Ben Higgins’ run to become a politician is over. One day after announcing his run for public office in Colorado, the former Bachelor star is calling it quits — but it wasn’t his decision to end his campaign.
Why was Ben forced to drop out of the race for the House in Denver and how does his fiancée Lauren Bushnell factor into this surprising news? Here’s the scoop on why the Bachelor star was forced to shut down his campaign one day after he announced his run publicly.
On Thursday, Us Weekly reported that Ben launched his official campaign website and announced his run as a Republican in House District 4 in Denver. Less than 24-hours later, the 28-year-old reality star, who revealed that he “always had a large interest in politics” — ended his run against Democratic Rep. Dan Pabon.
Despite the rumors, the end of Ben’s political run has nothing to do with an impending breakup with Lauren Bushnell, but it has everything to do with a project they are working on.
According to Joe St. George , a reporter with KDVR in Denver, ABC forced Ben to stop running for office and “threatened to take away” the money he earned as The Bachelor and more — including stopping Ben’s wedding which may air on the new show — Ben and Lauren: Happily Ever After — that he and Lauren will star in this October on ABC’s Freeform network. St. George states that ABC owns his marriage right for two years, so a political run would have ended their plans for a paid TV wedding.
Source close to Bachelor Ben campaign says ABC pushed Ben out of the race threatened to take away bachelor cash & even stop Ben’s wedding
— Joe St. George (@JoeStGeorge) July 22, 2016
Ben made the official announcement that he was withdrawing from the campaign on his website on Friday, but didn’t go into details about what went down with ABC.
However, more information has been emerging throughout the day about ABC ousting him from a political career, something that has to be heartbreaking for Higgins who recently told the Denver Post that he felt he had “a lot to offer” the people in his district thanks to his financial service industry and, more importantly, his work in charitable and humanitarian organizations.
“I regret that I must withdraw my candidacy. Despite my best efforts to pursue this opportunity in good faith, I recently received information that has made such a pursuit unworkable. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I will not be able to move forward as a candidate. I find solace in knowing that our intentions and actions have been fair and sincere. I entered into this endeavor wanting to bring positive change to my community, and it is with that same spirit that I will move forward, albeit on a different path.”
Reporter Joe St. George states that ABC “was scared” of having his political run part of his upcoming “Ben and Lauren” reality show and Disney lawyers didn’t want their franchise “muddied with politics.”
Things I learned from Bachelor Ben source-Disney lawyers very powerful and don’t want their hit franchises muddied with politics #copolitics
— Joe St. George (@JoeStGeorge) July 22, 2016
According to a previous report from the Inquisitr , Ben’s run for office was going to be featured on his new reality show with Lauren, perhaps a way to boost his political career and gain more attention for his campaign.
Other than the statement Ben Higgins issued on his website, both Ben and Lauren have remained silent about the end of the Bachelor star’s political run. For now, they will continue to film their new reality show and, perhaps in the future, Ben will return to politics once his obligations with ABC are over and done with.
#BenandLauren can’t wait for you to watch #BenandLauren : Happily Ever After! pic.twitter.com/TZ1EwI2fPu
— HEA (@hea) June 22, 2016
According to Freeform, Ben and Lauren: Happily Ever After is set to premiere in October.
[Image via ABC Television Network]
