The Bachelorette

Rachel Lindsay's runner-up on "The Bachelorette" won't say for sure if he's next to hand out roses for love -- but he's giving us strong signals he might be.

We got Peter Kraus -- a fan fave who wouldn't take a knee for Rachel this season -- and asked if rumors that he's the next 'Bachelor' carry any weight.

He doesn't necessarily confirm it, but he doesn't straight-up deny either, and even dishes on which of his buds would make a good one (even though it's probably irrelevant).

You be the judge, though ... he didn't have to blink. Seems like he could fulfill that high school wish of his after all.

Rachel Lindsay musta been one helluva 'Bachelorette' -- 'cause she can be with her fiance and her exes from the show in one room ... sans any awkwardness.

Rachel and her hubby-to-be, Bryan Abasolo, celebrated their engagement in Miami Beach Saturday night at a little place called Bodega Taqueria y Tequila ... with 3 other contestants from her season tagging along for the ride.

William Gaskins, Matt Munson and Josiah Graham all came out to rage with the couple. We're told there are no hard feelings ...pretty obvious from the chumminess.

Rachel, Bryan and the rest of the gang fired up the festivities at midnight and went until 3 AM -- with the help of 3 bottles of vodka and a bill totaling $1,500.

To marriage ... and people we used to date.

Rachel Lindsay must know it's just a matter of time before the world loses interest in her season of "The Bachelorette" ... so she's milking the spotlight.

Rachel and her new fiance, Bryan Abasolo, were swarmed by paps Tuesday as they arrived at the BUILD studio in NYC ... and they took their sweet time to suck face for the cameras.

In her defense, Rachel's season finale was Monday night -- so it makes sense she'd be making the rounds, posing at all the stops along the way.

Still, this display of affection is a bit too on the nose for us not to cringe. Congrats, though ... here's hoping they're couple #6 to actually tie the knot for 'Bachelor' Nation.

Eric Bigger is the exact opposite of heartbroken after getting rejected by Rachel Lindsay on the finale of "The Bachelorette" ... in fact, he almost seems a little too happy.

We got Eric Monday night at Catch after Rachel's new fiancee, Bryan Abasolo, was revealed to 'Bachelor' Nation, and he says his heart is stronger after the show. He also talks race and defends Rachel's final choice.

As for his rejuvenated heart ... Eric explained it on the show, saying Rachel helped him experience love for the first time, which made him grow up big-time.

His epic beard has helped a lot too, apparently. The real question ... next 'Bachelor'?

Rachel Lindsay likes her fiancee the way she likes her coffee -- Colombian, and there to wake her up in the mornings ... which is why she chose Bryan on "The Bachelorette" finale.

Rachel gave contestant Bryan Abasolo the final rose during Monday night's final episode of the season, cutting both Eric Bigger and Peter Kraus in the process -- the last black and white guys on the show, respectively.

Eric took his elimination like a champ, all things considered. He even got let go before Peter, who's been having serious commitment issues all season ... but bowed out in grace.

As for Peter ... he kept it painfully real. Basically, he didn't want to get engaged to someone he just got to know and fell in love with over 2 months. Bryan clearly did.

"The Bachelorette" did not allow the "Whaboom" guy to go out with a bang ... and he thinks everyone is worse off for it.

Lucas "Whaboom" Yancey tells TMZ ... he put a lot of work into a performance for the 'Men Tell All' episode Monday night, and it was a "mistake" for ABC not to air it. He feels the reunion show for contestants who vied for Rachel Lindsay's love was way too heavy ... and could have used his song for levity.

The good news -- or just the news -- is someone recorded Mr. Whaboom doing his thing in front of the live audience. So you can see for yourself what he thinks would have boosted ratings.

Rachel Lindsay finally called out "Bachelorette" contestant Lee Garrett for racist and misogynistic tweets he put out before his time on the show ... and he owned up to it.

Rachel confronted Lee on Monday night's "Men Tell All" episode before next week's finale, and she got to address what a lot of the country has already taken notice of in recent weeks ... that Lee has had some pretty controversial thoughts on Twitter.

One specific tweet that had everyone fired up was posted by Lee last summer which read ... "What's the difference between the NAACP and the KKK? One has a sense of shame to cover their racist ass faces."

Luckily, the meeting ended peacefully -- with Rachel saying she hoped this experience would better Lee as a person.

As for him ... he apologized to Rachel and the rest of the guys, and got some love in return.

Rachel Lindsay might be falling head over heels for contestant Bryan Abasolo on "The Bachelorette" ... but her family sure ain't.

Rachel brought her remaining 3 suitors to meet her fam on Monday's episode, but when it came to Bryan ... mom and co. were quick to call out his glib answers and arguably premature proclamation of love.

It's a pretty awkward interaction -- they grill him with fairly reasonable questions ... and the dude just folds, even excusing himself from the table (and the interview).

Rachel Lindsay got treated to a harsh truth on "The Bachelorette" from one of her favorite suitors ... with him telling her he won't propose if he isn't ready.

Fan fave contestant Peter Kraus got brutally honest with Rachel on Monday night's episode -- first telling her a super sad story about his last girlfriend, and then saying if he felt any doubt about proposing come game time ... he would let her know.

It's a bold move on Peter's part -- she could've cut him right then and there. Lucky for him, Rachel seemed to appreciate the truth more than the possibility of being left hanging by the end of the show ... and she gave him a rose.

Rachel will be meeting Peter's fam next week ... and those of at least a couple other contestants.

DeMario Jackson is not only willing ... he's eager to appear on a "Bachelor in Paradise" reunion show so he can hug all his former castmates who privately supported him over Corinne Olympios' sexual assault allegations.

DeMario was at Toast in L.A. Saturday and he clearly holds no grudges. Listen to him describe his feelings for Corinne ... this after she came on strong that she did not have the capacity to consent to a sexual escapade with DeMario in a swimming pool.

Rachel Lindsay got rid of all the black suitors on Tuesday's episode of 'The Bachelorette' except one ... but even he doesn't think race had anything to do with it.

We spoke with Eric Bigger, who's the last standing African-American contestant vying for Rachel's heart this week -- and he doesn't think love has anything to do with color ... and thinks Rachel sees it the same way.

Sounds like a big change of attitude from Monday night's episode, where he pointed out most of Rachel's one-on-one dates were with non-black guys. However, he claims producers twisted his words ... and he really doesn't feel like race is a factor.

Check out his rationale on why he thinks Rachel broke down last week over racial pressure. He's got an interesting take.

The cast of "Bachelor in Paradise" now has a VERY close relationship with the crew under the show's new rules. The question is, business as usual, or the new normal?

Contestants were hanging poolside at the Mexican resort where 'BiP' resumed filming after the DeMario Jackson/Corinne Olympios sex scandal. It's plain as day .. cameramen and producers are hovering like flies over their stars.

We broke the stories ... 'BiP' showrunners have implemented strict new rules for the cast, including a 2 drink maximum per hour, a sweep for illegal drugs ... and having to get permission from producers before hooking up.

Rachel Lindsay is putting herself out there for love on "The Bachelorette" -- literally, she's hanging 187 feet in the air for it ... where make out sessions are NOT off limits.

Rachel went rappelling off a super high structure in Oslo, Norway with suave contestant Bryan Abasolo during Monday night's episode -- and on the way down, they took a break to suck a little face ... very, very loudly.

DeMario Jackson -- the guy who had oral sex with Corinne Olympios during filming of "Bachelor in Paradise" -- is done with the show.

Sources close to DeMario tell TMZ he's suffered from anxiety over the scandal after living under a cloud of suspicion for a week. He's even started seeing a therapist. And, he's upset because his name will now forever be linked to a sex scandal, even though Warner Bros. essentially concluded he did nothing wrong.

We're told DeMario claims producers spoke to his lawyer and invited him back on the show, but he's done. Other sources dispute that he was invited back and say no decision has been made.

We're told DeMario now wants to ditch reality TV for a career as an on-air personality.

Rachel Lindsay was brought to tears on "The Bachelorette" ... and it was mostly about her inner struggle with being the first black woman calling the shots on the long-running series.

There's been A LOT of fighting and bickering among Rachel's guys this season, and that definitely was part of her breakdown -- but on Monday night's episode, she made it clear racial pressure is weighing heavy on her.

Rachel insinuates she's going to catch heat from the black community for some of her rose ceremony choices.

Corinne Olympios and her BF are putting up a united front during her "Bachelor in Paradise" sex scandal with DeMario Jackson ... even if they're not talking about it.

Corinne grabbed some lunch Saturday in L.A. with Jordan Gielchinsky, carrying on like your average couple ... even though their situation is anything but. Both were mum on Corinne's next move.

We broke the story ... Jordan is standing by Corinne in the midst of the investigation over her sexual encounter with fellow "BiP" contestant DeMario -- despite agreeing she wouldn't hook up on the show. Corinne says she was out of it and it wasn't consensual.

Classic move by a good beau.