Heringer will open up to James on Monday night’s Bachelor episode, specifically about her hearing disability. In the deep conversation, Heringer told James she wants to be a mom, but can’t promise her children won’t be born deaf, like herself and her sister.
“I’m also going to be as open with you, obviously, through this process,” Heringer told James in an exclusive clip published by Entertainment Tonight. “You want a wife and you want a family, and you know I want those things too. But if I were to have a family, there’s a really strong possibility that my kids would be deaf.”
She continued. “My birth dad did walk out on my mom and my sister right after we got our cochlear implants,” she said. “When you have what should have been one of the most important people in your life walk out, it’s hard not to feel like, If I fully open up myself to somebody, are they going to do the same thing?”
Spoilers from Reality Steve show Heringer will finish this season in fifth place. That means she will leave right before James takes his final four women on hometown dates. While James may not have been her perfect match, we’re certain, if she’s open to it, Heringer will have a future on the Bachelor franchise.
It’s rare a fan favorite doesn’t return for another season, be it The Bachelorette or Bachelor in Paradise. It seems an obvious choice to invite Heringer to Paradise this summer, should she not be considered for The Bachelorette. But viewers are already hoping the disability advocate will be gifted her own season of the show. Each Monday, Twitter is flooded with requests for Heringer to hand out the roses next season.
Regardless of what the future holds for Heringer, on or off reality television, it’s fair to say she’s made a powerful step in changing the Bachelor franchise. She’s the first openly disabled contestant, and viewers have already applauded both Heringer and ABC for openly airing her story.
Want to know who will win The Bachelor? You can read full spoilers here.
