Hannah Brown (shown here with Chris
Harrison) may be the last to find love
on TV. “Instead of who will be the next
Bachelorette or Bachelor, the network is
focused on whether the series will even
be coming back,” an insider reveals.LIFEANDSTYLEMAG.COM 13
Bachelor^ Bomb
shellH
as Bachelorette Hannah Brown handed out the final
final rose? Despite strong ratings this season, Life &
Style has learned that the scandal-plagued Bachelor
franchise might end up on the chopping block. “The future
of the show is definitely up in the air,” whispers an insider.
“It’s been a huge moneymaker for the network, but execs
are in closed-door meetings trying to decide its fate.” Being
discussed in those meetings are the shocking domestic vio-
lence charges against Bachelor creator Mike Fleiss, whose
pregnant wife, Laura Kaeppeler, recently slapped him
with a restraining order after an alleged incident in Ha-
waii. While Fleiss denies the charges and host Chris Harri-
son calls them “a personal, private matter,” the insider saysthe network is taking them very seriously. “ABC is owned
by family-friendly Disney,” Life & St yle’s i n sider e x pl a i n s.
“A headline-making headache like this the last thing they
need.” And it isn’t the only scandal the franchise has weath-
ered. Two years ago, production on Bachelor in Paradise
came to a halt after it was alleged that Corinne Olympios
engaged in a sex act with fellow contestant DeMario Jack-
son when she was too drunk to consent. A year later, it was
revealed that Bachelorette contestant Lincoln Adim had
been convicted of sexual assault prior to going on the show.
The domestic violence reports, the insider says, could be
the final straw for ABC: “There’s talk about cutting ties
with Mike Fleiss — and with the show altogether.”