After ABC pulled the plug on Taylor Frankie Paul's highly anticipated season of The Bachelorette, one of her would-be suitors is already looking for love elsewhere in the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives universe.
Brandon Perce, a contestant from the shelved Season 22, took to Instagram on March 31 to shoot his shot with Taylor's newly single costar, Jessi Draper. In a cheeky video, Perce pitched a mystery "friend" who checked all the right boxes: a tattooed dad who likes to work out, holds down a job, dislikes golf, and happens to have "history with one of your friends." The punchline, of course, was that Perce was describing himself.
The bold move quickly caught the attention of Draper, whose estranged husband Jordan Ngatikaura recently filed for divorce. The reality star dropped a simple "Hi" in the comments section. Perce didn't miss a beat, playfully replying, "Oh hey there, I think my friend sent you a DM."
Perce's pivot to Draper comes amid the explosive off-screen drama that derailed Taylor's Bachelor Nation debut. ABC permanently shelved the season premiere following domestic violence allegations involving Taylor and her ex, Dakota Mortensen.
The sudden cancellation left Taylor's cast of men grappling with the fallout, sparking a wide range of reactions. One anonymous suitor expressed deep frustration over the scrapped production, noting that the cast felt completely blindsided after giving the controversial reality star a clean slate.
"We all gave up so much to go do this. We all came in with open hearts. We treated her kindly and respectfully and gave her a second chance," the frustrated contestant revealed, calling the experience a waste of time and emotional energy. "But at the end of the day I pray that she gets help. I hope she gets the help that she needs."
Not all of the men are harboring resentment, however. Doug Mason, whom many fans speculated was the recipient of Taylor's final rose, took to social media to offer a much more compassionate perspective on the ordeal.
"In light of everything that's happened, I'm just sending out prayers to Taylor, because that was her moment, and her moment was blocked," Mason shared, urging Bachelor Nation fans to remain kind and positive as the situation unfolds.