The amount of perceived contenders for The Bachelor appears to grow by the week, thanks to the overabundance of characters on Bachelor in Paradise. Chris Harrison said he didn’t want to make a decision on The Bachelor before Bachelor in Paradise aired, and some fans are appreciative for the wait.
After The Bachelorette, it was reported that three men from Hannah Brown’s season — Tyler Cameron, Peter Weber, and Mike Johnson — were in the running for the role. Cameron, through no fault of his own, seems least likely of the trio to receive, or accept, the position. Weber didn’t choose to decamp to Mexico, so there’s no potential romance keeping him from agreeing to become The Bachelor. Johnson, on the other hand, won’t say yet whether he’s found love in Paradise, making it uncertain whether he’s actually the frontrunner to land the coveted part. This past week on Bachelor in Paradise, the Derek Peth-for-Bachelor campaign stormed in out of nowhere on social media after he handled the breakup with Demi Burnett with grace. Wills Reid is also getting some love after leaving Paradise in back-t0-back seasons empty-handed. And although it’s a long shot, few would be against the entertainment value that a John Paul Jones season of The Bachelor would bring.
Following the report that Johnson was in serious consideration, the past few weeks have been up to speculation from a fanbase eager to hear who the mystery man will be. Johnson hasn’t locked himself into a serious relationship in Bachelor in Paradise as of yet, and he recently told ET, “I have no idea” when asked point blank if he’s the Bachelor. While a decision hasn’t been made on Johnson, Harrison told ET in a separate interview, “Mike’s a good guy. I’ll say this. He’s going to come out (of Paradise) being the same good guy.”
Another good guy who stole the hearts of the audience is Peth. When Burnett’s girlfriend showed up to Paradise, Burnett broke up with Peth. The show made a controversial decision to allow Burnett’s girlfriend stay with her in Paradise, making it that much harder for Peth to get over Burnett. Although Peth starred all the way back on JoJo Fletcher’s season, he made it to the end of Paradise last year, getting engaged to Taylor Nolan in the finale before ultimately ending things.
Among Bachelor in Paradise contestants jockeying for The Bachelor, it appears to still be Johnson in the driver’s seat with Peth making a late push. While some guys, most notably Blake Horstmann, have completely thrown away any shot of someday being anointed with the responsibility of becoming the Bachelor, others, like John Paul Jones and Reid, have only boosted their public perception from their time on Bachelor in Paradise. Ultimately, the decision is likely still up in the air. And while Weber could still be the Bachelor, the possibility that it could be someone who is on this season of Bachelor in Paradise gives viewers one more reason to tune in.
Next: Tyler Cameron & More Bachelor Favorites Reveal Their Top Picks for Next Bachelor
Bachelor in Paradise airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 8pm on ABC.
Source: ET
