It’s still early days inPeter Weber‘s season ofThe Bachelor, butMike Johnsonalready has a lot of thoughts.
During anepisode twowatch party in New York City with Smirnoff Seltzer on Monday, the formerBacheloretteandBachelor in Paradisestar got candid with PEOPLE about his opinions of the new season.
“My thoughts so far [are that] my Texas ladies are representing the great state, Peter looks good with his five o’clock shadow, and … Peter, we know you’re a pilot bro,” joked Johnson, 32, whotweetedduring the three-hour season 24 premiere, “Dope intro, gotta love the Weber family frfr.”
He also revealed that while at his ownBachelorwatch parties, which include attendees “yelling at [the screen],” he texts Weber throughout the show. “Personally, I have the ability to actually text Peter … so that’s what I’m doing. ‘Peter, why’d you do that bro?’ That’s what I’m doing,” he said.
Slaven Vlasic/Getty
Since their time onThe Bachelorette, where Johnson and Weber both competed for Hannah Brown’s heart, the pair have remained good friends.
“[Peter’s] amazing. He’s like my brother. I’m blessed to call him a homie for real. I know the guy, hung out with the guy, went through ups and downs with him,” Johnson told PEOPLE. “So I’m really happy for him and on this season.”
Additionally, the San Antonio, Texas, native offered hisinitial takeawayson this season’s contestants, tweeting Jan. 6, “Lexa waxes; Tammy is a badass; Victoria intro, nuff said; Kelley’s bawse chick; Madison got game; Maurissa’s tough.”
Craig Sjodin/ABC; Maarten de Boer/ABC
Weber’s debut as Bachelor comes more than three months after he was named the next ABC leading man during theBachelor in Paradisereunion in September. Prior to the announcement, fan-favorite Johnson, a portfolio manager, hadbeen a Bachelor contenderand would have made history as the first black man and the first military veteran if chosen.
Fans flocked to social media toexpress their disappointmentin the franchise seemingly passing over Johnson as the next lead, even as the formerBachelorettecontestant said that he did feel that the show “chose the right person for what they want, and there’s nothing wrong with that at all.”
Mike Johnson.Slaven Vlasic/Getty
On Monday, Johnson announced his new partnership with Smirnoff Seltzer, which is the official hard seltzer ofThe Bachelorfranchise.
“Quite honestly … Smirnoff is the best,” he explained. “I mean I’m 32-years-old, I’ve been a fan of Smirnoff for over a decade now, and they have the same values that I have. … I’m all about smiling and loving life and being inclusive and having diversity, and that’s what they’re about [too].”
WATCH: #ChampagneGate: This Viral Moment That Has the Internet Laughing at ‘The Bachelor’
He continued, “It’s fresh, it’s new, it’s light, and those are things that I am as well. … If you’ve seen me onBachelor in Paradise,I’m goofy, I’m light-hearted, and just having a wonderful time.”
Johnson also joked that not even his trainer can criticize him for drinking the seltzer, since “no one’s gonna be mad at me because it only has one carb.”
The Bachelorairs Mondays (8 p.m. ET) on ABC.
source: people.com
