Olympian Ilona Maher<\/strong> says she\u2019s not ruling out a possible run on ABC\u2019s popular reality show, \u201cThe Bachelorette<\/strong>,\u201d just yet. During a brand new interview, the elite rugby player, 29, said she\u2019s seen the messages from people advocating for her to be the show\u2019s next leading lady. While there\u2019s nothing set in stone yet, Maher said she\u2019d consider joining the show for one reason. <\/p>\n Speaking with OK<\/a>, Maher said she\u2019s been in communication with the producers of the long-running reality show about what a possible stint on the series could seem like for her. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve consulted with the team. I\u2019ve consulted with Joey Graziadei,\u201d she said, adding that there would must be some changes in her current situation for her to completely commit to this system. <\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \u201cJoey would must executive produce. All my friends would must be involved,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n Elsewhere through the interview, Maher, a Bronze medalist on the 2024 Paris Olympics, said that she enjoys the series, calling it \u201creally cool.\u201d <\/p>\n And while she\u2019s gone to turn into friends with people from the series, equivalent to Joey and Kelsey Anderson from season 28 of \u201cThe Bachelor,\u201d Maher said she\u2019d join the show for one more reason. <\/p>\n \u201cBut perhaps it could even be cool because I feel like I see one form of beauty standard on that show sometimes,\u201d she said. \u201cIt might be cool for women to see me being courted by men and viewed as desirable without having to alter who I’m.\u201d <\/p>\n In line with Maher, exposing the audience to something different \u201ccan be the rationale I\u2019d do it.\u201d She added, \u201cSo girls can watch and think, \u2018Okay, she\u2019s desired, she\u2019s beautiful, and I don\u2019t must change either.\u2019 I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s within the cards for me, though.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cBachelorette\u201d fans have been pushing several celebrities to throw their hats within the ring after ABC announced it was pulling Taylor Frankie Paul\u2019s season from the air. <\/p>\n Maher said that she\u2019s been inundated with messages about it since being on \u201cDancing with the Stars.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cI really like my girls. They wish to see me find love so bad,\u201d she said. \u201cI might do it for you guys to observe \u2014 that\u2019s the one reason. I don\u2019t even know if I\u2019d find love, however it can be funny to observe me. I’m not fully ruling it out.\u201d <\/p>\n Season 22 of \u201cThe Bachelorette\u201d would\u2019ve been airing at once; nevertheless, ABC and Disney axed the season after its star, Paul, was involved in an alleged domestic dispute together with her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen. <\/p>\n \u201cIn light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we now have made the choice to not move forward with the brand new season of The Bachelorette presently, and our focus is on supporting the family,\u201d a Disney representative said. <\/p>\n Amid the news, a video of Paul appearing to assault Mortensen by hitting him and throwing chairs at him went viral, prompting her team to release a press release on her behalf. <\/p>\n \u201cAfter years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse in addition to threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to be certain that she and her children are shielded from any further harm,\u201d her team said, per PEOPLE<\/a>. <\/p>\n They added, \u201cThere are too many ladies who’re suffering in silence as they survive aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to allow them to move on with their lives. Taylor has remained silent out of fear of further abuse, retaliation and public shaming. She is currently exploring all of her options, looking for support, and preparing to own and share her story.\u201d <\/p>\n In line with a previous report from The Blast, several \u201cBachelor\u201d alums spoke out after learning ABC had canned Paul\u2019s season, including Rachel Lindsay and Ashley Iaconetti. <\/p>\n Iaconetti questioned why producers selected her to start with, stating that they were aware of her previous domestic violence charges, one among which led to her arrest in 2023. <\/p>\n Continuing, the \u201cReal Housewives of Rhode Island\u201d star said that charges alone should\u2019ve been enough reason to rule her out. <\/p>\n \u201cThat wasn\u2019t an appropriate role for her to fill,\u201d she said, before adding, \u201cand doubtless was not something that she was mentally, emotionally able to tackle for a lot of reasons\u2014the incontrovertible fact that she was so intertwined with Dakota going into it being one among them.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nMaher Says There\u2019s One Reason She\u2019d Be Interested In Becoming The Next Bachelorette On ABC<\/h2>\n
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Maher Says The Fans Are Really Pushing For Her To Find Love On \u2018The Bachelorette\u2019<\/h2>\n
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Drama Surrounding ABC\u2019s Long-Running Reality Show<\/h2>\n
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Former \u2018Bachelor\u2019 Star Says Paul Was Never The Right Fit For The Show<\/h2>\n
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