A Chicago-area “Bachelorette” contestant is in love … with another contestant.
In a promo clip of Monday’s “Bachelorette” episode, Batavia native Clint Arlis is shown saying he is in love with fellow contestant JJ Lane, a former investment banker from Denver.
“Falling in love with a man never crossed my mind,” said Arlis, 27.
Arlis, an architectural engineer who wrestled for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is also shown telling “Bachelorette” Kaitlyn Bristowe that he “100 percent” has chemistry with her but separately admits he and Lane have “grown very close in the shower.”
Arlis went on the first one-on-one-date with Bristowe, which involved an underwater photo shoot and a rooftop dinner, in this week’s episode.
“It was hard to stay away from her for sure,” Arlis said in this week’s episode about kissing Bristowe.
But now Arlis — whom ABC is calling the “Brokeback Bachelor” — may have doubts.
“I love JJ, so I need the rose tonight,” Arlis is shown saying in the preview clip.
On his Twitter feed, Arlis has been poking fun of the rumors for days.
“If you have to be a #BROKEBACKBACHELOR, Be Heath Ledger. Always be #HeathLedger,” Arlis tweeted Wednesday with a picture of Heath Ledger, who starred in “Brokeback Mountain,” a 2005 drama about two cowboys in love.
“Before I field any ?’s about #BrokebackBachelor rumors I would like 2 just say that I am a proud, 30 yr old woman and its 2015. You monsters,” Arlis tweeted on Tuesday.
“The Bachelorette” airs on ABC on Mondays at 7 p.m.
