Ashley Iaconetti says she could spend “hours” talking about all the drama surrounding “The Bachelorette.”
The reality TV star — who has been a contestant on “The Bachelor,” “Bachelor in Paradise” and “The Bachelor Winter Games” — weighed in on Taylor Frankie Paul’s season of the hit series getting the ax while exclusively speaking to Page Six at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards Thursday night.
“I hope the best for the franchise, and I hope that Taylor gets the support and help that she needs to get into a good place,” Iaconetti, 38, told us on the red carpet at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
“But yeah, I agree with the decision [for ABC] to not go forward with the season at that time. It just didn’t seem like the appropriate thing to do.”
Last week, ABC announced they were pulling the plug on Paul’s season of “The Bachelorette” following the release of a disturbing video from 2023 that showed the “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star throwing chairs at her ex Dakota Mortensen during a domestic violence incident. The decision was made just three days before Season 22 was set to air on the network.
Iaconetti told Page Six that although she hasn’t been in touch with Paul herself, former Bachelorettes — who met Paul while filming “Before the First Rose” — have sent love her way.
“I am not part of the lead ‘Bachelorette’ group text, but … Trista [Sutter], she says that in that group, she sent her a message of support, and that Taylor responded,” she revealed, referencing the Season 1 “Bachelorette” star and self-proclaimed “Bach Nation Fairy Godmother.”
Iaconetti also addressed the fan ideas and rumors floating around, regarding what ABC could do to fill the Sunday time slot. Some have brought up an all-star season of “Dancing With the Stars,” while others suggested an entirely new “Bachelorette” season with “Traitors” alum Maura Higgins.
“I say, let’s bring on Maura Higgins! Let’s do it live. I want it to be, like, [a] docu-style series. Be like, ‘We’re gonna be live recording Maura on a date!’” she suggested.
“And then at the end of it, then she’s gonna have to pick from three guys, or something like that. I don’t know, make it totally unconventional. Just have the franchise on TV. That’s all I want.”
As for whether she thinks there’s a chance Paul’s season will ever see the light of day?
“I think a lot of people would watch it if they put it on Hulu. If they put it on in a binge form, it would be interesting, just to see how fans take to the binge,” Iaconetti explained.
“It would work in the advertiser’s sense, a little bit better than having it on ABC. It’s just a hard thing. It’s icky, but it’s also like … they knew what they were getting into. There’s just so many thoughts that I have, and obviously, the video is awful. But I’m honestly open to all ideas. And [the season just] staying away, it’s also a totally fine option.”
While Iaconetti will always have love for Bachelor Nation, she’s excited to be stepping into a new reality TV franchise. The “I Don’t Get It” podcast host is starring in “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island,” premiering April 2 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo.
“Being part of this season, at least filming it, was far more dramatic than any ‘Bachelor’ season I’ve ever filmed,” she teased. “These girls are such great reality TV personalities that, like, I’m the one that seems boring. I said in this little [teaser] video that we made that like, I bring the sanity, and I know that made a lot of people be like, ‘Oh, OK, Ashley.’ But, no, really.”
The all-new series also stars Alicia Carmody, Rosie DiMare, Liz McGraw, Rulla Nehme Pontarelli, Kelsey Swanson and Jo-Ellen Tiberi, and “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star Dolores Catania as a “friend.”
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