'Bachelor' Juan Pablo Galavis, girlfriend to star in 'Couples Therapy,' report says

Juan Pablo Galavis, star of the recently concluded edition of "The Bachelor," and winner Nikki Ferrell, whom he is dating though he did not propose marriage in the finale, are headed for "Couples Therapy," the VH1 reality series.

E! Online said Thursday it had independently confirmed a report by blogger "Reality Steve" Carbone that Galavis and pediatric nurse Ferrell have been cast in the fifth edition of relationship counselor Dr. Jenn Berman's show, which premiered in 2012. Production, E! said, began Tuesday for the season that begins Sept. 10.

VH1 did not comment on the E! report, though it said Thursday that a fifth "mystery couple" with "a highly volatile relationship with the press" would join the announced quartet of adult-film star Jenna Jameson and boyfriend John Wood; Dick "Evel Dick" Donato of the reality show "Big Brother" and his girlfriend Stephanie Rogness-Fischer; rapper Anthony "Treach" Criss of the hip-hop group Naughty by Nature and his girlfriend Cicely Evans; and Deena Cortese of "Jersey Shore" and her boyfriend Chris Buckner.

E! said Galavis could not discuss the casting until August, when his "Bachelor" contract with ABC expires.

Galavis, widely considered one of the most controversial and disliked "Bachelor" stars, has defended his on-air behavior, telling People, "A lot of things about me were not shown. I'm not a bad guy. People who know me, know who I am."