Kaitlyn Bristowe Says Men Were ‘Not Impressed’ By Nick Viall’s Return On ‘The Bachelorette’

The men on this year’s Bachelorette had better like twists. They came on to the show uncertain whether their first-choice of romantic partner, Kaitlyn Bristowe or Britt Nilsson, would actually end up giving out roses. Once Kaitlyn had the role, things seemed to proceed normally until a ghost from Bachelorette seasons past, Nick Viall, decided to show up.

Nick will make his debut on Monday night. In an interview conducted with E! after the season premiere, Kaitlyn Bristowe described her suitors’ reactions at the news a previous Bachelorette finalist — he got to the fantasy suite dates with Andi Dorfman and famously revealed during the After the Final Rose special what happened between them — would be a new source of competition.

“They were confused, shocked, some were really supportive. [Some said] we’re all here to make you happy and if this is something that could potentially be your happily ever after, you have to explore that. For the majority of them, they were not impressed. Understandably.”

In an interview last year with ABC Viall expressed a desire to move on after Andi’s rejection.

E! revealed Wednesday that Kaitlyn and Nick had a friendship before Kaitlyn was The Bachelorette. He’d watched her on The Bachelor and admired her directness. Their friendship blossomed, despite the fact that they had never met in-person until Viall showed up on The Bachelorette to try to win her heart.

A source told E! that Viall did not want to interfere with Kaitlyn’s happiness if another man was right for her. But he opted to let his affections for her be known.

“He decided he wanted to do the show and pursue her. His attitude was, you only have one life. But he weighed the decision seriously. There was a lot of deliberating. If she had started to develop feelings for someone else, he didn’t want to ruin it for her. He genuinely cares for her and wants her to be happy.”

Nick made gossip news in early March, as he was spotted in a bar with Dorfman just after she announced she had broken up with Josh Murray, whom she’d chosen over Viall on The Bachelorette. Andi denied she and Viall were together romantically, saying he was “100 percent single.”

In addition to Nick Viall’s appearance, Monday’s episode of The Bachelorette will include a resolution to the “Clint-hanger,” as Bristowe termed it on her blog for People. Last week’s installment saw Kaitlyn ready to ditch Clint Arlis whom many men in the mansion had accused of being two-faced.

The Bachelorette airs on ABC.

[Nick Viall photo courtesy of ABC.com]