Reality TV

‘Bachelor in Paradise’ Season 7: Potential Couples and Drama Already Brewing

June 18, 2021

Bachelor in Paradise Season 7 Potential Couples Drama Already Brewing — ABC (2)

In case bartender Wells Adams isn’t keeping up with Bachelor Nation in between Bachelor in Paradise seasons, Us Weekly has rounded up everything he needs to know — so far.

After skipping a 2020 season of the beach spinoff due to the coronavirus pandemic, ABC confirmed in April that season 7 of BiP was a go.

“Later in the summer, Bachelor in Paradise makes its long-awaited return on Monday, August 16. Postponed last season due to the pandemic, the series brings back sizzling summer nights for the first time in two years,” the network said in a press release.

While ABC didn’t announce the series until April, Bachelor Nation was already making connections off screen, according to season 6 alum Blake Horstmann.

“Everybody’s talking to everybody already. And I’m like, ‘Have you guys learned nothing for me?’” Blake, who made headlines for his pre-show hookups ahead of the 2019 season, said on Us‘ “Here for the Right Reasons” podcast in March. “I’m like, ‘God, you idiots, just f—king wait six months and then you won’t have to deal with that.’”

Jade Roper, who met husband Tanner Tolbert on season 2 of Bachelor in Paradise, meanwhile, told Us that the spinoff has changed the rules when it comes to pre-show romances.

“We were discouraged to meet each other or talk to each other before we went on the show because they wanted the onscreen time to be the first time anybody met, and they could see that,” Jade said on “Here for the Right Reasons” in April. “But nowadays, everyone hangs out with each other. It’s so different. But I loved Paradise because of the quality time you got with people. I spent more time with Tanner in two days than I did with Chris Soules in seven weeks, you know?”

Us editors discuss Colton Underwood’s coming out in this Here for the Right Reasons podcast highlight!

While fans know BiP is returning, Chris Harrison not will be part of the upcoming season. After the host apologized for his defense of controversial Bachelor season 25 contestant Rachael Kirkconnell’s past racially insensitive actions in February, he subsequently stepped back from the After the Final Rose special. The network later announced Kaitlyn Bristowe and Tayshia Adams would lend a hand for season 17 of The Bachelorette, which stars Katie Thurston and returns in June.

A source told Us in April that the crew expects Harrison to be back in the future, but they don’t know anything for sure. Two months later, Us reported that he wouldn’t be in Mexico during the summer of 2021. His exit from the franchise was made official in June.

Scroll through for all of the drama leading up to season 7 of Bachelor in Paradise:

Credit: ABC (2)

‘Bachelor in Paradise’ Season 7: Potential Couples and Drama Already Brewing

In case bartender Wells Adams isn’t keeping up with Bachelor Nation in between Bachelor in Paradise seasons, Us Weekly has rounded up everything he needs to know — so far. After skipping a 2020 season of the beach spinoff due to the coronavirus pandemic, ABC confirmed in April that season 7 of BiP was a go. “Later in the summer, Bachelor in Paradise makes its long-awaited return on Monday, August 16. Postponed last season due to the pandemic, the series brings back sizzling summer nights for the first time in two years,” the network said in a press release. While ABC didn’t announce the series until April, Bachelor Nation was already making connections off screen, according to season 6 alum Blake Horstmann. “Everybody’s talking to everybody already. And I’m like, ‘Have you guys learned nothing for me?’” Blake, who made headlines for his pre-show hookups ahead of the 2019 season, said on Us' “Here for the Right Reasons” podcast in March. “I’m like, ‘God, you idiots, just f—king wait six months and then you won’t have to deal with that.’” Jade Roper, who met husband Tanner Tolbert on season 2 of Bachelor in Paradise, meanwhile, told Us that the spinoff has changed the rules when it comes to pre-show romances. [jwplayer 8dZVNPmj-l3ahXupL] “We were discouraged to meet each other or talk to each other before we went on the show because they wanted the onscreen time to be the first time anybody met, and they could see that,” Jade said on “Here for the Right Reasons” in April. “But nowadays, everyone hangs out with each other. It’s so different. But I loved Paradise because of the quality time you got with people. I spent more time with Tanner in two days than I did with Chris Soules in seven weeks, you know?” Us editors discuss Colton Underwood's coming out in this Here for the Right Reasons podcast highlight! While fans know BiP is returning, Chris Harrison not will be part of the upcoming season. After the host apologized for his defense of controversial Bachelor season 25 contestant Rachael Kirkconnell’s past racially insensitive actions in February, he subsequently stepped back from the After the Final Rose special. The network later announced Kaitlyn Bristowe and Tayshia Adams would lend a hand for season 17 of The Bachelorette, which stars Katie Thurston and returns in June. A source told Us in April that the crew expects Harrison to be back in the future, but they don’t know anything for sure. Two months later, Us reported that he wouldn't be in Mexico during the summer of 2021. His exit from the franchise was made official in June. Scroll through for all of the drama leading up to season 7 of Bachelor in Paradise:

Credit: Startraks

Wells Adams’ New Role

The longtime Bachelor in Paradise bartender will be returning for season 7, but his role is expanding. In addition to being behind the bar this summer, the season 12 Bachelorette contestant will serve as the “master of ceremonies” during the rose ceremonies, Us confirmed on June 17. The Los Angeles resident will also be one of the show’s guest hosts later in the season.

Credit: Mediapunch/Shutterstock

The Hosts

Us confirmed on June 2 that David Spade is one of the rotating celebrity guest hosts replacing Harrison for season 7 of Bachelor in Paradise. One week later, after Harrison's official exit from the franchise, ABC announced a handful of other famous guest hosts, including Lil Jon and Lance Bass.

Credit: ABC/John Fleenor

When and Where

In the past, production on Bachelor in Paradise began in Mexico in June. While ABC has yet to announce the filming start date or location, the cast and crew will wrap up season 17 of The Bachelorette in early May.

Credit: ABC/Craig Sjodin

The Premiere Date

BiP will premiere on ABC Monday, August 16.

Credit: Courtesy of Joseph Park/Instagram

Dr. Joe Park Is Confirmed

ABC exec Robert Mills confirmed the Bachelorette season 16 contestant scored an invite after he got his coronavirus vaccine in March.

“We’ve got ourselves a vaccinated Paradisian!!” Mills tweeted at the time.

Credit: Courtesy of Chasen Nick/Instagram

Weekend in Nashville

Blake, Chris Randone, Chasen Nick, Victoria Fuller, Victoria Paul, Clay Harbor, Chris Bukowski, Spencer Robertson and Ed Waisbrot all met up in Nashville for Kelsey Weier’s birthday in April. While Bachelor Nation was quick to assume there could be some pre-Paradise connections made, Randone shut that down.

“Normalize coed hangout. Men & women can be friends but not have to be hooking up,” he tweeted after the trip.

Credit: ABC/Craig Sjodin (2)

Kit Keenan and Bennett Jordan

While Bennett was spotted with Kit in New York City, he told Ben Higgins and Ashley Iaconetti that their connection isn’t romantic.

“We’re so far apart in age … [she’s 21 and I’m almost 37 here at the end of June. I think age isn’t certainly everything,” he said in April. “[But] the next couple of years I’m really looking forward to hopefully getting to work on some kids, and I don’t think Kit is really there yet in that regard. While I do think she’s very mature and wise beyond her years, I don’t think that’s a reasonable age gap for us to enter in at this point in our lives.”

Credit: ABC (2)

Kelley Flanagan and Bennett Jordan

The Bachelorette season 16 contestant is, however, actively pursuing Peter Weber’s ex.

“I’ve been pretty upfront and honest and intentional with my interest and it is with one lady … her name is Kelley Flanagan. Certainly quite interested in Kelley,” he said on the “Almost Famous” podcast. “She’s a very, very smart girl. She’s well-spoken. I think our journeys and the way it played out on the TV are quite similar. That was something that she identified with me very early on. … I don’t want to put her on blast or anything, but I think there’s a lot of good, similar overlap.”

Bennett added that he’s connected with Kelley through Instagram — but she’s seeing someone else. While he said it wasn’t “serious” as Kelley plans to relocate to NYC, some fans thought she was sending Bennett a message after she posted a TikTok about “f—k boys” after his interview dropped.

Less than two weeks after his “Almost Famous” interview, Bennett gave an update on his status with Kelley — and Peter.

"I don't think it's any mystery to anyone that I'm interested in Kelley. We may have even met recently,” he said on April 29 via Instagram Stories. “But as for Peter, I definitely didn't ask for his permission, I asked if it was awkward if I was flirting with her."

Credit: ABC (2)

Ivan Hall and Heather Martin

While fans spotted the Bachelorette season 16 finalist and the Bachelor seasons 23 and 25 contestant out in April, a source told Us that it was simply a “friendly” group hangout for Spencer’s birthday at Maverick's Beach Club in San Diego.

"Heather came with her friends. Ivan and Heather looked cute, but they were more hanging out, having a good time. They looked more like friends,” the source said. “It wasn't a date or anything like that since there was a whole group."

Credit: ABC (2)

Madison Prewett and Connor Saeli

Connor, who appeared on season 15 of The Bachelorette and season 6 of BiP, has expressed interest in Madison since her split from Peter in 2020. While she revealed in April that she was in a relationship with eight months — seeming with NBA star Michael Porter Jr. — she confirmed she was currently single. A month prior, Madison and Connor were spotted hanging out with a group — including Ivan Hall and Noah Erb — in Dallas for St. Patrick’s Day.

Credit: Courtesy Connor Saeli/Instagram

Connor Plans to Skip 'BiP' After Drama

By May, however, Connor seemingly ruled out a return to the beach.

“There was a person that I was interested in who may or may not be going on Paradise this upcoming season. When I say ‘interested in,’ we were hanging out and talking for a while,” Connor dished on “The Bachelor Degree” podcast in May. “But that person decided to also talk to another person at the same time, which I recently found out. I would’ve been interested in going if I had the opportunity to explore that connection. That’s the only reason I would want to go.”

He added, “Some people decided to make poor choices, and I’m not gonna fault them for that. I’m just glad I figured that out sooner rather than later. Maybe you’ll see them on TV. I don’t know.”

While Connor refused to reveal who he was referring to, when asked by the hosts if he would rather go on a date with Madison or Kelley, he replied, “I’ll say Madi. … Kelley is great though. [Mike and I] both met her.”

Credit: ABC (2)

Brendan Morais and Pieper James

The Bachelorette season 16 finalist and Matt’s contestant were seen out in New York City in April.

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