Bachelor: Biggest News Stories From Franchise Cast This Week (Sep. 27)

Since Bachelor in Paradise season 7 is coming to its climactic conclusion, it’s a good time to share last week’s news about The Bachelor franchise cast. At this point on BIP, the beach is beginning to be occupied only by committed couples who are falling in love. While the shores of Mexico are currently as peaceful as viewers have seen thus far, waves are still crashing amongst the franchise cast. Those waves are just as wild as the tropical storm that rocked the production of ABC’s favorite summer series. From new allegations and trailers to former lead Matt James making his debut on Dancing With the Stars, there’s definitely a lot to catch up on.

This week has been especially interesting since the plot thickened in Brendan Morais and Pieper James’ failed attempt to get more clout by appearing on the dating series. Currently, former contestants and guest hosts from the franchise at large (who’ve never even stepped foot on the sandy beaches of Mexico) are now sharing their opinions on Brendan’s fall from grace. The 31-year-old reality star isn’t just losing his Instagram following after leaving the show, as he’s allegedly getting dropped by brands. This includes NordicTrack, a company he recently started posting sponsored videos for.

In other news, Bachelor Nation is just a month away from watching Michelle Young’s journey to finding love on The Bachelorette. With the countdown officially on the clock, ABC released a new trailer to get fans hyped to meet her men, including Clayton Echard, who is rumored to be the next Bachelor. Unlike the franchise’s traditional order, there will be two back-to-back seasons of The Bachelorette in 2021. Typically, there’s one season of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette every year, followed by Bachelor in Paradise in the summer.

Brendan Morais’ Weak Apology Slammed By Fans

After losing thousands of Instagram followers last week, Brendan attempted to do some damage control by apologizing for his actions that played out on the show. In his statement, the reality star apologized to Natasha Parker directly and acknowledged the error of his ways. In his initial and short apology, the BIP star promised to leave a longer statement in the coming days. Brendan followed up on his word with a lengthy and earnest video, in which he expressed that he never wanted to hurt Natasha or lead her on. However, his delivery rubbed Bachelor Nation the wrong way, and he was accused of being silly and ironic. Many fans of the show wrote on the series’ Reddit channel that Brendan was just listing excuses and owning up to the wrong things, rather than sounding genuinely remorseful for his actions.

Rachael Kirkconnell Supports Pieper James

Amid the drama, the final rose winner of Matt James’ season of The Bachelor, Rachael Kirkconnell, is standing up for her friend Pieper James. Pieper received a lot of backlash for her participation in trying to gain clout in Mexico alongside Brendan. Since Rachael has experienced the wrath of Bachelor Nation, a source told Page Six that “she felt compelled to reach out and let Pieper know that it will all be OK and that the situation with Brendan isn’t the end of the world.” The insider added that Rachael feels like she is the friend Pieper needs right now.

Guest Host Lil Jon Is Team Natasha Parker

In the drama that never ends, even guest host Lil Jon is getting involved. The 50-year-old rapper knew all about the situation unfolding on the beach before his arrival. He made it a mission to turn the energy around within his two-episode stint. In a conversation with Entertainment Tonight, Lil Jon took Natasha’s side. “You can’t come to Paradise already having a significant other, man. And for clout, come on, man, this is not what it’s about,” he said. He added that contestants should only agree to show up if they’re open to exploring every relationship that strikes their fancy. So, Lil Jon convinced Natasha to get rid of the negative energy that has been haunting her summer experience by spraying her co-stars with champagne before joining them for a group shot.

Connor Saeli Exposes Noah & Abigail’s Opposing Values

Noah Erb and Abigail Heringer are taking a romantic journey together on BIP, but former contestant Connor Saeli has his doubts. While appearing on the “Here For The Right Reasons” podcast, Connor explained that he knows Noah and doesn’t believe that his personality is a match for Abigail’s values. Though he didn’t elaborate on the reasoning behind his bold statement, he did comment on the other season 7 couples. In short, Connor felt bad for Ivan Hall as he got caught between Joe Amabile and Kendall Long’s heartbreak, and was ultimately denied a kiss.

Matt James Praises GF Rachael Kirkconnell For Her DWTS Support

Matt James officially made his debut on Dancing With the Stars last Monday night, and the reality star did fairly well, scoring 24 out of 40 for his Cha-Cha with pro partner, Lindsay Arnold. Shortly after the premiere production wrapped, the former The Bachelor lead told Page Six that he’s incredibly thankful for his girlfriend Rachael Kirkconnell’s support throughout this new dancing journey. “Oh man, she’s been supporting me in every way imaginable and she was stoked about this opportunity for me,” Matt said. The DWTS reality star also noted that Rachael has even made time in her schedule to step in as his partner in private. The couple rehearsed his routines after Matt’s rehearsals. Matt joked that the extra practice whips him into shape.

Michelle Young’s Bachelorette Trailer Released

Now, ABC is finally giving Bachelor Nation a look into Michelle Young’s upcoming season of The Bachelorette. On Tuesday, the show’s official Instagram Bacheloretteabc account dropped the first official trailer. This clip definitely follows a theme centered on the leading lady’s love for basketball and teaching. Former The Bachelorette stars Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe are also back to co-host Michelle’s journey. There’s always something new and exciting happening in The Bachelor franchise, and on the currently airing series, Bachelor in Paradise.

Sources: Page Six, Entertainment Tonight, Page Six