‘The Bachelor’ Season 21 Preview: Nick Viall Cries, Gets Slapped
For those of you upset with The Bachelor producers’ decision to cast two-time Bachelorette loser Nick Viall as Season 21’s leading man, consider the show’s new trailer some form of catharsis.
In it, Viall -- who one PopCrush editor referred to as a "downmarket Luke Perry" -- gets slapped by one of the contestants:
He also cries, at least twice -- once while leaning over a balcony in classic, dramatic Bachelor fashion:
And then again, here:
But despite Viall's apparent tough time, a source reportedly told US Weekly he fares pretty well on the show: "The season is going very, very well. Like, one of the best seasons ever. Nick is finding love — for real."
Let's hope that account is accurate, because Viall's Bachelor franchise history has proven otherwise thus far. He was the runner-up on two different seasons of The Bachelorette, failing to win Andi Dorfman’s heart in 2014 and then Kaitlyn Bristowe’s a year later. But -- undeterred by those well-documented, public failures -- he went on to compete in 2016’s Bachelor in Paradise, because nothing says true love like reality TV.
Speaking about the forthcoming season, Viall previously told PEOPLE he hoped to find a lasting connection with someone on the show.
"I’m hopeful I’ll find someone to spend the rest of my life with,” he said. “I couldn’t be more excited to find that amazing connection.”
“I don’t want to pick someone because they’re the last woman standing,” Viall continued, noting the shame of a pity choice. “My biggest fear isn’t necessarily getting my heart broken. It’s not finding the right one.”
Check out the dramatic clip above before The Bachelor returns to ABC on Monday, January 2, at 8PM EST.
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