Where Are the Golden Bachelor Contestants on Bachelor in Paradise?

First and foremost, I am thrilled Bachelor in Paradise is back. It’s the beachy escape we need right now, and given that (1) The Bachelorette is on hiatus this summer, (2) the new season of The Bachelor won’t premiere until early 2026, and (3) who knows what’s happening with Mel Owens’s season of The Golden Bachelor, it’s nice to have something grace our screens for the next couple months.

Of course, Bachelor in Paradise is never without its share of drama. And based on the preview that airs at the end of the first episode, the premiere was just a light appetizer for what’s to come. Remember Clayton’s ex, Susie, who then went on to date Justin? Yep, she’s coming! Also, who can forget Faith, the radio host and animal lover from Washington State who was in Gerry Turner’s top three? She’ll be there too, even though she wasn’t part of the initial cast list released for the Goldens.

Speaking of The Goldens, where the heck are they? I’m not saying it was a waste of my time to watch two hours of Bachelor in Paradise without them (okay, maybe a little). But for a show that’s been constantly promoting their arrival, you’d think they’d be on the property if nothing else. So, where are they? And when are they coming? I tried to get to the bottom of that, plus eight more burning questions about Bachelor in Paradise that need to have answered immediately.

Where are the Golden Bachelor contestants?

Listen, I was all in on this season of Paradise before it was even announced that Kathy and April—one half of the ASKN ladies—would be reuniting. If you’ll recall, they were super close on The Golden Bachelor and seemed to do everything with fellow Goldens Susan and Nancy, but then April fell out of favor—we think?—with the group. Bachelor in Paradise is supposed to be where we’ll finally start to get answers about what happened, or didn’t.

Anyway, it turns out we’re going to have to wait a little bit longer to find out because neither Kathy nor April turned up in the premiere episode. Nor did Keith, Gary, Leslie, Kim, Natascha, or anyone else from the Golden seasons. So what gives?