Fred Johnson is apparently one of five suitors The Bachelorette host Chris Harrison teases viewers should definitely watch for.  

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Fred, a 27-year-old executive assistant from Dallas, TX, will introduce himself to The Bachelorette star Rachel Lindsay when Season 13 premieres Monday, May 22 at 9PM ET/PT on ABC.

According to ABC, Fred has had a crush on Rachel since childhood, as they were former elementary school classmates. During the cocktail party on Night 1, the network revealed Fred shows Rachel his old yearbook when discussing his lifelong feelings for her. 

"This is a crazy story," Chris told Yahoo! TV.

"Fred is an executive assistant who is from Rachel's hometown. Fred and Rachel were at this camp together when they were teenagers. Rachel was his slightly older camp counselor. Fred had a crush on her and he has carried the torch for quite sometime."

Fred apparently kept this secret close to his chest until discussing the matter with Rachel face-to-face on The Bachelorette.

"He has never really talked about it, but decided to come all this way and do the show so that he could tell her how he felt," Chris revealed. "He gets out of the limo and there is an awkward moment where they don't really talk about it, but she realizes who he is."

Chris suggested Fred and Rachel have actually maintained a level of friendship throughout the years, or they are at least chummy acquaintances.

"I believe they have kept in touch, but he has never told her how he felt as a kid," Chris explained. "They eventually talk about it and he admits it all. It is a very interesting, awkward, and exciting story."

Chris said he anticipated Bachelor Nation would be very excited about Fred's pursuit of the fairy tale.

"The minute I heard his backstory I had so many questions. It had the opportunity to be seen as the cutest story of how they met and could be a John Hughes movie, or it could be perceived as a creepy stalker move," Chris told Yahoo! TV.

"But I promise he is a very sweet, good guy and there is nothing creepy about it."

The show's longtime host insisted The Bachelorette's Season 13 cast is filled with "more mature, professional" suitors than seasons past "ready to settle down" with Rachel, who is "a little older" and "established in her career."

Chris called Rachel a "control freak" and said the men vying for her affection are "a strong group" who are "specifically interested in dating" only her.


About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.