June 29, 2021 • bachelor insider
Why 'The Bachelorette's' Mike P. Felt Compelled to Speak Up for the Men Amid Karl Drama
Mike P. stopped by “Bachelor Happy Hour” to chat with Becca Kufrin and guest co-host Tayshia Adams about his experience competing for Katie Thurston’s heart on “The Bachelorette” Season 17.
During his interview, the handsome gym owner explained why he felt compelled to speak up for the men in the house amid the drama surrounding contestant Karl. As viewers will recall, Mike interrupted Week 3’s Rose Ceremony to let Katie know that he and his castmates didn’t trust Karl after he incited conflict by making unfounded claims that some suitors weren’t there for the right reasons. Katie listened to Mike’s concerns and ultimately sent Karl home.
“What I wanted Katie to understand is I wasn’t there just to receive a rose. I wanted her to understand, ‘I will risk everything for you if that means that you’re going to get your person — whether that’s me or not,’” Mike told Becca and Tayshia.
“It wasn’t just me that felt that way. All the guys were like, ‘Hey, this is something where it’s taking away from the love that she’s searching for and it’s our job to make sure that all those distractions are gone so that she can have the space to find that for herself,’” he continued. “She is a strong woman where she’s not going to put up with anything. But there’s certain things she shouldn’t have to deal with that we could take care of in-house. And I think that was a moment that kind of showed we’re going to do that.”
Mike said that circumstances “aligned” for him to be the one to speak out — though he insists other guys were eager to express their thoughts about Karl to Katie.
“I think the consensus was, like, ‘OK, whoever feels comfortable can go up there and say it.’ It just aligned where I was the one who was like, ‘Listen, it hasn’t been said yet but this is what’s going on and I think it’s something that we should do,’” Mike recalled. “And then after, the guys were like, ‘Hey man, good on you.’ But there were some great men in there who would have done the same thing. I just think it aligned where that was my time to do it.”
Listen to the latest edition of “Bachelor Happy Hour” below.
“The Bachelorette” airs Mondays on ABC at 8 p.m. ET.
