The Bachelorette host Chris Harrison doesn't seem to think too highly of Nick Viall competing on Kaitlyn Bristowe's season.
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Viall, who finished as Andi Dorfman's runner-up on The Bachelorette's tenth season and outed her on After the Final Rose for having sex with him in the fantasy suite, asked Bristowe if he could join the cast and fight for her heart in Week 4.
Viall's desire to participate had guys in the house questioning his motives and whether he was chasing self-promotion or a longer ride in the limelight. And Harrison seems to agree, as he had the same concerns once Viall approached him about appearing on Season 11.
"I would 120 percent question Nick's motives and the way it all went down. When [he and Kaitlyn] started talking, they didn't know she'd be the Bachelorette, but he had an idea. So of all people to track down it was Kaitlyn? It seemed too obvious and convenient," Harrison told TV Guide in an interview.
"So, I was very leery of Nick coming back. But you have to leave it up to her because obviously there were feelings there."
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Harrison noted Bristowe's reaction to seeing Viall at the rap show on her NYC group date said it all.
"As soon as I saw her face light up when she saw him, it was over, done. Nick knew he had Kaitlyn. You could see the smug look on his face. I know she went through the proper emotions of being torn and trying to sleep on it, but it's like when you know you're going to make a purchase, it's just a matter of when. The fact that she was willing to put the guys through all that let's you know how serious she is about Nick," Harrison explained.
Harrison revealed when he found out Viall wanted to come back on the show.
"When everything started to come together [with Nick wanting to return], we had already started production. We learned of this prior relationship that they had, and once we figured out he was in New York and we were headed there, we were like, 'Okay, this is where you can show up and talk to her and whatever happens, happens,'" the host told the magazine.
Once Bristowe informed her suitors Viall would be competing against them for her heart, Harrison insisted the "pretty fantastic" guys "took it as well as they possibly could have."
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"If anyone expects them to be happy with her decision, that's not real. I don't think any proud man at this juncture is going to be happy about another guy, especially Nick, entering the game. Everybody knows Nick and what he pulled and how he outed Andi and double-crossed her and was kissing and telling," Harrison said.
"However emotional it was or the reasons he did it, it wasn't a very gentlemanly or honorable thing to do. I wouldn't have been shocked if they all got up and left. I told Kaitlyn that was a real possibility that they would say, 'Screw you, I'm leaving.' But that says something about Nick that she was willing to risk that."
As far as next week goes, Harrison said Bristowe's relationships will certainly be tested with Viall now in the house.
"Some of them quickly don't work. And in true Nick fashion, he doesn't try to ingratiate himself with the guys. He could come in and be humble, but he's not. He has this skill to just rub people the wrong way," Harrison told TV Guide.
It remains a mystery as to whether Bristowe -- a tough cookie who has confronted every man she's had an issue with so far this season -- will call Viall out on his behavior with Dorfman which fans of the ABC franchise have since scrutinized.
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"Or [I wonder] if history repeats itself. I think we all have this ability to think, 'Oh that won't happen to me.' And then guess what?" Harrison teased.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski