Bachelor Nation is rallying around Tayshia Adams!
In a surprising turn of events, multiple outlets have reported the 29-year-old California native will be stepping up as the new Bachelorette to replace current lead, Clare Crawley. Rumor has it that the 39-year-old got engaged to contestant Dale Moss just two weeks into filming, which is shocking — even by reality TV standards!
An E! News source has since confirmed this upcoming season will begin with Crawley’s journey to find love before pivoting to Adams halfway through, a first for the franchise! Now, show alumni are speaking out about the landmark decision.
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Tayshia’s former love interest and season lead Colton Underwood apparently has no hard had feelings about his ex getting the gig — even after she famously shaded his kissing skills! He wrote on Twitter:
“Congrats @TayshiaAdams—good luck and I hope you find yourself a better kisser.”
Love the kiss comment especially, because Tayshia once said Underwood was terrible! Mykenna Dorn, from Peter Weber‘s season, chimed in to express her hope that both Clare and Tayshia find their soulmates. She tweeted:
“If this is true then this will for sure be the most dramatic season EVER !! Guess we’ll all have to tune in to see how this one goes down. I hope both Clare and Tayshia leave happy and in love !!”
Season 22 lead Arie Luyendyk Jr. shared his well-wishes to Adams, writing on his Instagram Story:
“Wish you a lot of luck, Tayshia. Lauren [Luyendyk] and I absolutely adore you. You’re going to crush it!”
Meanwhile, Bachelor in Paradise alum Evan Bass joked about the rumor of Crawley’s lightning-fast engagement, tweeting:
“The world: The Bachelor franchise is ridiculous you can’t find love in a month or 2! Clare: Hold my beer”
Former Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe went through a full range of emotions on her IG Story, expressing shock, confusion, and excitement over the switcheroo:
“Holy freaking plot twist of Tayshia becoming the new Bachelorette and Clare apparently found love. I cannot confirm or deny… but I have thoughts. I love both of these women. I was really excited to watch Clare’s journey. But like, that’s part of the contract. That’s one of the hardest things about going through the show, is you have to take each relationship to the necessary place to really know who your guy is at the end, and I’m just so confused.”
She continued:
“Obviously, I just hope she’s happy. Now, enter Tayshia. Great, I wanted her to be the Bachelorette a while ago. I’m super pumped on this… but I’m still, what is happening? The Bachelor franchise is genius, and we’re all talking about it!”
She makes a really great point!
No word from longtime host Chris Harrison about the shakeups happening within the show, but we can expect him to label this as the “most dramatic season ever” as he usually does. However, it’s hard to have this discussion and not check in with the franchise’s first Black female lead, Rachel Lindsay.
No surprise here! The 35-year-old is pumped to see another woman of color in the driver’s seat, telling ET of the news:
“When I stepped in as Bachelorette, I wanted to pave a way for more diversity, for more people who look like me and who didn’t look like the typical lead. So to see another Bachelorette of color, I’m thrilled.”
She continued:
“I have been fighting for inclusion, and I‘ve said before that Tayshia would be an excellent Bachelorette, so I am more than happy to pass the torch. I am so excited to see what she’s going to do, how she will represent herself and her journey to find love. Now she’s in the driver’s seat, and I’m excited to see her get this opportunity. There are other single women in Bachelor Nation that the show could’ve chosen, and there were other alumni who were considered for this role, so I am really happy they chose Tayshia.”
Lindsay, who has openly slammed ABC‘s diversity efforts before, said that work still needs to be done on that front, but she’s enjoying this victory for now:
“I do still want to see some additional producers of all colors brought in, but change is being made and I’m happy to see it. I’d love to get to shut up about all this and step back, and this is a big step towards that. I will watch this season as a proud fan.”
Now, let’s hear from you, Perezcious readers! Are U feeling this casting decision? Do U think it’ll make for great TV, or are we in for another round of the hot mess express with our favorite rose-filled guilty pleasure?Sound OFF with your thoughts (below) in the comments section!
[Image via Avalon/Brian To/Fayes Vision/Judy Eddy/WENN]
The post Colton Underwood, Rachel Lindsay, & More Stars React To Tayshia Adams As The New <i>Bachelorette</i>! appeared first on Perez Hilton.