When the cast of the Bachelor: Winter Games spinoff was revealed, it was exciting to see some familiar faces such as Ben Higgins, Ashley Iaconetti, and Dean Unglert representing Team USA. Fans couldn’t help but notice, though, that Bachelorette star Peter Kraus, who Bachelor creator Mike Fleiss said would be participating, was missing from the list. Now, Kraus is opening up about why he’s not in the lineup, claiming that he was never officially asked to join.
“They didn’t choose me to be on Winter Games,” Kraus recently told ET. He said that he was asked if he would be interested in appearing — which he was — but that the official offer never came.
So, what about that famous tweet from Fleiss that seemed to state otherwise? “[He] has said a lot of things through his Twitter over time that are maybe pushing a little bit or misleading in certain ways,” Kraus said. “I think it’s just him trying to get to know the audience [and] figure out what he personally wants to do with the show.”
Yes, Peter will be looking for love– and going for the gold– on #TheBachelor Winter Games!!!!
— Mike Fleiss (@fleissmeister) October 5, 2017
It’s no secret that the Bachelor boss loves to keep fans of the show on the edge of their seats through his Twitter account, either by teasing big reveals or posting cryptic clues about the show. In the end, though, Kraus is actually relieved that he didn’t make the cut. “I’m terrible at winter sports,” he admitted to ET. “Like brutally, brutally terrible.”
Kraus hasn’t been in a rush to get back to the reality TV game since coming in as the runner-up on Rachel Lindsay’s season of TheBachelorette. He opted not to be the season 22 Bachelor and says that appearing on Dancing With the Stars (as some other Bachelor Nation stars have done) isn’t for him at this time.
“I am very happy [with my life now], and getting thrust back into the public spotlight like that would be hard,” he told ET. “There’s a lot of people watching, a lot of people with opinions and pressure.” But that doesn’t mean we’ll never see him make a return to reality TV. “There’s always a possibility,” he said. “I don’t like to rule out anything 100 percent.”
Are you bummed that Peter Kraus won’t be on Bachelor: Winter Games? Let us know @BritandCo.
(photo via ABC/Craig Sjodin)