‘The Bachelor’ Creator Mike Fleiss Leaves Franchise After More Than 20 Years

EXCLUSIVE: Peter Geist has signed with Verve for representation.

The Bachelor creator/executive producer Mike Fleiss’ recently announced departure from the hit ABC reality franchise came after he had been investigated over workplace misconduct allegations, Deadline has confirmed.

. During the season 27 finale of the show, Gabi had a «gut feeling» that Zach Shallcross wouldn't pick her in the end but decided to stay until the last day regardless and suffer through an awkward final rose ceremony.Her decision to stick it out, Gabi revealed on the Click Bait with Bachelor Nation podcast, had everything to do with the woman who did ultimately get Zach's final rose, Kaity Biggar.For Gabi, the drama started during Fantasy Suite week when Zach broke his self-imposed, no-sex rule with her, and then confessed as much to Kaity. At the rose ceremony that followed, in which Ariel Frenkel was sent home, Gabi became sure that she wouldn't be Zach's final pick.«In that rose ceremony when he was only speaking to Kaity and he wasn't making eye contact with me, it was a really isolating feeling,» she said on the podcast, which is presented by Wondery.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior Correspondent In 2014, Nick Viall revealed on national TV that Bachelorette Andi Dorfman had slept with him during their time together on the show. Heartbroken that she didn’t choose him as her winner, Viall asked why she “made love” with him; she said him talking about their sex life was “below the belt.” The episode invited think pieces discussing whether Viall had slut-shamed Dorfman. Fast-forward nine years and “Bachelor” history has repeated itself. The star of “The Bachelor” Season 27, Zach Shallcross, broke his own rule not to sleep with any of his final contestants in the fantasy suites. When he was intimate with his runner-up, Gabi Elnicki, he decided it was the appropriate choice to tell the other women that they had slept together. Viewers weren’t shocked when this decision blew up in Shallcross’ face, angering Elnicki, finalist Ariel Frenkel and, the eventual winner, Kaity Biggar.

A giant rumor. Zach Shallcross and Jess Girod both poked fun at speculation that he had reunited with the season 27 contestant instead of being happily engaged to Kaity Biggar.

After Gabi Elnicki revealed Zach Shallcross promised her that he would keep what happened between the two of them in the fantasy suite “between us,” the season 27 Bachelor is shedding light on what changed.

Zach Shallcross got his happy ending with Kaity Biggar, but not without some bumps in the road. Bachelor Nation was hard on the season 27 star — from calling him “boring” to criticizing the way he reacted when things weren’t going his way during conversations with his contestants.

Zach Shallcross and Kaity Biggar got engaged on the season finale of The Bachelor, which aired last night, but don’t expect them to get married anytime soon.

The Bachelor is upon us. After more than two decades at the helm of ABC’s reality dating show juggernaut, creator Mike Fleiss and his franchise are breaking up. The news arrives a day after the conclusion of ’s season of The Bachelor, which had an uneven, albeit happy ending. “First and foremost, congratulations are in order for Zach and Kaity [Biggar].

Mike Fleiss is saying goodbye to Bachelor Nation. The day after “The Bachelor” aired its season 27 finale, which saw Zach Shallcross get engaged to Kaity Biggar, ET confirms that Fleiss is no longer with the franchise.

Lucky No. 27? Zach Shallcross and Kaity Biggar left season 27 of The Bachelor going strong after a series of dramatic endings for the franchise.

His final rose! Bachelor creator Mike Fleiss announced he’s leaving the franchise after more than two decades.

Zach Shallcross is setting the record straight. Following Monday's season finale of , which saw Zach pop the question to Kaity Biggar, the tech executive is clarifying when he knew his fiancée was the one for him.Zach got Bachelor Nation talking during the live portion of the finale when he denied stringing along his runner-up, Gabi Elnicki, during their last date together, but then told Kaity that she stole his heart for good during their date, which aired before Gabi's.The timeline confusion was a point of contention for franchise fans, but Zach told ET that it can all be explained by one thing — editing.«The beauty of reality TV and editing. It was actually not in that order,» Zach explained, adding that his last date with Gabi actually happened his final date with Kaity, despite how it aired on TV.«I never want there to be this false narrative, but from what I said, it was true,» he said.

SPOILER ALERT! This post contains details from the Season 27 finale of ABC‘s The Bachelor.

Zach Shallcross is all for owning what he did wrong as the Bachelor — but he’s not taking the blame for misleading Gabi Elnicki about when he knew Kaity Biggar was The One.

Mike Fleiss is saying goodbye to Bachelor Nation. The day after aired its season 27 finale, which saw Zach Shallcross get engaged to Kaity Biggar, ET confirms that Fleiss is no longer with the franchise.«First and foremost, congratulations are in order for Zach and Kaity.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior Correspondent “The Bachelor” creator Mike Fleiss is parting ways with the franchise he created more than two decades ago, Variety has learned. Fleiss will be replaced by new showrunners Claire Freeland, Jason Ehrlich and Bennett Graebner, all of whom have long-term ties to “The Bachelor” franchise. The news of Fleiss’ departure comes the day after “The Bachelor” wrapped up its 27th season. “The Bachelorette” heads into Season 20 this summer. “First and foremost, congratulations are in order for Zach and Kaity. I wish them a long and happy life together,” Fleiss says in a statement to Variety, referencing the winning couple from “The Bachelor” Season 27. “I want to thank WBTV and ABC for 21 extraordinary years,” Fleiss’ statement says. “They’ve found the perfect creative team for me to entrust ‘The Bachelor’ franchise and keep this lightening in a bottle bold and moving forward. Let the journey continue.”

Mike Fleiss created The Bachelor franchise over 20 years ago, and has helmed subsequent franchises The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise.

After confronting Zach Shallcross during the Monday, March 27, finale of The Bachelor, Ariel Frenkel is sharing more insight about her overnight date with the season 27 star.

Rachel Recchia knows a thing or two about drama in the fantasy suite with Zach Shallcross. The former Bachelorette sent support for Gabi Elnicki while watching the Monday, March 27, finale.

Zach Shallcross has found his happy ending! On Monday night’s season finale of “The Bachelor“, the 26-year-old tech executive popped the question to Kaity Biggar, a 27-year-old ER nurse.