While speaking to Us on Wednesday, Blake was less optimistic about the likelihood of Bachelor Nation fans ever seeing The Bachelorette season 22.
“I will just [give a] hot take. I don’t think it’s gonna air. I just don’t see how they can,” he said.
The couple pointed out that there has been ongoing controversy in Taylor’s life each time it seemed there might be a window for her Bachelorette season to air.
“It’ll be interesting to see, and I [think] the next Bachelor, that’s scheduled,” he pointed out. “I don’t know how or who or what they’re going to grab from … We’ll see. There’s a lot up in the air about that show.”
New episodes of the “He Said, G Said” drop Thursdays.
