Inside the ‘The Bachelorette’ Host Switch: Why Kaitlyn Bristowe and Tayshia Adams Were Replaced With Jesse Palmer

usmagazine.com:

Going a different direction. Kaitlyn Bristowe and Tayshia Adams were “part of the conversation” about who would host the new Bachelorette season ahead of Jesse Palmer’s announcement, a source exclusively tells Us Weekly.“Kaitlyn and Tayshia had a little bit of a heads up,” the insider says, noting that the women “did not learn about them not returning as cohosts on the live [Bachelor] finale” on Tuesday, March 15.Palmer, 43, took some viewers by surprise when he confirmed during Tuesday’s season 26 Bachelor: After the Final Rose special that he would be running the show when co-Bachelorettes Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey start season 19.The choice not to have Bristowe, 36, and Adams, 31, return as cohosts “wasn’t a surprise for them,” according to the source, who explained that the ladies “needed to know in advance for contractual reasons” about the decision.The “Off the Vine” podcast host and the California native were told about the personnel change “prior to the announcement,” per the insider, who adds that the former Bachelorettes are “rooting for Gabby and Rachel from afar.”The former ABC personalities — who searched for love on season 11 and season 16, respectively, of The Bachelorette — cohosted both Katie Thurston and Michelle Young’s seasons in 2021.Palmer, for his part, stepped in as host for season 26 of The Bachelor after Chris Harrison exited the franchise following season 25 after receiving backlash for his support of Rachael Kirkconnell, who was accused of being racially insensitive in the past. (The former NFL player starred on season five of the dating series in 2004.)“The decision came at some point throughout this past season that Jesse was a safe choice for the next Bachelorette season,” the source