What Does ‘The Bachelorette’ Summer Move Mean for ‘Bachelor in Paradise’ Season 8?

Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey on The Bachelorette
ABC/Craig Sjodin
ABC/Craig Sjodin

The Bachelorette Season 19 will mark a first for the franchise. Both Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia will be the stars of the reality dating show when it premieres Monday, July 11 on ABC. But what does this mean for Bachelor in Paradise Season 8, which typically serves as the franchise’s summer content?

BIP Season 8 has not yet been confirmed. Outside of its two-year COVID-19 hiatus, the spinoff series has consistently debuted in August since the first season in 2014. The lack of a renewal plus the Bachelorette Season 19 premiere date implies the show may not be coming back in 2022.

Gabby and Rachel were two of the finalists in Clayton Echard’s dramatic season of The Bachelor. In the After the Final Rose special, the women were announced as the franchise’s next stars. But the exciting news of Gabby and Rachel costarring hasn’t distracted Bachelor Nation from wondering when BIP will return, if at all. And The Bachelorette‘s premiere date has them worried about the fate of the spinoff.

“Wow July 11 is a month later than normal. Does this mean Bachelor in Paradise is pushed later?” one fan tweeted.

“Am I glad that the next season isn’t immediately after this one? YES. Do I want The Bachelorette to replace Bachelor in Paradise this summer? ABSOLUTELY NOT,” said another.

“If Bachelorette isn’t premiering until July 11th does someone want to tell me when the F**K Paradise is supposed to happen?” another chimed in.

The Bachelorette typically starts airing in May. But 2021 saw schedules changed up as well. Katie Thurston and Michelle Young both got their own seasons of The Bachelorette last year. Katie’s aired in Spring 2021, and Michelle’s aired in the fall after filming over the summer. (She’s a teacher and didn’t want to leave her class by filming in the spring.)

Katie’s season surprisingly ended early, and then BIP Season 7 started in mid-August, ending two weeks before Michelle’s season began in October. Having BIP and The Bachelorette overlap wouldn’t be the abnormal for the franchise, considering fans are so accustom to a constant stream of new episodes. But it is interesting that there have been no updates on BIP Season 8 yet, especially since COVID-19 restrictions have eased up.

The BIP social media accounts have also been silent about Season 8. Its most recent posts have only been about The Bachelor.

One thing’s for sure, Bachelor Nation does not want BIP to be canceled. In fact, following the chaos Clayton caused in the March 15 finale, some fans are hoping The Bachelor would be the one not to return.

“I am once again calling for the end of The Bachelor,” one fan tweeted after the finale. “No more Bachelor. We no longer need The Bachelor. We only need The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise.”

“ABC should just cancel #TheBachelor & only do Bachelorette & BIP bc I cannot think of a season of The Bachelor that wasn’t a flop,” said another.

What do you think? Is Bachelor in Paradise in the danger zone? Sound off in the comments below.

The Bachelorette, Season 19 Premiere, Monday, July 11, ABC