I was in a group Interview with new Bachelorette, Andi Dorfman. She talked about dumping Juan Pablo and now being ready to find love with one of 25 new men on tonight’s premiere of the Bachelorette at 9:30 PM on ABC.
Bachelorette, Andi with Steven
Sadly, one of Andi’s suitors, Eric Hill died after the filming of the show in a horrible accident. You will get to know him throughout the season through his dates with Andi. He was only 32 years old and The Bachelorette show this season will be dedicated to him.
Q: Are there any similar moments, you know, where you kind of you know, give a guy the boot on “The Bachelor” — on “The Bachelorette” or something basically that’s similar to your season, on the season of the “The Bachelorette”?
Andi Dorfman: I think America was probably left with the impression that I was, you know, a tough, no nonsense girl, which is partially true, but I definitely think this season you’re going to see a softer side of me. You know, I think I was a lot more vulnerable than I ever thought I could be and I learned that I’ve got a soft side to me. I’m not going to lie.
Shirtless Juan Pablo with Girls in Bikinis tied up with dogs
Andi Dorfman: I think my dad is definitely more open to the dating process. You know, it’s a different position for him to be in certainly, he doesn’t have his daughter as one of four contestants on this. So it’s definitely different, but my dad’s actually a really reasonable guy and he is going to be reasonable with whoever he meets. So you’ll see a little softer side to him, for sure, but he’s always going to be my dad and always going to be projective.
Q: What kind of guy were you looking for going into the process?
Andi Dorfman: I was definitely looking for a guy that was a family-oriented person, you know, I’m the type of girl that definitely wants a family and that’s important for me to see in a future mate. Also just a guy that’s strong and confident, but he is also able to be vulnerable and to share his emotions with me. I think communication is something I was definitely looking for in a guy coming into this.
Q: How do you know who do trust? Are some guys here for the wrong reasons?
Andi Dorfman: You know, as far as whom to trust, I definitely kind of just went with my instinct. I thought about things, I got to know each and every one of these guys really well before I ever had to eliminate them. So I think I just went with my gut and kind of figured out who was more serious and you know who was ready for all of this.
Q: How is it to meet 25 new guys at once? Did you want to know anything in advance?
Andi Dorfman: I definitely think it’s better to know nothing about these guys. I didn’t want to know a single thing. I didn’t want to know a single name stepping out of that limo because I want everyone to be on a clean slate. Like this is my one opportunity to really do this and do it right and for me that definitely meant not knowing a single thing about a single one of these guys and not even knowing how many were coming the first night.
Q: Without giving too much away, was there a moment or place from the season that really kind of take your breath away or just really stayed with you?
Andi Dorfman: I will say there were definitely some moments and experiences that took my breath away. We visited some unbelievably gorgeous countries, really just romantic and amazing places that I was blown away by absolutely.
Q: Did you understand how hard it was for Juan Pablo now that you’ve been on the other side?
Andi Dorfman: I mean, it’s definitely tougher than I thought. it’s not easy to kind of play host and be responsible for a lot of people. I think I learned a lot last season and my goal this season was really to make sure I knew as much about each and every one of these individuals that I could.
That was something that I took from last season and kind of took it in a positive way. And just make sure I really got to know each of these guys, but it’s definitely tougher on the other side.
Q: I know you’re Jewish would you prefer to meet a Jewish man?
Andi Dorfman: I mean, I’d say I’m definitely proud of my heritage., my family grew up with great cultural and traditional things that we always did and I think that’s so fun to see in another person. To be honesty, I’m really just looking for somebody that’s kind and that I get along with and somebody that kind of completes me.
It doesn’t really matter religiously, belief, I just want a really kind, loving man.
Q: Hi. So one of the red flags with Juan Pablo was that he didn’t ask you about your religion? Did you discuss religion with any of the guys on or off camera?
Andi Dorfman: I definitely did. You know, I discussed a lot of deeper things, you know, religion, social values, political views. I really took the time to dig deeper with these guys and get to know them.
And these are everyday things that are important when it comes to a relationship and the further I long I went, the more comfortable I got with these guys. I think the deeper the conversations got.
Lori Peters: Are you looking for intellectual compatibility opposed to just chemistry this time?
Andi Dorfman: I am definitely looking for intellectual chemistry. You know, I want that physical chemistry, that mental connection, that intellectual connection absolutely. I think that’s part of the whole package and that’s what I’m looking for hopefully in a future husband.
Q: Good. Just wondering, I’m sorry, to bring this up, but how the death of Eric Hill affected you and the filming? Can you talk a little bit about how that happened? How it unfolded?
Andi Dorfman: I mean, obviously, it had a huge effect on all of us. We heard the news and it was just crushing. It’s devastating anytime you lose somebody that you know, and he became a part of our family. You know, everyone thinks that we go through this cast and season and nobody knows each other and we really do become a family.
So we lost a family member and it’s been hard and it was hard on everybody. You know, I think we are holding on to the legacy of Eric. He really did live life to the fullest and that’s something that every single person, cast, crew, production, you know, myself included will take away from Eric and his experience with them.
Q: How did last season on the Bachelor prepare you to be the Bachelorette?
Andi Dorfman: I think my experience last season definitely taught me that this can be a quick process, but you can also use that time to our advantage and really get to know people by just talking to them, speaking to them, asking them questions. You know, I said, from the very first night to the guys like I will be an opened book for you.
I don’t know how this is going to play out, but I promise you that you can ask me any question, nothing is off limits, nothing is you know going to be judge and for me that was the biggest thing. Just allowing every one of the guys to feel like they had an open line of communication and I think that really helped us along the way.
Q: Do you think people gave Juan Pablo too hard a time and did he wish you luck or give you any advice before you started your process?
Andi Dorfman: I don’t know if I feel like people gave him too hard of a time or not. You know, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I saw him obviously after the final rose and he did wish me luck, which was appreciated.
But you know, it’s in the past like I am — I was ready and move past all this and start my own journey and I know that it’s hard to forget Juan Pablo that’s why I was on The Bachelorette. But I’m on my own journey now and I’m excited to kind of move forward. I think we are. I think we are all ready for that.
Q: You were extremely closer with Nikki last season, able to like talk with her about the process that you went through?
Andi Dorfman: I don’t think you will see her on screen, you know, this is something I did on my own. You know, I broke away from last season. This is a new adventure for me and this is something that I did on my own and I’m still in touch with her. She is still a friend of mine and I wish her and Juan Pablo the best of luck.
Q: How hard will it be to watch Eric Hill on the show since his passing?
Andi Dorfman: I mean, it’s a lot of mix emotions and I think we’re all trying to figure out how we handle this. This is obviously something that’s never come up. You know, you can imagine how much shock and devastation everyone felt.
It’s something we never expected. It’s something we can never predict. It’s something that’s really hard on us. I know that we’re all kind of wondering how to play this out. And I know that our number goal and our number one priority is absolutely to respect Eric and to honor his legacy.
You know, it’s important. I don’t want to talk too much about what our initial reactions were. I’d rather spend the time just talking about who Eric was and this is a guy who really lived life to the fullest and inspired all of us. And I think he should be remembered for that versus necessarily how each and every one of us reacted or responded.
Q: Going into the season, did you have any deal breakers, like if he was a smoker? If he didn’t like kids or anything like that? Was there anything that you were just going to immediately be like no I don’t think you’re for me?
Andi Dorfman: I’ll tell you what? I was pretty open. I will say a deal breaker for me is probably if someone just absolutely doesn’t want to have a family. To me like that’s one of my ultimate goals in life and I think that will probably be the deal breaker for me.
Q: Why do you think it’s better not to know about the guys before you meet them?
Andi Dorfman: I think just going in there with a completely opened mind. That was something I asked for in the casting is I want — you know, casting to pick people that I might not ordinarily meet in everyday life.
I might not ordinarily date, you know, as far as the types of guys I dated in the past. So for me that was vital in order to like really, really be open in all of this. I didn’t want to know anything about anyone. I didn’t want to make snap judgments. I wanted to just meet, you know, 25 new guys and go from there.
Q: Was the entire thing, the whole experience of the show and the dating what you thought it would be and if not, how wasn’t it?
Andi Dorfman: I don’t think I could have ever imagined exactly what it would be. It was incredible. I will say that. It was at times definitely more tiring than I had anticipated. It was an amazing experience. I can’t say anything else except for the fact that it was just truly like a once in a lifetime experience for me.
Q: There’s been a few couples that have found love and have their happily ever after from the show, did you receive any advice or inspirational words from any of them?
Andi Dorfman: I actually got to talk to Chris and Des and Catherine and Sean, and After the Final Rose, and well I got some last minute secret advice from them which definitely helps me. It was definitely appreciated.
Q: after going through the process with Juan Pablo on The Bachelorette was there really like a moment where you wanted to give up on the search for love and how did you decide to give it another shot?
Andi Dorfman: Not really, I mean, after the season with Juan Pablo, I obviously didn’t find love, but I still wanted it and that’s exactly the reason that I did The Bachelorette. You know that, that goal of finding the person of my dreams was still open and still out there and The Bachelorette will be a great opportunity to potentially find that
Q: some people like The Rules, ladies believe that things work best when the man is pursuing the woman Do you think there is a better chance of finding love on The Bachelorette than the Bachelor because you’re the one being pursued by other guys?
Andi Dorfman: I mean, I’ll tell you what. As a woman, I’m not going to lie, it feels good for a guy to pursue the girl. I think, you know, it can work either way. I think traditionally we are used to a man approaching a woman, but you know, this is a new era. This is a day in dating and I think the woman can step up to the guy too.
it works both ways and I think ultimately whether or not the woman approaches the guy or the guy goes after the girl, if there is that love, if there is that connection, then it’s going to work.
Q: Is there one piece of helpful advice your family gave you for the show?
Andi Dorfman: Yes, actually before I left for the journey, I got some last final moments with my mom and dad, and my dad’s so great at giving advice and I said, all right, last minute advice give it to me and he looked at me and said pick the right one.
Q: Can you tell us about your feelings like how you felt when the first limo pulled up to the house?
Andi Dorfman: My gosh, my heart was pounding out of my chest the very first night when that first limo pulled up. Standing in front of that house, it was so surreal and I didn’t know if I was going to faint. I didn’t know if I was going to be able to talk and, you know, the first limo pulled up, the first door opened and it was just like, from then on out go time.
Q: what kind of guys have you dated in the past? And have you been in long term relationships mostly?
Andi Dorfman: I’m definitely been more of a long term relationship girl. I dated guys in the past that have great value, great manners, great, you know, levels of respect for me. I’ve always dated kind individuals and we were close with their family and really had a very good experience. I’ve been lucky with the great the guys that I’ve dated in the past.
Q: Hi, again, Andi. So we only get to see the dates and the romance, but how did you stay grounded throughout the whole experience
Andi Dorfman: I definitely worked out as much as I could. You know, it’s go, go all the time. So sometimes I just needed that little work out session to clear my mind and just really not think of anything, put some music on and that was kind of like my moments of solitude.
Lori Peters: How does being a gang prosecutor help you keep these men in line?
Andi Dorfman: (laughs) Definitely you had to ask them some questions. I’d say I just kind of dig a little deeper where I knew there was something behind what they were saying. You know, I definitely try to keep them in line. They were a fun, rowdy group, but they were great group of guys and not so hard to keep in line.
Q: A lot of the bachelorettes end up changing their careers, do you plan on making any changes or do you plan on going back to being a lawyer, a prosecutor?
Andi Dorfman: I worked really hard to get my law degree. I love my job, I’m really grateful that they held my position for me. So no, you know, I love my job, I love what I’m doing for right now.
Q After nearly falling forJuan Pablo in The Bachelor and then seeing such a different side to him in the fantasy suite so late in the game are you worried about that happening again?
Andi Dorfman: Of course, I mean, that was a huge fear of mine, you know, throughout this journey. I felt like I really knew each and every one of these guys that was on this show and that you know, I took the time to get to know them. So even though I was getting to know them, even though I felt like I knew who they were that fear definitely was in the back of my mind.
Q: would you also be willing to move for love, or are you pretty situated in your job in Atlanta?
Andi Dorfman: I love my job in Atlanta and it would take a lot for me to move, but I’m open, you know, I came here to be open. I came on this journey to find love and if love means going somewhere else and that’s the only way to do it then I’m open to do that.
Q: Do you believe in love at first sight?
Andi Dorfman: I think I do believe in love at first sight. I obviously have never had that before, but I’m open, I believe in it. You know, it’s a romantic idea. I think it’s a great idea and who knows?
Andi’s 25 suitors are:
- Andrew, 30, a social media marketer from Culver City, CA
- Bradley, 32, an opera singer from Holland, MI
- Brett, 29, a hairstylist from Westminster, PA
- Brian, 27, a basketball coach from Camp Hill, PA
- Carl, 30, a firefighter from Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Chris, 32, a farmer from Arlington, IA
- Cody, 28, a personal trainer from Chicago, IL
- Craig, 29, a tax accountant from Denver, CO
- Dylan, 26, an accountant from Boston, MA
- Emil, 33, = (He said his name was anal with an M) a helicopter pilot from Costa Mesa, CA
- Eric Hill, 31, an explorer from Citrus Heights, CA
- Jason, 35, an urgent care physician from Sturgeon Bay, WI
- J J, 30, a Pantsapreneur from San Francisco, CA
- Josh B., 29, a telecommunication marketer from Denver, CO
- Josh M., 29, a former professional baseball player from Atlanta, GA
- Marcus, 25, a sports medicine manager from Dallas, TX
- Marquel, 26, a sponsorship salesman from Las Vegas, NV
- Mike, 29, a bartender from Alta, UT
- Nick S., 27, a professional golfer from Kissimmee, FL
- Nick V., 33, a software sales executive from Chicago, IL
- Patrick, 29, an advertising executive from Newport Beach, CA
- Ron, 28, a beverage sales manager from Memphis, TN
- Rudie, 31, an attorney from Long Beach, CA
- Steven, 30, a snowboard product developer from Encinitas, CA
- Tasos, 30, a wedding event coordinator from Denver, CO
More on the Bachelorette
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