Bachelorette Spoilers: Is Tayshia's Ex-Husband Actually Going To Appear In Season 16?

tayshia adams the bachelorette season 16 abc
(Image credit: ABC)

Warning: potential major spoilers ahead for Tayshia Adams' season of The Bachelorette.

Tayshia Adams has only just made her debut as the second Bachelorette leading lady of Season 16, but she already has a frontrunner, and now new rumors indicate that she may be in for a blast from the past with a visit from her ex-husband. The rumors started after an eagle-eyed fan on TikTok noticed something peculiar in official ABC subtitles, and the situation snowballed from there. Here's what we know.

TikTok user bigmoodbayley caught something unexpected while watching a promo for Tayshia's season of The Bachelorette, posted on the official Bachelorette Twitter account. While the audio was mostly voiceovers proving that a whole lot of drama is on the way (as per usual in Bachelor Nation), the subtitles attributed one quote to somebody named Josh Bourelle, who is none other than Tayshia's ex-husband. The voiceover credited to Bourelle said "It's only a matter of time before she realizes the truth."

Does this mean that Josh Bourelle is going to show up on The Bachelorette to create a mess for Tayshia Adams? There's no question that the arrival of her ex would result in some emotions running high. During her one-on-one date with Brendan Morais in the latest episode, Tayshia admitted that she had been married before, and she lost herself in her marriage. She also said that there was infidelity "and other issues" on her ex's part. That said, we shouldn't be too hasty in assuming that Bourelle really is going to make an appearance, subtitles aside.

Spoiler guru Reality Steve addressed the rumors that Josh Bourelle is going to appear on The Bachelorette via Instagram Live, and he couldn't confirm or deny that Bourelle shows up. While that might seem like a thin argument that Bourelle's appearance isn't a sure thing, it's worth noting that Reality Steve is a top source for very reliable Bachelor Nation spoilers, and Bourelle showing up would be a big deal. It seems like something Reality Steve would have known about and spoiled. He hasn't held back from dropping big reveals in the past.

Besides, assuming that Josh Bourelle will appear based on Twitter video subtitles isn't the strongest case either, even if it is compelling. Fans may just have to wait for confirmation. Considering how long ABC took to even officially confirm Tayshia coming into replace Clare Crawley despite that twist being spoiled months before The Bachelorette Season 16 premiered, I'm guessing that fans are in for a wait unless Reality Steve comes up with an answer.

Personally, I'm actually leaning toward Josh Bourelle showing up, since the subtitle seems like it could have been footage pulled from an episode that had already been completed and captioned, with the unlucky promo editor accidentally leaving the name in. As for Reality Steve not having any information, it's possible that Bourelle could appear via Zoom video, so the spoiler guru wouldn't have missed anything about Bourelle arriving or leaving. That said, I'm hoping that Bourelle won't show up, just for Tayshia's sake. She might already be in for some major heartbreak without her ex in the mix!

Find out with new episodes of The Bachelorette, airing Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. For more viewing options now and in the coming months, be sure to check out our 2020 fall TV premiere schedule and our 2021 winter and midseason premiere guide.

Laura Hurley
Senior Content Producer

Laura turned a lifelong love of television into a valid reason to write and think about TV on a daily basis. She's not a doctor, lawyer, or detective, but watches a lot of them in primetime. CinemaBlend's resident expert and interviewer for One Chicago, the galaxy far, far away, and a variety of other primetime television. Will not time travel and can cite multiple TV shows to explain why. She does, however, want to believe that she can sneak references to The X-Files into daily conversation (and author bios).