Kaitlyn Bristowehas some strong opinions about Mike Fleiss.
During an interview with comedian Nikki Glaser on the latest episode ofTalkhouse Podcast, the former Bachelorette took aim at the creator ofThe Bachelorfranchise after the topic ofDancing with the Starswas brought up.
“They won’t let me [go on the show], ever,” Bristowe claimed. “I’ll tell you exactly why I can’t go onDancing with the Stars. Anybody that listens to this podcast knows why I cannot go onDancing with the Stars. And it’s because, and I will say this with a mic in my hand and a smile on face, that Mike Fleiss is a piece of s—. He is the creator ofThe Bachelor, and he hates women.”
Andrew H. Walker/Getty; John Fleenor via Getty
“Actually I was offered it, had the contract & Mike Fliess [sic] told me I wasn’t allowed,” she tweeted in 2017 afterThe Bachelor‘sNick Viall(who placed second on her season) was cast on season 24 ofDWTS. “He said he didn’t want people wanting fame after his show.”
Fleiss responded at the time, tweeting: “@kaitlynbristowe has my total support if she wants to appear on DWTS!!!”
“Thanks I’ll get right on that opportunity 2 yrs ago,” Bristowe fired back. “I wonder what changed your mind?”
So far, four Bachelors have competed onDWTS:Jake Pavelka,Sean Lowe,Chris Soulesand Viall. The only Bachelorettes to have competed are Trista Sutter during the show’s very first season in 2005 andHannah Brown, who is currently competing on season 28. (FormerBachelorcontestant Melissa Rycroft also competed on season 8 and season 15, taking home the Mirrorball trophy her second time around.)
In a statement toEntertainment Tonightafter Brown’sDWTScasting was announced, Bristowe said she “couldn’t be more excited” for her.
“I’ve spoken out in the past about how Bachelorettes haven’t gotten the same love as Bachelors when it comes to the chance to complete in the ballroom,” she said. “The fact that it’s finally happening again for a female franchise lead is long overdue. I will be watching, glass of wine in hand, and cheering her on.”
OnTalkhouse Podcast, Bristowe alleged, “So [Fleiss] lets all the Bachelors go on and the only reason he let Hannah go on this season ofDancing with the Starsis because — well, I hope I had something to do with it, that I said something — but because he’s in hot water because there’s some s— that came out on him abusing his wife. So he’s like, ‘Look at me, I love women.’ As long as he’s in power with ABC, I will never get on that show.”
Fleissdenied Kaeppeler’s allegationsin his own declaration and requested primary custody of their 4-year-old son, Ben.
At the time, a spokesperson for Warner Bros. told PEOPLE in a statement, “We are aware of these serious allegations, and are looking into them.”
Desiree Navarro/WireImage
According toTMZ, the former couplereached a divorce settlementlater that month, awarding Kaeppeler $10 million and granting each of them 50/50 physical and legal custody of their son. Kaeppeler dropped her domestic violence case as part of the settlement, TMZ reported.
Legal representatives for Fleiss did immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment at the time.
Dancing with the Starsairs Mondays (8 p.m. ET) on ABC.
If you suspect domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go tothehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
source: people.com
