‘Bachelor in Paradise’: Wells Adams Discusses All the Drama — and the Chances of a ‘Golden’ Version
[This story contains spoilers for the latest episode of ABC’s Bachelor in Paradise.]
Wells Adams is spilling the (presumably boozy) tea about all of the key moments from season nine of Bachelor in Paradise.
More from The Hollywood Reporter
During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the ABC dating series’ longtime bartender chats about previous The Bachelorette villain Brayden Bowers getting tough news from Kat Izzo, Will Urena watching his second potential paramour head out on a one-on-one date, Sam Jeffries dealing with stomach issues and whether an inaugural season of Golden Bachelor in Paradise could be heading to the beach.
I didn’t expect to root for Brayden after his season on The Bachelorette with Charity [Lawson]. But with his split from Kat, we’re seeing a softer side to him.
Listen, I was the same way. I remember going to the beach and being like, “I don’t like this guy. He’s got stupid earrings on. I hate his hat. He’s got a scarf. It’s 9 million degrees. What do you need a scarf for?” And also, I didn’t love him on Charity’s season, but I always say this: Paradise is everyone’s redemption story. To me, Brayden is one of the better characters that we have on Paradise this season. He’s also one of my favorite people to come to the bar. He’s very lovely, very nice. This is an awesome opportunity for him to change everyone’s perception of him. By the end of the season, everyone is going to be very much Team Brayden.
Will had more rough moments as Mercedes [Northup] went on a date with Tyler [Norris] following Kylee [Russell] connecting with Aven [Jones]. What has that been like on the beach?
It’s been sad to watch because I really do like the guy. Will is one of the people who’s really there for the right reasons. You can tell he really does want to get engaged and find his person, almost to a fault of his own. He’s putting too much pressure on himself, and he’s made the stakes too high. I wish that he would play it a little cooler than he does, but that’s just not his style. He’s just very, very honest and wears his heart on his sleeve. Sometimes, girls perceive that as a lack of confidence. Watching it back, I wish that he’d come to the bar, and I was like, “You’re not playing it cool. You’re crying on girls’ shoulders right now — that’s not cool.” I wish I had been like, “Hey, you’re 6 foot 5. You’re absolute jacked. You’re so handsome. Be mysterious, maybe.”
So you’ll have second thoughts or regrets on the advice that you offer?
Yeah. At some point, I give him advice like, “Hey, man, maybe stop dating people that go on other dates.” And I wish that I had been like, “Your problem is that you’re not playing it cool.” And especially this early on in the season, I think girls want the cool guy. They do want the emotional guy at the end, but they want the cool guy in the beginning.
We’ve obviously seen health issues in the past, but this is probably a unique one with Sam. I don’t know how much I want to ask about this, but what’s that been like?
Been very unique. This has never happened in Paradise. Quite the opposite, actually. Usually, every season someone gets Montezuma’s revenge and can’t get off the toilet and misses rose ceremonies. This is not good. As much as we’re making light of it, it is an actual serious issue. God, do I hope that this poop baby gets born soon. Aaron does bring her olive oil — that was my idea. It was a very old, Portuguese-grandmother solution of, “This is how you need to poop.”
Did you have a favorite couple at this point in the season?
I felt very strongly about Brayden and Kat. They were hot and heavy right in the beginning. Aaron [Bryant] and Eliza [Isichei] are very, very strong. You got to keep watching, but I am usually wrong. (Laughs.)
The promo shows plenty of drama surrounding new guys and the truth box. Anything that you can tease about that?
It’ll be interesting to see if people are mad at me for the truth box. We’ve never done it before, but I definitely felt like it was a necessity. People are really, really scared of saying how they really feel, and I totally get it. The truth box really is a good vehicle for people to speak their truth within the confines of anonymity. It does the thing that it’s supposed to do — it helps some relationships grow, it helps start some relationships and then dissolves some relationships that probably weren’t as strong as people assumed they were. At the end of the day, it’s something that does help us hit our mission statement, which is get people engaged, hopefully, by the end of the whole experience.
Last season seemed like it had some promising couples, and they haven’t worked out, especially with Michael [Allio] and Danielle [Maltby] splitting up. What’s your take on that?
I’m sad for them because I like both of them a whole lot. Danielle and I were friends long before either of us went on the show, so I will always be Team Danielle, but I do like Michael. I’m just in mourning of that because I was really rooting for that. Brandon and Serene — they were beautiful on paper. They were so attractive. It’s too bad because there won’t be babies that look like the two of them together, but at the end of the day, they’re both young. Who knows, maybe they get another crack at love in Paradise.
My hope is, we’re going to get a Golden Bachelorette, and then in a year from now, you and I will be chatting about Golden Bachelor in Paradise. Is there any talk about that?
I think anything’s possible. Everyone’s very, very happy about the success of The Golden Bachelor. It makes sense that the next thing would be Golden Bachelorette and, ipso sexo, a Golden Bachelor in Paradise. I’ve got the whole thing planned out and how it should look. It needs to happen in Florida at Del Boca Vista [from Seinfeld]. Everyone needs to drive around in golf carts, dates at shuffleboard courts. I need to be making drinks but also have Mylanta on the side. I can see it all in my mind’s eye right now and so desperately want it.
***
Interview edited for length and clarity.
Bachelor in Paradise airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on ABC.
Best of The Hollywood Reporter
Solve the daily Crossword
