Ariana Madix‘s highly-anticipated appearance on Will Trent featured many fun Easter eggs — and even some Dancing With the Stars shade.
During the Tuesday, February 25, episode of the hit ABC show, Ariana, 39, played a heightened version of herself who hired Michael Ormewood (played by Jake McLaughlin) as unarmed security for an intervention she was holding for a friend.
Michael, however, turned out to be a big fan of her work — and was even hoping for his Bodyguard moment. (The 1992 film starred Kevin Costner as a bodyguard for a famous actress played by Whitney Houston.)
“I am wasting my weekend in a suit while babysitting a promo party or a press tour or an announcement of a really cool new project or an elite dinner with reality TV royalty,” he said, before admitting he was very familiar with the reality star. “I know how to keep it professional.”
Michael quickly realized his weekend gig wasn’t what he expected when a fight broke out at the intervention because Ariana’s friend didn’t want treatment. Instead, the friend tried to fight with Michael over some of her cocaine, which led to the police officer getting maced. Michael also dislocated his shoulder after being body slammed.
Luckily, Ariana had a wide variety of skills to aid the situation, including being a certified EMT. She later revealed she was skilled in speaking several languages — including Mandarin and Cantonese — and took Bronze in a parkour contest in addition to being a black belt in judo.
Ariana and Michael ultimately ended up at a bar looking for her friend. It was there that they started to open up about their personal life, with Michael referencing his divorce, to which Ariana noted, “I know all about bad breakups.”
Michael chose that opportunity to declare himself “Team Ariana” in reference to her ex-boyfriend Tom Sandoval‘s 2023 cheating scandal. After admitting he was a fan, Michael shared his hot take on her Dancing With the Stars stint.
“You did great on Dancing With the Stars — they robbed you by the way,” he noted. “That cha cha you did was chef’s kiss.”
Ariana joked that she didn’t end up winning during season 32 because “Carrie Ann hated” her. “Oh, I could tell,” Michael quipped.
Several Vanderpump Rules stars have stepped away from the Bravo series over the years. Cameras started following the staff at Lisa Vanderpump’s West Hollywood restaurant SUR in 2012 after she rose to fame on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Season 1 of Pump Rules, which premiered in January 2013, starred Lisa, Stassi Schroeder, Jax […]
The duo’s sweet moment was interrupted when they were forced to save Ariana’s friend from several drug dealers. With Ariana’s help, Michael knocked most of them out but then she needed his assistance when her shoe got stuck. Michael ultimately got his Bodyguard moment when he carried Ariana out of the building as romantic music played in the background.
At the end of the episode, Ariana and Michael realized they needed to part ways. “You are a fun date,” Ariana told Michael. “I know you are still getting over your ex and speaking from experience — and as the host of a dating show — sometimes you just have to get back out there.”
Ariana and Michael shared a steamy kiss before she left for Singapore. Her last words to Michael were about how he is “every girl’s Bodyguard dream.”
Will Trent is one of many opportunities Ariana has explored since her initial rise to fame on Bravo’s Vanderpump Rules. In the aftermath of Scandoval, Ariana was subsequently crowned Us Weekly‘s inaugural Reality Star of the Year, finished season 32 of Dancing With the Stars as the runner-up, joined Broadway’s Chicago as Roxie Hart twice, released a cocktail book titled Single AF Cocktails, opened the Something About Her sandwich shop with Katie Maloney and hosted season 6 of Love Island USA.
“This situation made me realize that I can do hard things. The worst-case scenario literally did happen, and I was OK. Like, look — you can handle what’s thrown at you,” Ariana exclusively told Us in an October 2023 cover story. “I’ve grown up [since joining the show]. I’m somebody who never really wanted to grow up. [But] over time, I’ve been able to love myself more and give myself a lot more grace when it comes to things we go through during filming. And that has allowed me to give others more grace.”
Will Trent airs on ABC Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET. New episodes are available to stream the next day on Hulu.
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