Rachel Bilson squashed dating rumors with The Bachelor’s Nick Viall, implying instead that she wants him to be the next Bachelor. Viall and Bilson have been dogged by rumors that they are more than just friends ever since 2019 when they began posting flirty comments on each other’s social media pages and were spotted out at dinner with friends.
Bilson gave an exclusive interview to Us Weekly December 5 where she set the record straight about her relationship with The Bachelor bad boy. She noted that the two are strictly platonic. However, fans of the celebrity couple have had plenty of reason to speculate otherwise. Back in July 2019, Bilson appeared on his podcast, Viall Files. Rumors of romance quickly spread due to their chemistry with each other. By September, it seemed as if The O.C. actress appeared completely smitten; she and friend/co-star Jamie King teased at a relationship existing, while staying mum about the details. Soon, Viall was being linked to another pretty “friend.” Speculation that he was secretly involved with Demi Burnett from Bachelor in Paradise arose when a fan posted details that Burnett was spotted leaving Viall’s apartment with him. He vehemently denied the rumors of a fling or something more with Burnett. However, in November, he also delivered a definitive denial of a relationship with Bilson, telling Us Weekly that he was still on a quest to find Ms. Right.
Bilson has taken the high road, continuing to promote their friendship, while supporting his various career opportunities. When asked if Viall should take another swing at The Bachelor, Bilson was hopeful. “He should,” she said. “He’s very entertaining. I tease him about it, but I don’t think he would ever do it.”
He has, however, kept his name in the Bachelor franchise lexicon. Viall was a finalist on Andi Dorfman’s season of The Bachelorette. She ultimately left him for baseball pro Josh Murray. Viall kept his heart open, making play for Kaitlyn Bristowe in season 11, only to succumb to the same fate of being rejected in the finale. Finally, producers saw fit to give Viall his own season of the show as the titular ladies man in 2017. He romanced Raven Gates, Rachel Lindsay, and Vanessa Grimaldi, with whom he was engaged for nine months.
Despite their assertions to the contrary, there seems to have been more than just a platonic friendship between Bilson and Viall. As a mother to a 5-year-old daughter, she probably had to take things a bit slower than she would have if she weren’t a mom. Viall also had some rather embarrassing rejections on national television, which may have left him feeling a bit shy to speak openly about finding love, post-Bachelor series. In either case, if they want to keep their love low-key, then good for them.
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Source: Us Weekly
