Arie Luyendyk Jr. Announced As Next 'Bachelor' In Surprise Twist
WATCH: Arie Luyendyk Jr. discusses becoming the new Bachelor with @michaelstrahan.@ariejr @BachelorABC #TheBachelor pic.twitter.com/9d6KYLZz6y
— Good Morning America (@GMA) September 7, 2017
Ladies and gentlemen, your new Bachelor... Arie Luyendyk Jr.!
The next lead of ABC’s long-running reality dating show was announced on “Good Morning America” Thursday morning, after days of heavy hints from show creator Mike Fleiss on Twitter. “First Big Clue... #TheBachelor will not be from Jojo’s season,” he tweeted on Monday.
But despite the hints, it seems few fans guessed Luyendyk would be the selection over popular contestants from more recent seasons of “The Bachelorette,” like Peter Kraus, Eric Bigger, and Wells Adams. The 35-year-old race car driver has been the subject of occasional “Bachelor” rumors since he came in second on Season 8 of “The Bachelorette” starring Emily Maynard.
In 2016, Luyendyk revealed that he’d signed a contract to star on Season 19 of “The Bachelor,” but had been dumped at the last minute when the show decided to go with Chris Soules, who appeared on Season 11 of “The Bachelorette.”
This time, he told Michael Strahan in his debut “GMA” appearance, the timing just worked out. For fans who have been jonesing for Luyendyk as the Bachelor since his 2012 franchise debut, this was a thrill:
Welcome back to @TheBachelorTV franchise @ariejr - excited to have you back on my screen again
#TeamArie #TheBachelor pic.twitter.com/nXDayWoXZN— Rachael J Adams (@RachaelJA) September 7, 2017
For newer viewers, and those excited to see recent runner-up Kraus as the lead, it was the opposite:
Arie?! Are producers trying to kill the show? What audience are they trying to cater for? His season was AGES ago!!! #TheBachelor
— Cheeky Sausage (@CHEEEKYsausage) September 7, 2017
Is it too late to bully @fleissmeister and @chrisbharrison into picking a different suitor for #TheBachelor ? pic.twitter.com/zKKJm7ErYQ
— Sophie Ross (@SophRossss) September 7, 2017
Leave it to #TheBachelor to ruin my day first thing in the morning by picking someone I've legitimately never heard of.
— ѕιerrα joнɴѕoɴ ☾ (@sierramjohnson) September 7, 2017
This marks the second season of “The Bachelor” in a row that ABC has chosen to select a Bachelor from an earlier season. In 2016, production chose Nick Viall, who appeared on seasons 10 and 11 of “The Bachelorette,” over Season 12 contestant Luke Pell, right after Viall’s image-restoring turn on Season 3 of “Bachelor in Paradise.”
Luyendyk, on the other hand, has taken a long break from “Bachelor” franchise shows. In his interview with Strahan, he emphasized that he’s ready to finally find love and settle down ― with the right woman. When asked what he looks for in a woman, he said he wants someone “independent, strong, but then still gentle.” Sound like you? Ladies, you know where to sign up.
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I'm 16 mins behind but two bottle of wine in so it should be a good night to live tweet #BachelorInParadise
— Astrid Loch (@astrid_loch) September 5, 2017
"All the blame falls on me for being a moron," Dean says. Fact check: Accurate. #BachelorInParadise pic.twitter.com/1L7Qq9m3Km
— Bachelor Burn Book (@bachelorburnbk) September 5, 2017
Raise your hand if your tired of Dean being an F-Boy on #BachelorInParadise pic.twitter.com/btGcfBOF30
— Aynsley Broom💕 (@Aynsley_Broom) September 5, 2017
"I'm sorry, the old Dean can't come to the phone right now. Why? Oh, he's dead." #BachelorInParadise pic.twitter.com/rcfuDClO0r
— Olivia Arredondo (@TrulyLiv) September 5, 2017
"Dean, don't ask me to be patient if you're locking legs, lips, arms, whatever with other girls." - @kristinaschulma #BachelorInParadise pic.twitter.com/TZqZaUOavt
— Marissa D (@marissad415) September 5, 2017
America listening to Dean on Kristina's behalf: #BachelorInParadise pic.twitter.com/cJFLUhQYXx
— dena🎭 (@denaholtz) September 5, 2017
Straight up tears for Kristina. Or they're because I'm terrifyingly hungover. Hard to say. #BachelorinParadise
— Jaclyn Swartz (@JaclynSwartz) September 5, 2017
Blake is so boring to me. I only liked him when he made fart noises at Whaboom. #BachelorinParadise
— Ashley Spivey (@AshleySpivey) September 5, 2017
Blake: I'm over being the guy that fought with Whaboom.
Also Blake: Have you seen my season where I fought with Whaboom? #BachelorInParadise— Lindsay Holmes (@lindsaygholmes) September 5, 2017
Dear Dean,
I messed up pretty bad last week. Here's my secret:
1-LISTEN
2-PROCESS
3-APOLOGIZE
4-CORRECT YOUR BEHAVIOR
5-EVERYONE IS HAPPY pic.twitter.com/PGN1kNjQ49— Derek Peth (@PethDerek) September 5, 2017
Kristina for Bachelor #BachelorinParadise
— Vinny Ventiera (@VINNYVINSANE) September 5, 2017
Oh, look. Fred, who Rachel knew from summer camp, is now trying to find love on the Bachelor version of summer camp. #BachelorInParadise
— Bachelor Burn Book (@bachelorburnbk) September 5, 2017
Reminder that Fred is too good for this franchise. #BachelorInParadise pic.twitter.com/FH2NPZgYkk
— Sophie Vershbow (@svershbow) September 5, 2017
Me at social events. #BachelorInParadise pic.twitter.com/vQwMdr51z0
— Chelsea (@CheltseaLane) September 5, 2017
I feel like we are seeing this happen IRL #bachelorinparadise #BIP pic.twitter.com/PUmpSwnlQH
— Nicola Barton (@ozzythekiwi) September 5, 2017
Jack & I cried when we found out about the rose ceremony. We’re all about full disclosure. #BachelorInParadise #BIP
— Diggy Moreland🌹 (@diggymoreland) September 5, 2017
I'm just over here hoping Kristina and Danielle mutually agree to give their roses to anyone but Dean. #BachelorinParadise pic.twitter.com/7xkNu3ZcKK
— Brittany Kaszuba (@brittkaszuba) September 5, 2017
Why do people keep over looking @Ben_Zorn?? He's cute AND he's a dog dad. The guy is a win win. #BachelorinParadise
— Ashley R. (@ash_9481) September 5, 2017
They are god damn delicious and this is soooo overplayed. #BachelorInParadise pic.twitter.com/siO7gfr9r9
— Sarah Wiegner (@HeySayJay) September 5, 2017
I'm sorry, @fleissmeister, you didn't select this guy to be #TheBachelor because…? cc: @WellsAdams #BachelorInParadise pic.twitter.com/ySgydGml0b
— Kay Boatner (@kayboatner) September 5, 2017
Gone too soon #BachelorInParadise pic.twitter.com/a3NzNqkjuJ
— Brett S. Vergara (@BrettSVergara) September 5, 2017
Top Speeches I’ve witnessed: Obamas first inauguration, his closing speech in Chicago, Kristinas speech. #bachelorInParadise #BIP
— Diggy Moreland🌹 (@diggymoreland) September 5, 2017
Dean - "I hate myself"
All of us - #BachelorInParadise pic.twitter.com/2Rmt8m3y8N— Bach Bracket (@bachbrack) September 5, 2017
I really don't like to waste good food #BachelorInParadise #teamscallops
— Christen Whitney (@Christen_mae_) September 5, 2017
the Russian is gone….NOOOOOOOO. #BachelorInParadise #BIP
— Diggy Moreland🌹 (@diggymoreland) September 6, 2017
I so rarely see someone on TV describe their queerness the way I describe mine, go ahead Jaimi!!!! Already too good for #BachelorInParadise
— Anna Rose Iovine (@annaroseiovine) September 6, 2017
This GIF keeps getting more and more accurate.#BachelorInParadise #BIP pic.twitter.com/ZUHo123M7b
— Angela (@writerahart) September 6, 2017
Dominique: "Dean was devastated."
*pan to Dean taking tequila shots in a pool* #BachelorInParadise— Maggie Burgess (@EmKayBeee) September 6, 2017
I love how @jasminegoode_ is 26 on the show #BachelorInParadise
— Alexis Waters (@awatazzz) September 6, 2017
The twins showing up like #BachelorInParadise pic.twitter.com/ri4OqL1KyS
— Kasey Commander (@kaseytess) September 6, 2017
I read an inspirational quote and I'm tryna only tweet positive things.. so that's why I'm not tweeting #BachelorInParadise
— Evan Bass (@ebassclinics) September 6, 2017
Why do the twins make me feel like I'm watching white chicks? #BachelorInParadise pic.twitter.com/VwTIjEbmxB
— 🌻🌻🌻 (@bellamarrone_) September 6, 2017
TBH I'm super offended that the twins wasted all of that seafood 🙄 #BachelorInParadise
— Christen Whitney (@Christen_mae_) September 6, 2017
I honestly haven't been "shocked" by anything this season. #BachelorInParadise
— Ashley Iaconetti (@ashleyiaco) September 6, 2017
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.