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Your Bachelor Nation Burning Questions, Answered by Ex-Producer Julia LaPlaca (VIDEO)

Ever since the first rose was handed out in 2002, fans have had questions about how The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, and Bachelor in Paradise really work behind the scenes. Ahead of the release of her new memoir, The Love Producer, former Bachelor producer Julie LaPlaca sat down with Swooon to answer Bachelor Nation’s biggest burning questions.

Julie was a producer on The Bachelor from January 2014 to February 2021, serving as a date producer before moving on to be the lead producer in 2019 for Hannah Brown‘s season. Fans may recall Julie from Peter Weber‘s season, when the internet theorized that he would end up with his producer instead of a contestant. Don’t worry, she dives deep into that lore in her new memoir.

Before The Love Producer hits shelves on July 7, find out more about The Bachelor and its spinoffs from the eyes of a former producer!

Is The Bachelor scripted?

As Julie put it, “The Bachelor is not scripted. It is not. No.” While fans have long suspected that the beloved dating series follows writers’ room cues, the former producer confirmed that that is not the case.

Was Champagne Gate staged?

One of the biggest moments in Bachelor Nation history, which fans have long suspected was a setup from production, was “Champagne Gate,” an unfortunate Night 1 saga during Peter’s season. When Hannah Ann Sluss accidentally opened a special bottle of champagne that Kelsey Weier brought from home with Peter, Kelsey confronted her as if it was on purpose. Later, Peter opened a different bottle of champagne with Kelsey, and the entire contents exploded in her face.

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While fans believed that production was the puppet master of that whole ordeal, Julie revealed, “That’s like fun, PG drama we couldn’t have ever predicted.” She added, “That wasn’t us. They knocked it over.”

Can Bachelor producers predict who will win from Night 1?

Like us viewers, Bachelor producers have their bets on who will make it all the way from the first night. That said, they aren’t always right. “We all always have our predictions,” Julie admitted. “We have our guesses, but sometimes we’re right, and sometimes we’re completely wrong.”

Are Bachelor contestants ever cast to be future leads?

Some Bachelor and Bachelorette leads were just so good, it was hard to believe that they weren’t cast to star in the series right off the bat. Julie confessed, “I wouldn’t say they’re cast with that intention.” That said, “We might have our predictions and hopes.” Fans may recall former lead Matt James was originally cast as a contestant for Clare Crawley/Tayshia Adams, but wasn’t on the season.

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Which Bachelor stars almost became leads?

Of course, not every potential lead saw their day in the sun. Julie revealed that Hannah’s season almost saw Hannah Godwin as the lead instead. However, now that she’s living out her happily ever after with her Bachelor in Paradise sweetheart, Dylan Barbour, it’s clear everything worked out for the best.

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All About Julie LaPlaca, Her Past With Peter Weber & Her 'Bachelor' Memoir

How did Bachelor producers react to Chris Harrison’s exit?

In 2021, longtime Bachelor host Chris Harrison left the franchise following a controversy in which he defended a former contestant’s past racist behavior. Julie explained, “That actually made me really sad. Chris Harrison, really to me, is the face of the show, and he was always such a light to work with, and it was an unfortunate situation.” Julie also revealed that she has remained friends with Chris since their respective Bachelor exits, and he wrote the foreword to her memoir.

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Who should be the next Bachelor?

While every former insider’s opinion about this biggie will be different, Julie shared that her vote for the next Bachelor goes to none other than Peter Weber. “Am I crazy to think that? I think it’d be iconic,” she campaigned. Could we see a returning lead next season? Only time will tell!

The Love Producer by Julie LaPlaca hits shelves on July 7.