‘The Bachelorette’: Mike Johnson Reddit AMA Reveals Behind-the-Scenes Details — ‘BIP Was a Popularity Contest’
Mike Johnson held a Reddit AMA on March 17 to discuss behind-the-scenes information on The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise. The star was an early fan-favorite while on Hannah Brown’s season of The Bachelorette. He later appeared on Bachelor in Paradise to hopefully find love after Brown broke up with him on the other show. Johnson, who was in the running as the bachelor before the show decided on Peter Weber, shared his real thoughts regarding the franchise in an open forum on Reddit.
Mike Johnson was on Hannah Brown’s season of ‘The Bachelorette’
Johnson made it far on Brown’s season of The Bachelorette. He started out by attending group dates and received the group date rose in week three. The contestant was vocal about his opinions on frontrunner and “villain” Luke Parker. In week five, Johnson got a one-on-one date. A couple of weeks later, Johnson had another one-on-one date, and Brown sent him home while in tears because she didn’t see herself with him forever.
That summer, Johnson went on Bachelor in Paradise to see if he could find love in Mexico instead. While there, Johnson pursued romantic connections with contestants Caelynn Miller-Keyes and Sydney Lotuaco. He ended up leaving BIP alone.
Mike Johnson said behind-the-scenes info on ‘The Bachelorette’ and ‘BIP’
Neither relationship from The Bachelorette nor Bachelor in Paradise worked out for Johnson long-term, and he opened up about both show experiences in a Reddit AMA.
For starters, the former contestant shared that he preferred The Bachelorette over Bachelor in Paradise. “I felt like BIP was a popularity contest, it gave me [high school] vibes all over again,” he said.
As for his edit on both shows, he revealed what he’s really like.
“I def do more than just smile,” he poked fun at his smiley demeanor on The Bachelorette. “I’m pretty analytical, that wasn’t shown whatsoever.”
Johnson also clued fans into a behind-the-scenes moment with Brown. While she was upset over Parker, Johnson tried to “cheer her up.”
“I asked randomly her fav go to dance move,” he revealed. “She didn’t hesitate and she did ‘air guitar’ and I immediately joined in.” Johnson was having such a good time that he “tore” his “pants right down the middle.”
The former contestant even spoke to the current climate in Bachelor Nation. In regards to how the shows could improve, Johnson had a few thoughts.
“Listen to us as former cast, as current cast, as ppl who watch the show,” he said. “The BTS crew (execs, ppl in charge) need to be diverse as well. Diff classes, sexualities, ethnicities, religions etc.”
Mike Johnson revealed that he slid into Pieper James’ DMs
Pieper James from Matt James’ season of The Bachelor revealed that her Bachelor Nation crush is Johnson on the Click Bait podcast. When someone on the AMA asked Johnson how he felt about that, he revealed he made a move.
“I blushed a bit, then followed up w trying to get a sense of her personality via IG as I’ve never met her in person,” he replied. If Johnson and James get together on Bachelor in Paradise, they could be another Bachelor Nation success story. We’re rooting for them!
