Ariana Madix’s highly-anticipated guest appearance on Will Trent was filled with fun Easter eggs and playful moments, including some jokes about her time on Dancing With the Stars.
In the February 25 episode of the hit ABC show, Ariana portrayed an exaggerated version of herself. In the episode, she hires Michael Ormewood (played by Jake McLaughlin) as unarmed security for an intervention she’s holding for a friend. Michael, a fan of Ariana’s work, was hoping for a “Bodyguard” moment, referencing the iconic 1992 film starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston.
Things didn’t go as planned, however. During the intervention, a fight broke out when Ariana’s friend, who didn’t want treatment, tried to confront Michael over some cocaine, leading to a scuffle. Michael got maced, and in the chaos, he also dislocated his shoulder.
Ariana, however, had a surprising set of skills to handle the situation. Not only was she a certified EMT, but she also revealed she could speak Mandarin and Cantonese, had a bronze medal in parkour, and held a black belt in judo. Her versatility came in handy as she and Michael worked together to track down her friend, eventually ending up at a bar.
During their time together, Michael shared his admiration for Ariana’s Dancing With the Stars performance, even stating, “You did great on Dancing With the Stars — they robbed you, by the way.” Ariana humorously responded that she didn’t win because “Carrie Ann hated” her, to which Michael added, “Oh, I could tell.”
As the night progressed, the duo was forced to save Ariana’s friend from several drug dealers. With Ariana’s help, Michael knocked most of them out, but she needed his assistance when her shoe got stuck. In a sweet moment reminiscent of The Bodyguard, Michael carried Ariana out of the building, and the scene played out with romantic music in the background.
At the end of the episode, Ariana and Michael shared a tender kiss before she left for Singapore. In their final exchange, Ariana told Michael, “You are a fun date,” offering him some advice from her own experience: “Sometimes you just have to get back out there.”
This guest spot on Will Trent is one of the many ventures Ariana has pursued since her rise to fame on Vanderpump Rules. Since the fallout from the Scandoval scandal, Ariana has had an impressive year, finishing as the runner-up on Dancing With the Stars season 32, joining the Broadway cast of Chicago as Roxie Hart, releasing a cocktail book titled Single AF Cocktails, opening a sandwich shop with Katie Maloney, and hosting Love Island USA season 6.
Ariana has shared how the challenges of the past year have helped her grow. “I’ve grown up,” she said in an exclusive interview, “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.”
Will Trent airs on ABC on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET, with new episodes available to stream the next day on Hulu.
