In a surprising revelation on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast on Wednesday, May 1, Maria Georgas, a fan-favorite from Joey Graziadei's season of "The Bachelor," confirmed that she was initially set to become the next Bachelorette. However, the 29-year-old executive assistant from Ontario ultimately decided to back out of the role due to mental health concerns and feeling overwhelmed by the process.
"I was offered the role. It was mine until I said it wasn't," Maria told podcast host Alex Cooper. "It became very overwhelming to the point where I had to decline." The reality star explained that despite the support from her loved ones and the excitement surrounding her potential lead role, she found herself questioning her own happiness and readiness for the position.
Maria emphasized that her decision to step away from the opportunity was not taken lightly. "It was set in stone. I was in it," she said, revealing that she had even gone through fittings for the show before ultimately declining the offer. "It took me realizing that it's just not my time where I was like, respectfully, I need to decline. I need to take a step back."
The decision to prioritize her mental well-being was a crucial factor in Maria's choice to withdraw from the lead role. "I was not in the right headspace for this," she admitted. "Because I know the extensive process it was to be on the show, right? So having a bunch of guys do the exact same thing and they're there for me, I didn't want to waste anyone's time. It was hard for me to jump right back into it, honestly."
"The Bachelor" star Maria Georgas stops interview to change clothes. pic.twitter.com/sn9JmS9bWT — Page Six (@PageSix) April 30, 2024
Maria's experience on "The Bachelor" had already taken a toll on her mental health, and she recognized that taking on the lead role would have been even more isolating and mentally draining. "What people saw on their screens was only the half of what I kind of went through in the house," she confessed. "Did I have time off before it aired? Yes. But again, everything was so-I was so anxious throughout the whole thing."
Despite her decision to step away from the spotlight, Maria expressed her unwavering support for Jenn Tran, who was ultimately chosen as the next Bachelorette. "She is the most perfect Bachelorette in my eyes," Maria said. "I couldn't think of anyone better to do this. And she was so ready for it and that was enough for me to say, 'Yeah, it's not my time.'"
Maria also addressed the comments made by Wells Adams on his "Your Favorite Things" podcast, where he suggested that she had "expectations" about being the Bachelorette. "It was so disheartening to hear someone who knows this process, knows what they put us through - not what they put us through - but knows how intense it is. You have to be fully committed, [he] knows how mentally draining and physically draining this could be to say something like that ... you don't know me," she responded.
In the end, Maria emphasized the importance of taking time for herself and focusing on her mental well-being. "I just wanted to come back home, back to reality," she said. "As much as I wanted my time off, I also wanted Jenn to have her moment, and she is the most perfect Bachelorette in my eyes."
As Jenn Tran's season of "The Bachelorette" is currently in production and set to premiere on ABC in July, fans eagerly await to see her journey unfold. Meanwhile, Maria Georgas's candid revelation serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing mental health and making decisions that align with one's well-being, even in the face of exciting opportunities.
