2 months ago
Ashley Iaconetti says she could walk “hours” talking astir each nan drama surrounding “The Bachelorette.”
The reality TV prima — who has been a contestant connected “The Bachelor,” “Bachelor successful Paradise” and “The Bachelor Winter Games” — weighed successful connected Taylor Frankie Paul’s play of nan deed bid getting nan ax while exclusively speaking to Page Six astatine nan 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards Thursday night.
“I dream nan champion for nan franchise, and I dream that Taylor gets nan support and thief that she needs to get into a bully place,” Iaconetti, 38, told america connected nan reddish carpet astatine nan Dolby Theatre successful Los Angeles.
“But yeah, I work together pinch nan determination [for ABC] to not spell guardant pinch nan play astatine that time. It conscionable didn’t look for illustration nan due point to do.”
Last week, ABC announced they were pulling nan plug connected Paul’s play of “The Bachelorette” pursuing nan merchandise of a disturbing video from 2023 that showed nan “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” prima throwing chairs astatine her ex Dakota Mortensen during a domestic unit incident. The determination was made conscionable 3 days earlier Season 22 was group to aerial connected nan network.
Iaconetti told Page Six that though she hasn’t been successful touch pinch Paul herself, erstwhile Bachelorettes — who met Paul while filming “Before nan First Rose” — person sent emotion her way.
“I americium not portion of nan lead ‘Bachelorette’ group text, but … Trista [Sutter], she says that successful that group, she sent her a connection of support, and that Taylor responded,” she revealed, referencing nan Season 1 “Bachelorette” prima and self-proclaimed “Bach Nation Fairy Godmother.”
Iaconetti besides addressed nan instrumentality ideas and rumors floating around, regarding what ABC could do to capable nan Sunday clip slot. Some person brought up an all-star play of “Dancing With nan Stars,” while others suggested an wholly caller “Bachelorette” play pinch “Traitors” alum Maura Higgins.
“I say, let’s bring connected Maura Higgins! Let’s do it live. I want it to be, like, [a] docu-style series. Be like, ‘We’re gonna beryllium unrecorded signaling Maura connected a date!'” she suggested.
“And past astatine nan extremity of it, past she’s gonna person to prime from 3 guys, aliases thing for illustration that. I don’t know, make it wholly unconventional. Just person nan franchise connected TV. That’s each I want.”
As for whether she thinks there’s a chance Paul’s play will ever spot nan ray of day?
“I deliberation a batch of group would watch it if they put it connected Hulu. If they put it connected successful a binge form, it would beryllium interesting, conscionable to spot really fans return to nan binge,” Iaconetti explained.
“It would activity successful nan advertiser’s sense, a small spot amended than having it connected ABC. It’s conscionable a difficult thing. It’s icky, but it’s besides for illustration … they knew what they were getting into. There’s conscionable truthful galore thoughts that I have, and obviously, nan video is awful. But I’m honestly unfastened to each ideas. And [the play just] staying away, it’s besides a wholly good option.”
While Iaconetti will ever person emotion for Bachelor Nation, she’s excited to beryllium stepping into a caller reality TV franchise. The “I Don’t Get It” podcast big is starring successful “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island,” premiering April 2 astatine 9 p.m. ET/PT connected Bravo.
“Being portion of this season, astatine slightest filming it, was acold much melodramatic than immoderate ‘Bachelor’ play I’ve ever filmed,” she teased. “These girls are specified awesome reality TV personalities that, like, I’m nan 1 that seems boring. I said successful this small [teaser] video that we made that like, I bring nan sanity, and I cognize that made a batch of group beryllium like, ‘Oh, OK, Ashley.’ But, no, really.”
The all-new bid besides stars Alicia Carmody, Rosie DiMare, Liz McGraw, Rulla Nehme Pontarelli, Kelsey Swanson and Jo-Ellen Tiberi, and “Real Housewives of New Jersey” prima Dolores Catania arsenic a “friend.”
