Get ready to hit the beach, Bachelor Nation! A new trailer promoting Season 6 of Bachelor in Paradise debuted at the end of The Bachelorette's "Men Tell All" special, promising kisses, tears, and relationships with varying degrees of success. Fans are definitely psyched to see all the drama play out, but one blink-and-you-missed-it moment in the new trailer is particularly captivating. Mike's Bachelor in Paradise Season 6 promo appearance has fans worried about his chances of becoming the next Bachelor.
In case you missed it, the preview focuses primarily on a small handful contestants, teasing Hannah Godwin caught in a love triangle and Demi Burnett entering a relationship with another woman. However, 15 seconds into the footage, fans can catch short scenes of other couples on dates. I'm already shook by what looks like Old Matt Donald and Bri the fake Australian surfing together, and as fans on Twitter have pointed out, fan-favorite Mike Johnson is also seen in the promo walking hand-in-hand with Bachelor standout Caelynn Miller-Keyes.
Mike wasn't announced as a cast member before the promo's debut, so his appearance is already a surprise. Further, the short promo scene of him seemingly getting close to Caelynn has raised fans' concerns about his chances of returning to the franchise as a Bachelor lead.
Former Bachelors Colton Underwood and Nick Viall both appeared on Bachelor in Paradise immediately before becoming leads on their own seasons, so Mike's apparent participation in Paradise doesn't automatically mean he's lost the Bachelor slot. Still, the quick tease inspired fans' visions of Mike arriving late to Paradise and finding true love on the beach, instead of getting people through the long, cold winter as the next Bachelor.
The sneaky inclusion of Mike in the promo is alarming for anyone rooting for his Bachelor glory, but as past Bachelors have proven, some time in the sun could actually help guarantee his Bachelor ticket. During July 22's "Men Tell All" special, Bachelorette Hannah Brown told Mike he deserved the best, which definitely sounded like her plug for him to become the Bachelor.
An Air Force veteran and portfolio manager, Mike has charmed fans with his megawatt smile and gentle personality. If he lands the leading ABC gig, he would be both the first black Bachelor and the first veteran Bachelor. Despite garnering such vocal support on social media, he recently told Glamour he was a little hesitant about the opportunity, saying:
The hesitation is because I don’t do it for...to be the first veteran Bachelor, I would do it because I feel the 30 potential suitors are there for the right reasons. I know that in Bachelor and Bachelorette, love can happen in this process. I just want to make sure the 30 suitors are there for the right reasons as well.
Fans will have to wait and see if Mike hits it off with Caelynn or if Paradise heartbreak will point him even further in the direction of The Bachelor.
Season 6 of Bachelor in Paradise premieres at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, Aug. 5, on ABC. Season 15 of The Bachelorette concludes in a two-night finale at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, July 29, and Tuesday, July 30.
