Rachel Bilson and Nick Viall Admit They Faked Their Romantic Relationship

Rachel Bilson never actually accepted Nick Viall's rose.

The O.C. actress, who sparked romance rumors with Nick in 2019 after they exchanged flirty messages on social media, recently came clean about her relationship with the Bachelor Nation member. Spoiler alert: There wasn't one.

"No, Nick and I never dated," Rachel admitted March 21 on Nick's podcast The Viall Files, with him adding, "We did troll the internet."

Rachel clarified that they were just "messing around—not together, but I mean with the internet," while Nick explained that the duo were "epically single and we wanted the attention." And no, their ruse never "got to a point" where they actually felt inclined to date one another, Rachel said.

Nick explained that the fake relationship idea popped into his head after he "became good friends" with Rachel when she appeared on his podcast in July 2019. Afterward, the two brainstormed the possibility of doing a spin-off podcast.

"It was going to be called Making Love With Nick and Rachel," the former Bachelor star explained. "I had an Instagram saved already for it. Then she got some gig, and then she bailed on me."

And with the demise of the podcast came the fall of their bogus romance, which was all a ploy for publicity.

"It was literally to get attention for the podcast," Rachel revealed. "It was like, 'OK, it's a tease-up to what we're doing.' Even though it didn't come to fruition, that was the intention." 

Although their plans didn't work out, the two have since found happiness in their own lives. Rachel confirmed last August she's in a fiery relationship with a mystery partner, while Nick is currently laying out long-term plans with fiancée Natalie Joy.

"It all worked out," Nick said. "You're thriving, we're thriving."