Ashley Iaconetti is stepping back into the reality TV spotlight — but this time, she says it’s a completely different experience.
The Real Housewives of Rhode Island star revealed she didn’t hesitate to return to television, calling reality TV something she has “always loved.” Still, joining a Housewives franchise came with a very different level of commitment compared to her time on The Bachelor.
“The opportunity to do ‘The Bachelor’ gave me my entire life, my family, my career,” Ashley shared in an interview with Variety, adding that she was always open to returning if the right opportunity came along.
But RHORI wasn’t an automatic yes.
Ashley admitted she and her husband, Jared Haibon, spent over a month debating whether to join the show, knowing how disruptive reality TV can be.
“This franchise is so much different… it’s filmed in your own home, with your family,” she explained, noting how much more intertwined it is with real life. “We were in such a happy place, and we were like, ‘Do we jump into this again?’”
Ultimately, she decided she’d rather take the risk than miss the experience.
“The Drama Affected Me More Than Anything”
While Ashley felt comfortable being back on camera, she said the biggest shock wasn’t filming — it was the intensity of the cast dynamics.
“I probably felt more at home than the rest of the cast,” she said. “It didn’t feel as invasive as I thought it would be.”
What did affect her?
“The drama.”
Ashley compared the experience to her time on The Bachelor, where she says contestants generally get along — something she quickly realized was not the case on RHORI.
“I’ve never seen people communicate with each other in the way I experienced this summer,” she said. “Seeing women scream at each other, point fingers in their faces… I couldn’t believe it.”
She even teased that the arguments will leave viewers stunned.
“There’s going to be a lot of eye-bulging moments like, ‘Oh my God, I cannot believe she said that.’”
Feeling Like an Outsider
Coming into a cast with years of history proved to be intimidating.
Ashley described herself as an “extroverted introvert” and admitted she often felt uncomfortable jumping into conflicts she wasn’t part of.
“I felt like if I were to ever jump into it, it would be inappropriate,” she explained.
Despite hearing plenty of rumors about the women beforehand — thanks to mutual connections — her first impressions didn’t always match expectations.
She admitted she was initially nervous to meet Jo-Ellen Tiberi due to her reputation, but was surprised by how friendly she actually was. Meanwhile, she found Liz McGraw just as intimidating as expected — at first.
“I Didn’t Deliver the Drama”
Unlike many Housewives, Ashley says she didn’t bring the chaos — and she knows fans might notice.
“I’m so convinced that people are going to be disappointed in me from Bachelor Nation,” she admitted. “I actually did not deliver the drama.”
Instead, she found herself more of an observer.
“I’m a witness to all this drama, and that in part is funny.”
Ashley also joked that her emotional reactions — often involving tears — remain her signature.
“If somebody is coming at me, I just try to explain myself through tears,” she said.
On Marriage, Motherhood — and Being “Too Stable”
Ashley also opened up about her home life, insisting she and Jared don’t have “skeletons in the closet.”
“We’re in a really stable part of our relationship,” she said.
That said, filming while raising two young kids wasn’t easy — especially with a challenging first year for her youngest child.
“If it seems like motherhood is stressing me out, it’s because it was,” she admitted.
Her Take on Taylor Frankie Paul
Ashley also weighed in on the controversy surrounding Taylor Frankie Paul and her paused season of The Bachelorette.
While she called the situation “nuanced,” Ashley made it clear she believes production ultimately made the right call.
“Overall, it’s a good thing that they didn’t go forth with the season,” she said.
She pointed to the seriousness of the situation surrounding Taylor, including widely discussed incidents, saying:
“That wasn’t an appropriate role for her to fill, and probably was not something that she was mentally, emotionally ready to take on.”
Ashley also noted that Taylor’s complicated relationship history — particularly involving Dakota — made the situation even more complex heading into a potential season.
What to Expect This Season
As for what’s ahead on Real Housewives of Rhode Island, Ashley teased shifting alliances and unexpected twists.
“Some of the girls that you see not getting along initially will end up getting along, and vice versa,” she said.
But one thing she’s sure of?
Nothing she experienced on The Bachelor — or even Bachelor in Paradise — compares to what went down this summer.
