Will Katie Be The Next ‘Bachelorette’? Escort-gate Prompts Casting Plea

“The Bachelor” contestant Katie Thurston made quite the impression during the show’s premiere, showing up to meet lead Matt James with a vibrator in hand. But four episodes in, she’s since become a fan favorite.

After ABC aired the latest Season 25 installment on Monday night, which saw several of the original cast members bully the cast’s five newcomers and Katie defend them, fans are now flocking to social media to tout their support for Katie to be the next “The Bachelorette” lead.

During the installment, Michelle Young, Brittany Galvin, Catalina Morales, Kim Li, and Ryan Clator arrived at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort to join the 2021 cast of women fighting for Matt’s affections. Their arrival rattled the remaining 18 women and caused some to spread rumors about their newfound competition.

READ: Does Matt Get Engaged To [Spoiler] On 'The Bachelor'? Winner Update

Mid-episode, contestant Anna Redman made it known that she had been warned Brittany was possibly an "escort" and "entertaining men for money" in their home city of Chicago. This news quickly spread amongst the cast. Katie, worried about Brittany’s reputation post-show, made her concerns known to Matt and asked him to address the bullying in the house.

While fans have yet to see his response to the bullying accusations, ABC’s preview for episode 5 shows some of his comments to his castmates. "If you're having to belittle someone else for you to shine then, those aren't the qualities I'm looking for in my wife," he says.

Over on social media, fans are praising Katie for her actions on the show and are calling on ABC to make the 29-year-old Washington native their next lead.

“Is anyone feeling Katie for the Bachelorette?” one fan wrote on Twitter post-show.

“Calling it right now. Katie will be the next the Bachelorette,” another viewer posted.

“Katie doing what is right and not tolerating women hating on each other is why I want her for the next Bachelorette,” another person tweeted.

Spoiler king Reality Steve has yet to reveal who ABC is eyeing for the next “The Bachelorette” gig but did comment in a Jan. 20 blog post that Katie appeared better suited for ABC's other Bachelor Nation spinoff, “Bachelor in Paradise.”

“I think she’s more suited for ‘Paradise,’ but I’m pretty sure Katie finishes like 10th or 11th in that range. I can’t see them making someone who finished that low the 'Bachelorette.' She’d definitely be the first that’s for sure,” he wrote.

“The Bachelor” fans can follow Katie's journey Mondays at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.