Jesse Palmer is replacing co-hosts Kaitlyn Bristowe and Tayshia Adams as the solo host of The Bachelorette next season, and ABC's alleged reasoning for the switch has been revealed.
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Jesse, a 43-year-old former NFL player who starred on Season 5 of The Bachelor in 2004, announced on The Bachelor: After the Final Rose for Clayton Echard's season last week that he'll be returning as host for The Bachelorette's upcoming nineteenth edition, which will star both Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey when it premieres Monday, July 11 at 8PM ET/PT on ABC.
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But since Jesse is reprising his role as host, that means Kaitlyn, 36, and Tayshia, 31 -- who co-hosted Season 17 and Season 18 of The Bachelorette -- are out.
"The decision came at some point throughout this past season that Jesse was a safe choice for the next Bachelorette season," a source told Us Weekly of ABC's casting change.
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"They're still testing him out for a more permanent role, just like they tested out Tayshia and Kaitlyn for two seasons."
The source said The Bachelor franchise is currently "trying to get back to more of the Chris Harrison style" when it comes to hosting but Kaitlyn and Tayshia could come back at some point.
"[The] doors aren't closed for good" on the women's participation, according to the Us source, who added that Jesse staying in the role is "best for everyone."
"The feeling all-around is more neutral. Everyone seems to be happy with where things stand."
The source also insisted that Kaitlyn, who starred on Season 11 of The Bachelorette, and Tayshia, who starred on Season 16 of the series, were not blindsided by the news and had been informed of Jesse's casting "prior to the announcement" on Tuesday, March 15.
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The ladies were reportedly a "part of the conversation" with producers behind the scenes.
"Kaitlyn and Tayshia had a little bit of a heads up," the insider shared. "[The women] did not learn about them not returning as co-hosts on the live [The Bachelor] finale."
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The decision to have Jesse return therefore "wasn't a surprise" for Kaitlyn and Tayshia because they "needed to know in advance for contractual reasons," said the source.
Kaitlyn and Tayshia will reportedly be "rooting for Gabby and Rachel from afar" this year and Tayshia continues to have a "cordial" relationship with the network.
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"The bridge is not burned," the source said of Tayshia's future with ABC. "She's been exploring a lot of different avenues and meeting with different people in the industry. She's looking to continue expanding her career outside of Bachelor Nation."
But Kaitlyn, who won Season 29 Dancing with the Stars, has been "more outspoken" about losing the gig to a man.
Kaitlyn is reportedly bothered by the fact she and Tayshia had been listed as a "special guest" in the credits when they co-hosted The Bachelorette while Jesse was listed as "host."
"The only resentment that seems to come out of it is their titles and contracts," the source explained to Us, alleging that it "all comes down to pay" and the ladies received "less pay" because of their insignificant titles.
Kaitlyn and Tayshia subtly reacted to Jesse taking over The Bachelorette hosting role last week.
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Kaitlyn and Tayshia's Instagram bios previously mentioned how they co-host The Bachelorette, but that job description has been deleted on both of their accounts.
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And Jesse's own Instagram bio now reads, "Host of @bachelorabc Season 26 and @bacheloretteabc Season 19."
"With every ending, comes a new beginning," Jesse wrote Wednesday, March 16 on Instagram. "So excited for @gabby.windey and @pilot.rachel our new BACHELORETTES!!! Both are STRONG, SMART, AMAZING and equally DESERVING!!! Can't wait to join them on their journey to find LOVE!!!"
Kaitlyn admitted in December 2021 that she'd love to continue serving as a co-host of The Bachelorette.
"I love hosting," Kaitlyn told the magazine at the time.
"I love being in a position to help the Bachelorette and be, like, somebody who can really empower them and give confidence and validate their insecurities and just help them navigate through that journey because I would've loved to have somebody like that there for me. And I like being that person that can help."
But Kaitlyn also understood Jesse's casting for The Bachelor and said she never expected to co-host even more than one season.
"We never really thought that would be our position. I mean, we never really thought we'd still be here for a second season hosting," Kaitlyn said.
"I think it's cool to have a male that's been in that position help mentor the lead [on The Bachelor] and say, 'I've been here, I've done this and I'm here to help you.' So it made sense for me that they got a past Bachelor and also someone that, like, has been in a hosting role before. He's gonna do a really great job."
The Bachelorette's nineteenth season is expected to begin filming this week.
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The franchise's longtime host, Chris Harrison, permanently exited the show following his early 2021 racism controversy involving The Bachelor alums Rachael Kirkconnell and Rachel Lindsay.
ABC and Chris publicly announced in June 2021 that Chris' voluntary leave of absence from The Bachelor franchise -- which began in February of that year -- would become a permanent one and he will not be returning as host for any future seasons.
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