Rachel Lindsay Weighs In on 'Bachelor' Fans Still Comparing Arie Luyendyk Jr. to Peter Kraus (Exclusive)

By Antoinette Bueno‍ 12:14 PM PST, January 22, 2018

Rachel Lindsay is definitely a fan of this season's Bachelor, Arie Luyendyk Jr.

ET's Lauren Zima spoke with the Bachelorette star during Wedspire's Wedspiration 2018 event in Los Angeles on Saturday, where she shared that she's enjoying keeping up with ABC's current season of the hit reality show. Rachel found love during her own season of The Bachelorette, getting engaged to fiance Bryan Abasolo.

"I have had the pleasure of meeting Arie, the secret is out, like, I've met Arie before," Rachel said. "I think he's a great person and I'm really excited for his season and his journey. So, I've been watching. It's great to have the focus on someone else, or off us, and onto Arie."

Of course, some Bachelor Nation fans are still upset over Arie being the network's pic for this season's Bachelor -- as opposed to fan favorite Peter Kraus -- and have taken to calling Arie "not Peter."

"I've heard the 'Not Peter' thing," Rachel, who emotionally sent Peter home during season 13 of The Bachelorette, acknowledged. "I mean, let's just call a spade a spade, he's not Peter! He's Arie and he's great in his own right, and I love that he's holding his own. He has his own journey, separate from Peter, and I think he's gonna kill it this season!"

As for the current women competing for Arie's heart, Rachel definitely has a few favorites.

"I don't have any front-runners, but I really have some favorites that I like," she shared. "I like Bekah M. I like Becca K. The Beccas are killing it this season! And I like Seinne, and I like Tia of course! She's like a Raven 2.0."

Rachel also weighed in on the criticism that the contestants are significantly younger than 36-year-old Arie.

"I mean, isn't that the trend, though?" Rachel pointed out. "Even I was on Nick [Viall's] season -- Nick was 36 years old, and most of the girls were in their 20s. There were only a few of us that were in our 30s. I feel like, that's just the trend of things."

"I think Arie can make his own decisions, and age really is nothing but a number," she continued. "Sometimes a 23-year-old can act like a 30-year-old and vice versa."

Last September, ET spoke to Peter, where he recalled his "devastating" breakup with Rachel.

Watch below:

'Bachelor' Arie Luyendyk Jr. Responds to Jef Holm's Bet That His Relationship Won't Last (Exclusive)

'The Bachelor': One Contestant Schools Arie on Why He Dates Moms, Calls Out Women for 'Energy of Desperation'