The longtime Bachelor franchise host opens up about a harrowing close call during filming and what’s ahead for season 22
Jesse Palmer has been through some wild moments in his years hosting the Bachelor franchise, but nothing quite compares to what happened to him on a remote Fijian beach during the filming of The Bachelorette.
The veteran host, who currently oversees The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, and The Golden Bachelorette for ABC, sat down with Parade ahead of the season 22 premiere to reflect on his journey and the moment he thought it might all be over.
A solo beach trip that turned dangerous
During the filming of season 20 of The Bachelorette, which starred Charity Lawson, Palmer ventured out alone to a secluded island after watching Lawson and her eventual fiancé, Dotun Olubeko, enjoy a romantic one-on-one date there. What started as a peaceful solo retreat quickly became life-threatening.
A storm moved in without warning, and the tide began rising rapidly, nearly swallowing the beach entirely. Palmer found himself stranded in the middle of the ocean with no way out and few options other than to tread water and hope a passing boat would spot him. A vessel arrived at the very last moment to check on him.
The experience clearly shook the normally composed host, who admitted his thoughts went to some very dark places before that rescue boat appeared. It’s the kind of incident that puts things in perspective especially for someone whose job it is to help others find love on a remote island.
A love story that survived the storm
There’s a certain irony in Palmer’s near-drowning happening in the same waters where a genuine love story was unfolding. Lawson and Olubeko, the couple whose dreamy island date inspired Palmer’s fateful solo outing, got engaged at the end of the season and are planning to marry later this year. Palmer’s harrowing experience may have unfolded just steps from where they shared one of the most romantic moments of their lives.
Season 22 is moving forward — despite the drama
As Palmer prepares to return to screens for season 22 of The Bachelorette, the show is facing a storm of a different kind. The new season stars Taylor Frankie Paul, a 31-year-old influencer, single mom of three children, and star of Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives making her the first Bachelorette who has no prior history with The Bachelor franchise.
The weeks leading up to the premiere have been turbulent. A domestic violence investigation involving Paul and her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, with whom she shares a 2-year-old son, surfaced just days before the scheduled debut. The Draper City Police Department confirmed the investigation, and TMZ first reported that the incident prompted producers to halt filming on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season 5. Additionally, Cinnabon ended its promotional collaboration with both The Bachelorette and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, citing that recent developments no longer aligned with its brand values.
Despite that controversy, the season is not going anywhere. According to a report from Variety, the investigation will not impact the release schedule or promotional plans for The Bachelorette. Paul has continued promoting the show in New York, appearing on Good Morning America and Live with Kelly and Mark. Reality TV franchises like The Bachelorette have historically continued airing regardless of off-screen drama involving cast members, particularly when episodes have already been filmed.
Palmer himself has described this as unlike any Bachelorette season he has hosted before, crediting Paul’s unfiltered personality and lack of franchise experience for keeping him constantly on his toes throughout production.
Tune in this Sunday
The Bachelorette season 22 premieres Sunday, March 22, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC, and will stream the following day on Hulu.
Source: Parade
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