Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Eric Bigger came in third, if that’s what you want to call it, on this past season of The Bachelorette, winning over millions of hearts in the process, even if one of them wasn’t Rachel Lindsay’s. He skipped out on Bachelor in Paradise to spend the summer traveling across the country giving motivational speeches and selling t-shirts and hats with positive vibes, similar to the ones he brought to the controversial, and yes, dramatic finale of the show earlier this month. When he stopped by our NYC offices, we had to get the scoop on a season of TV that left us with just so, so many questions.
We talked with Eric about dating without cell phones, gaining weight traveling the world, why viewers were obsessed with his family, and what he thinks about being a potential candidate for The Bachelor.
The Eric we met at the beginning of the season was a different Eric by the end. What helped you gain confidence over the course of the season?
I just had to figure out what was going on. I didn’t know what was going on—I was here to find love. There were 31 guys, there was Rachel. Once I figured out, “Okay, I see what’s going on,” it fell into place. Because I gotta know everything. If I don’t, I’m off.
When do you feel like you knew? When did it click for you?
After South Carolina. It just felt like, “Okay, I see what’s going on, I feel it.”
You’ve said that you could tell that Rachel and Bryan had a connection. Was there anyone else, besides yourself, that you really saw her connect with or that you felt was your competition more than others?
Well, I didn’t really see anyone on the show as competition. Honestly, for me it was more about her and myself. I knew she had strong feelings for Dean, I could tell she liked Dean. Peter as well, but you could see more with Dean. Other than that, it was like, Bryan’s the front runner. Everyone could see that. There was no question.
Were you surprised at the reaction when the finale happened?
I think what happened was based on what was showcased, [that’s] why people’s reactions were the way they were. But behind the scenes with us, they had the strong connection—he got the first impression rose, the biggest group date rose, he got a watch. These were signs that she was feeling him. But I think based on what was shot and what people saw, it’s why the reaction was so crazy. She picked him for the right reasons.
Have you kept in touch with her?
I always wanted to know people’s perspective on that, because once the season is over, from May to August, for myself, I didn’t speak to her. I don’t have her number. So I don’t know, it would be weird to speak to her—not weird in a sense that we’re not cool, but she’s in a situation. I spoke to Bryan twice after the final rose, and he’s doing great, that’s my guy. But I wouldn’t have anything to say but “What’s up” you know? It would have no purpose.
How did it feel to be dating without phones?
Great. Great. No distractions.
What about dating now?
Man, it’s different. Because you don’t know people’s intentions now, like, how do you know me? So dating is going to be different than it was prior to the show just because of the TV.
You had such a moment on that finale where your positive vibes came through so hard. What do you attribute that to?
What a lot of people don’t know is that I was so happy. Before I went onstage, I just got this feeling like, “I can’t wait, oh my god, let’s go!” I was really, really happy, to a place where I don’t know if anyone could feel about this show. And prior to that, you saw my exit on the show, it was positive—my life changed, I turned into a better person, I evolved, I learned some things about myself and my family and my friends from this experience. So for me, I was like, “Why would I be mad? What’s there to be mad about?” It wasn’t like I didn’t know I was in a show with other guys, I knew that. So for me it was easy, like, “I get it, it was tough, you move on.”
Since you’re a personal trainer, were you able to work out while you were on the show?
Yeah. Not as much as I wanted to, but I did. When I was in Switzerland, I got big. I was like 200 lbs. I’m like 188-189 now, but I was big. I was eating and drinking so much. When I was in Spain, I was in Spain for almost 12 days, I worked out a lot.
Knowing what you know now about the whole process, is there any reason why you wouldn’t want to be The Bachelor?
I have no thoughts on not doing it. It’s a chance to find love again, or fall in love. For me, I’m big on feelings. So how I feel, my integrity of course, does it make sense, is it in line with what I’m doing. I would be open and honored just because why not? You already know about my life.
How come you didn’t go to Paradise?
Paradise just wasn’t for me. The girls on the first few weeks were Rachel’s friends, and if you saw the mud date, they were all there—Jasmine, Raven, Alexis, Corinne. My experience was probably different than a lot of guys there, but I fell in love, it was deep. I couldn’t just go and be like, “Ah yeah we’re gonna date,” nah. It didn’t fit who I was.
What were you surprised that audiences took away from this past season?
Well, I think for me it was like everyone kept saying, “You’re so genuine, you’re so honest,” like, what are you talking about? This is who I am, so I’m like, “Did I do something different than other people did?” And they were just so amazed by my family, and I’m like, “Okay?” I realize how much I evolved over time. It was great to see things from a different lens and be like, “Oh that’s what people are really like.” But I was just myself and people loved it.
