‘Bachelor’ Ben Higgins Joining ‘Dancing With The Stars’? Will Stint On ‘DWTS’ Ruin His Relationship With Final Pick?
Is Bachelor Ben Higgins heading to L.A. to join Dancing with the Stars Season 22? The upcoming season of DWTS premieres March 21, just one week after Ben hands out his final rose and fans are buzzing about the 27-year-old software salesman following in the footsteps of several Bachelor stars who competed for the Mirrorball trophy on previous seasons.
According to ABC, the entire Season 22 cast will be revealed on Good Morning America on March 8, so it won’t be long before fans find out for sure if Ben will be putting on his dancing shoes and stay in the reality TV spotlight for a few more weeks. However, when asked, he didn’t deny that joining the show might be in his future — even if he’s newly engaged.
During an recent conference call with reporters, Ben was asked recently if he would consider going on ABC’s popular ballroom dance competition, and he had what E! Online calls “the perfect answer.”
“I don’t know what to expect next and I’m open to anything,” Ben said. “I don’t want to change my life, but if there’s opportunity to enhance it, I’m all for it!”
It sure sounds like he’s trying to say, “I’m in if the network offers me a contract,” without spoiling the news ahead of the March 8 cast reveal. But will accepting the gig ruin his relationship with the girl he picks on the Bachelor?
If rumors are true, Ben would be the fourth Bachelor to join Dancing with the Stars. Most recently, Chris Soules lasted through Week 8 with his partner Witney Carson on Season 20. Unfortunately, his relationship with his final rose recipient, Whitney Bischoff, seemed to fizzle out soon after the show premiered in March 2015 amidst rumors that he was shamelessly flirting with Carson.
Prior to Chris’ appearance on DWTS, Sean Lowe made it to Week 6 on Season 16. He had better luck maintaining a relationship with Catherine Giudici, his final pick on Season 17 of The Bachelor. Despite gossip that their relationship was failing while Sean appeared on DWTS, the couple stayed together and married in January 2014. The Lowes are expecting their first child this summer.
Season 14 Bachelor Jake Pavelka also competed for the Mirrorball trophy. In March 2010, he appeared on the show’s 10th season with his pro-dance partner Chelsie Hightower and was eliminated on Week 5. Although he left early on in the show, he returned to dance with his fiancee and final rose recipient Vienna Girardi on the finale in May. One month later, Jake ended his relationship with Vienna and went on to appear on Bachelor Pad with his newly-dumped ex.
Two former Bachelorette stars also competed on Dancing with the Stars, including Trista Sutter, who has been married to her final pick Ryan Sutter since 2003, and Melissa Rycroft (Season 8, All Stars), who married Tye Strickland in December 2009 after being dumped by Bachelor Jason Mesnick earlier that year.
If Ben Higgins is joining The Bachelor for Season 22, will it put a strain on his relationship with his final pick?
[Warning: Spoilers ahead]
OMG! Is it next week yet? #TheBachelorhttps://t.co/SoxdizQDYN
— The Bachelor (@BachelorABC) February 24, 2016
Reality Steve’s spoilers state Ben gives flight attendant Lauren Bushnell his final rose and Steve is certain that they are still engaged.
Lauren is originally from Portland, Oregon but currently lives in Los Angeles due to her job with Alaska Airlines. Because she already lives in L.A., she wouldn’t have to relocate in order see Ben while he practices for DWTS, something that proven difficult for Chris and Whitney and Jake and Vienna.
If Ben does join Dancing with the Stars, it’s possible that he won’t be introduced with the cast when the initial announcement is made on March 8. The Bachelor still has three weeks to go, so they may keep his name under wraps until the final rose ceremony airs on March 14, similar to what they did before Sean Lowe joined DWTS Season 16.
Would you like to see Ben Higgins join Dancing with the Stars?
[Image via ABC Television Network]
