Bachelor Nation listen up! If you were eagerly waiting for your summer dose of romance roses and drama from The Bachelorette in 2025 you are going to have to hold your horses. Word on the street is Season 22 is being postponed and things are a little… complicated. Let's unpack all the rumors reasons and what this means for our quest to find out who the next Bachelorette will be!
Why the Delay? Rumors Swirl Around the Bachelorette 2025 Postponement
So what's the deal? Why are we being deprived of Bachelorette bliss next summer? Officially ABC hasn't given a super clear reason for pushing pause on the show. But as usual in Bachelor Nation the rumor mill is working overtime and there are a few main theories floating around.
One big rumor spilled by Bachelor alums Ashley Iaconetti and Ben Higgins on their podcast "Almost Famous" points to casting issues. Apparently the network had their eye on Maria Georgas from Joey Graziadei's Bachelor season. She was a fan favorite for sure and seemed like a frontrunner to hand out roses next. But according to their sources things "couldn't make it work with Maria" for some unknown reason. And here's the juicy part they heard that someone "with a lot of influence" on the show was really set on Maria and if it wasn't her maybe it wasn't worth doing for this season. Drama!
Another possible factor? Ratings. Let's be real Bachelor Nation has seen some dips in viewership lately. Ashley and Ben mentioned ratings weren't stellar for Jenn Tran's Bachelorette season or for the most recent Bachelor season with Ellis Grant. Maybe ABC is hoping a break will give the franchise a chance to recharge and come back stronger.
Then there's the money angle. Some folks are saying ABC wants to cut costs and filming overseas in places like Greece and Portugal for Bachelorette season is not cheap. Filming in the US like they are doing with the Golden Bachelor and Golden Bachelorette spin-offs might be more budget-friendly. Plus there's a rumor that ABC wants to use The Bachelorette's usual timeslot for Season 2 of "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" which apparently pulls in a similar audience. Who knew?
On a more serious note there have also been allegations of a " toxic " and "hostile" workplace environment behind the scenes of The Bachelorette with claims of verbal and mental abuse and poor communication from some showrunners. Apparently some key people in production have left in the wake of these accusations. Could this behind-the-scenes shakeup also be playing a role in the delay?
Good News? Jesse Palmer Confirms Bachelorette Will Be Back (Eventually!)
Before you panic completely Jesse Palmer the host of basically everything Bachelor-related these days has confirmed that The Bachelorette is "definitely coming back." He said on a podcast "When it does [return] I just think it's going to be absolutely tremendous." So it sounds like this is a postponement not a cancellation. Phew!
Bachelorette Breaks Aren't New: It's Happened Before!
Believe it or not this isn't the first time The Bachelorette has taken a breather. After it first launched in 2003 the show actually didn't air in 2006 and 2007. So maybe this pause is just part of the natural cycle of reality TV and a chance for the show to refresh and re-energize itself for future seasons.
Jenn Tran's Theory: Summer Isn't Always the Best Time for Love?
Even Jenn Tran the most recent Bachelorette has weighed in on the postponement. She has a theory that maybe the summer airing schedule isn't actually ideal for The Bachelorette compared to The Bachelor. She speculated that a break could give the next Bachelorette season a chance to air at a different time with "more visibility." Could a fall or winter Bachelorette season be in our future? Hmm interesting thought.
Ashley and Ben Spill the Tea: Maria Drama Ratings Dip and a "Reboot Time"
Let's circle back to Ashley Iaconetti and Ben Higgins because they really dropped some insider info on their "Almost Famous" podcast. They believe the Maria casting situation and the ratings concerns are major factors in this delay. Ashley even suggested "It’s a little reboot time" for the show. Maybe this break is exactly what The Bachelorette needs to come back stronger with a fresh perspective and renewed fan interest.
Unexpected Bachelorette News: Katie Thurston's Real-Life Wedding Amid Show Drama
In a bit of unexpected Bachelorette news that's totally separate from the show's postponement but still in the Bachelorette universe did you hear about Katie Thurston ? She was a Bachelorette lead and she just got married to comedian Jeff Arcuri! The story is actually really sweet and a bit emotional. They moved up their wedding date because Katie is starting treatment for stage 3 breast cancer. They had a small backyard ceremony at home with their parents and dog by their side before she starts chemo. Jeff said he wanted to be able to be there for her as her "wife" in the hospital. It's a reminder that real life love and commitment are way more important than any reality TV show schedule. Wishing Katie all the best in her treatment!
Bachelorette on Pause: Key Reasons for the 2025 Delay
- Rumored Casting Issues with Maria Georgas: Reportedly network couldn't finalize her as the lead.
- Declining Ratings: Concerns about viewership numbers for recent seasons.
- Budget Considerations: Desire to cut production costs and film domestically.
- Timeslot Conflict: Possible plan to use summer slot for "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" Season 2.
- Toxic Workplace Allegations: Behind-the-scenes controversy and staff changes.
- Strategic Break: Opportunity to "reboot" and refresh the franchise.
- Potential Schedule Shift: Considering airing Bachelorette in a different season for better visibility.
Will the Bachelorette Be Back and Who Will It Be? Stay Tuned Bachelor Nation!
So while we are Bachelorette-less in summer 2025 don't despair Bachelor Nation. Jesse Palmer says it will be back and this break might actually be a good thing in the long run. As for who the next Bachelorette will be? Your guess is as good as mine! Maybe Maria will still be in the running down the line or maybe a new fan favorite will emerge. One thing is for sure Bachelor Nation will be watching and waiting to see who gets to hand out those roses when The Bachelorette eventually returns to our screens!