Compared to most of Bachelor Nation’s followers, I consider myself an OG Bachelorette fan, aka my knowledge of the franchise goes back to around 2011. Thus, I’m pretty familiar with upcoming Bachelor Arie Luyendyk Jr. and his appearance on The Bachelorette in 2012. Few people from this era of the show have remained relevant, so I’m thrilled that the casting of Arie has allowed for his Bachelorette, Emily Maynard Johnson, to make a brief return to the spotlight. She recently spoke to PEOPLE about Arie starring on the show so long after they were together.
“I’ve been rooting for Arie to be the Bachelor since my season ended—he’s a great guy,” Emily said.
Emily, who picked Jef Holm over Arie on her season, is now married to a man she met who shares her love of faith, which she honestly deserves after her tumultuous experience with the show. Although she won The Bachelor in 2011, then single mom Emily’s relationship with two-time Bachelor Brad Womack (aka the original Nick Viall) fizzled out, and her time with Jef didn’t last long. When she married husband Tyler Johnson in 2014, she told PEOPLE, “For so long I felt so embarrassed and ashamed about that TV stuff. The grace that my faith has given me to wipe that all away and not find worth in that and find it through God, Tyler has been a great example of that for me.”
Although Emily hasn’t spoken to Arie since their season ended, she says that his turn as the Bachelor will be “great TV.” However, it definitely won’t be a go-to pick for her Monday night TV. “I feel like it would probably not be appropriate,” she said.
I still have my doubts about Arie being an entertaining Bachelor, but I’ll take careful note of Emily’s words!