Bachelor Favorite From Jenn Tran’s Season Says “I Have No Idea Why” Grant Is Bachelor After Revealing He Was Never Offered The Role

The Bachelorette season 21 fan favorite Jonathon Johnson claimed that he was never offered the lead role of The Bachelor season 29, and he has no idea why Grant Ellis was chosen. Jonathon, a now-28-year-old creative director from Los Angeles, California, made it to Jenn’s final three men, but she eliminated him after their Fantasy Suite date. However, during the “Men Tell All” episode, host Jesse Palmer invited Jonathon to be a contestant on Bachelor in Paradise season 10, which he happily accepted. Grant had already been announced as the lead of The Bachelor season 29 a few weeks earlier.

On the Lightweights podcast, host Joe Vulpis asked Jonathon if the opportunity of being the star of The Bachelor was ever on the table for him. He replied, “No. Not a mention, not an ask, not a ‘Hey, we’d love to just like sit you down for a conversation.’ Not once.” When asked if he knew why Grant was chosen, Jonathon laughed and said, “I have no idea. But I always make the joke it’s ’cause he’s over 6 foot, and I’m 5’11.“” They then joked about how Jonathon refers to himself as a “medium king” because of his height.

Jonathon added that he’s talked to Grant, but not about the season. He said that they keep everything under wraps the best that they can, so, out of respect for him, he doesn’t ask about it. Jonathon shared that he knows that Grant is doing well, and he seems “good” and “happy,” but he doesn’t know if he’s with someone.

No. Not a mention, not an ask, not a “Hey, we’d love to just like sit you down for a conversation.” Not once.

What Jonathon Johnson’s Claim That He Was Never Asked To Be The Bachelor Means

The Producers Chose Grant Ellis For A Reason

Even though Jonathon was such a huge fan favorite during Jenn’s season, Grant was too, so it wasn’t surprising that he was selected to be the Bachelor. ABC executive Robert Mills announced that they wanted to reveal Grant early so that women could apply to the show specifically to date him. At the time of the announcement, Jonathon hadn’t yet been eliminated from Jenn’s season, so perhaps waiting for his episode to air would’ve been too late for their plan.

However, another reason could simply be that Grant was the perfect choice for The Bachelor season 29. During Jenn’s season, he declared that his mission in life is to become a husband and a father, so he’s definitely ready for an engagement. Grant is romantic, thoughtful, and handsome, and has so many qualities that will make his season a success. It’s great that Jonathon doesn’t seem to hold anything against Grant, and they’re still friends.

Our Take On Jonathon Johnson Being The Bachelor In The Future

Jonathon Would Also Make A Fantastic Bachelor

Hopefully, Jonathon will find true love during Bachelor in Paradise season 10, but, if he doesn’t, he’d be an ideal candidate for a future Bachelor season. He’s also romantic and sweet, and he’s ready to find the love of his life. In addition, Jonathon has a funny personality, as evidenced by his limousine entrance, when he arrived on a stretcher wearing nothing but a hospital gown and sneakers, with his face completely bandaged. His ailment was that he was “love sick.” Jonathon kept Jenn in suspense all night until she finally unwrapped his bandages and revealed his face.

The Bachelor franchise has had back-to-back Bachelors from the same season in the past, when Ben Higgins and then Nick Viall from Kaitlyn Bristowe’s season were chosen for the role. There were also back-to-back Bachelorettes from the same season when Katie Thurston and Michelle Young each were the lead. The franchise even featured Clayton Echard’s runners-up Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey in the same season as co-Bachelorettes. It would be exciting to see Jonathon as the next Bachelor after Grant.

Although Jonathon seems disappointed that the Bachelor producers never approached him to take on the lead role, it’s wonderful that he’ll be joining Bachelor in Paradise season 10. Jonathon seems to really want to find his person, so he’s not letting his ego get in the way of that by refusing the Paradise offer. Jonathon deserves to find the love that he’s searching for, so hopefully he will on the beaches of Paradise.