The Bachelor and The Bachelorette alums are reportedly turning down the opportunity to appear on Bachelor in Paradise next season due to the racism scandals surrounding the franchise.
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"Casting has begun and some members of Bachelor Nation are apprehensive to sign up," one insider shared. "Some are wondering what direction the season will take and are curious if it will strictly focus on contestants falling in love."
The insider told E! News that past contestants of the franchise are hesitant to join the upcoming Paradise spinoff due to The Bachelor alum Rachael Kirkconnell's social-media controversy and Chris Harrison's offensive reaction to it in which he had defended the racially-ignorant and racially-insensitive actions in Rachael's past -- which include posing for photos at an antebellum-plantation themed "Old South" party at Georgia College & State University in 2018.
A second source expressed a similar sentiment and said, "[Producers] have put out several asks to Bachelor veterans. Many people are declining due to the current state of Bachelor Nation. A lot of people are removing themselves from the franchise."
After all, reports have circulated for weeks many members of Bachelor Nation are up in arms and want to see Chris fired from his hosting position. (Others, however, such as Matt James and Ben Higgins, said they don't want to see Chris get canceled).
ABC is "hoping to get Blake Horstmann, Tia Booth, and Becca Kufrin" onboard, revealed the second source, although "producers are not considering most of the women from Matt's season."
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' COUPLES NOW: WHO DID 'THE BACHELOR' STARS AND THEIR BACHELORETTE PICKS ACTUALLY END UP MARRYING? (PHOTOS)
Both Blake and Tia appeared on previous Bachelor in Paradise editions, and Becca is recently single after breaking up with her Season 14 The Bachelorette winner and fiance Garrett Yrigoyen.
Fans of Matt's The Bachelor season, however, are probably hoping to see Season 25 bachelorettes Serena Pitt, Bri Springs, Chelsea Vaughn and more.
Rumors also recently swirled Peter Weber's ex Kelley Flanagan was in talks to appear on Paradise.
In January, Kelley told her Instagram followers she'd "definitely consider" being The Bachelorette star, but she didn't say whether Paradise would be an option for her.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOWHowever, earlier this month, E! News reported Kelley is "dating someone" new after her official split from Peter and therefore "turned down" the idea of dating guys in Mexico on Bachelor in Paradise.
Even though many familiar faces from the franchise may opt out of looking for love on Bachelor in Paradise during these challenging times, a third source told E! News, "This could be the best cast ever."
"There is talk of having two years' worth of cast due to no Bachelor in Paradise last year," the third source explained, referencing how ABC skipped the 2020 edition of Paradise due to coronavirus and filming obstacles.
"They are in talks with multiple former leads. For the first time in franchise history, there will very likely be former Bachelors and Bachelorettes hitting the beach in Mexico."
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOW: WHOM DID 'THE BACHELORETTE' STARS AND THEIR BACHELOR PICKS ULTIMATELY END UP WITH?! (PHOTOS)
Matt recently made it known he has no interest in returning to reality television, but other former The Bachelor stars who are still single from the past five or so years include Peter, Chris Soules and Colton Underwood.
As for single The Bachelorette stars, fans could maybe see Becca, Andi Dorfman or Ashley Hartsock, who recently separated from her husband JP Rosenbaum.
Additional Bachelor Nation favorites who recently became single include Kendall Long, Joe Amabile, Evan Bass, Carly Waddell, and Chris Randone.
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The Bachelorette is taping at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico, according to Reality Steve spoiler blogger Steve Carbone, and former The Bachelorette stars Kaitlyn Bristowe and Tayshia Adams will be serving as co-hosts.
ABC will also tape an eighteenth season of The Bachelorette starring Michelle Young for broadcast in Fall 2021. It's unclear whether Chris will return as host later this year.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS)
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
