The Bachelor star Matt James has revealed what type of pre-show relationship he had with Heather Martin, who shows up in the next episode looking to compete for Matt's heart.
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As The Bachelor previews have shown, Heather -- who initially competed on Colton Underwood's 2019 season of The Bachelor -- shows up at The Bachelor resort, Nemacolin Resort in Farmington, PA, hoping to join Matt's cast of bachelorettes and date him.
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"I have met Heather before [but] I had no relationship with her," Matt, 29, explained to Us Weekly in a recent episode of the magazine's "Here for the Right Reasons" podcast.
"But she does have a relationship with one of my good friends Hannah Brown."
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Heather and Hannah became friends when they vied for Colton's attention and affection on The Bachelor's 23rd season in 2019.
"I was just as shocked to see her as everyone else was when she arrives and I think it makes for a very interesting conversation," Matt shared.
In a promo ABC previously aired of the upcoming The Bachelor episode airing Monday night, host Chris Harrison greets Heather, 25, at The Bachelor resort.
"Heather, what are you doing here? You could honestly destroy this whole thing for Matt," Chris says in the preview after Heather steps out of a car.
Once Heather suddenly arrived mid-season, Matt apparently expected some drama to unfold.
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"I've never been a contestant competing for time with me. I don't know what that's like. So, I can only imagine it's extremely difficult," Matt told Us.
"With that being said, I try to be as understanding as I can."
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Matt said he could understand why new arrivals would be "frustrating" for the original bachelorettes, who had already invested weeks into the dating process.
"[But] regardless of when you came or didn't come, you're here, and it doesn't matter," Matt said. "To me what matters is our conversations, our connections, and if I could see a future with you."
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Matt insisted bullying, rumors and gossip are "not going to be tolerated" on his season, and he already made that apparent by eliminating "mean girls" Victoria Larson and Anna Redman, who were shown attacking the five women who showed up late after the third Rose Ceremony.
The Bachelor star hoped all the women could find a way to peacefully coexist since none of his bachelorettes "wield that authority to send somebody home."
"So, they just got to deal with it," Matt noted of the twists and turns.
"And you don't want to make that environment difficult for other people to live in. Because then I'm going to hear about it. And then I'm gonna have to ask you to go home."
ABC executive Rob Mills touched upon Heather's surprise entrance during a January episode of "The Bachelor Recap" podcast.
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"She felt for sure this was her husband and basically did anything she could to get there and track him down," Rob revealed to co-host Julia Cunningham of Heather.
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Heather was a 23-year-old from Carlsbad, CA, when she appeared on Colton's The Bachelor edition along with Hannah.
ABC labeled Heather's occupation as "never been kissed" at the start of The Bachelor's 23rd season, but Heather ended up kissing Colton during her time on the show.
Heather quit The Bachelor process before hometown dates because she said she wasn't ready to take the step of introducing Colton to her parents and family.
Reality Steve spoiler blogger Steve Carbone believes Hannah put Heather up to appearing on The Bachelor's 25th season since the women are such great friends and Hannah became close to Matt while the pair quarantined with The Bachelorette alum Tyler Cameron in Florida last year.
"Clearly Hannah told [Heather] this would be a good idea since she's friends with Matt (you know, Quarantine Crew and all), and I guess convinced Heather she thought the two of them would get along," Carbone wrote in a December blog post.
Click here to read spoilers on how long Heather lasts on Matt's The Bachelor season.
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