September 04, 2018
For the third year in a row, fans of "The Bachelor" have been met with a surprising – and, many would debate, disappointing – pick for the titular bachelor in question. ABC revealed Tuesday that Colton Underwood would be the next man to date dozens of women on national television and later cultivate a steady income from branded social media posts.
It's possible that you may know the 26-year-old Colton as the ex-football player who almost made the Philadelphia Eagles (he was signed to the practice squad in 2014 but released in early September that year). He was also signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Diego Chargers before retiring from the sport and starting the Colin Underwood Legacy Foundation, which supports people living with cystic fibrosis.
Right now, however, he's best known to Bachelor Nation as enemy No. 1. He first gained some fans, and some notoriety, while appearing on Becca Kufrin's season of the show after shadily dating another former "Bachelor" contestant (and friend of Becca), Tia Booth. His run on the show was also memorable for the drama surrounding his lack of sexual experience (Colton is a virgin), a theme the franchise loves to creepily play up whenever a contestant reveals that personal information.
As "Bachelor" host Chris Harrison would say (because he's been literally saying it since 2002), Colton helped make it "the most dramatic season in 'Bachelor' history."
Colton advanced considerably far in the most recent season of "The Bachelorette," rounding out the top four contestants before revealing his v-card to Becca and meeting a stone cold "Really?" in response. Relive the awkwardness below.
Colton was later sent home after Becca met his family. There were tears.
Fast forward to "Bachelor in Paradise," one of the show's more successful spinoffs (this year marked its fourth season), where Colton was reunited with Tia. After dating on the show, the couple broke up – the episode conveniently aired Monday night – and Colton was crowned the bachelor just half a day later, early Tuesday on "Good Morning America."
Though Colton certainly has his fans in the franchise, he's a controversial pick, mostly for the shadiness surrounding his relationship with Tia. This is the third year the franchise has chosen a controversial dude to be "Bachelor." It all started when Andi Dorfman's runner-up, Nick Viall, made his fourth and final failed search for love on the franchise, starring on the show in 2016.
The next year the show made an even more egregious mistake, selecting the repulsive Arie Luyendyk Jr. as the star. He's the guy who ended up dumping the season's winner in exchange for the runnerup after sliding into her DMs when the show wrapped. Everyone hates him. He may now be banned from Minnesota.
Luyendyk's pick as "Bachelor" star was also particularly upsetting for those of us dreaming of getting a whole season of the gap-toothed dreamboat known as Peter Kraus, the runner-up from Rachel's "Bachelorette" season, as the star. At least we still have his Instagram and other social media to keep tabs on him as he casually models the latest athleisure.
Felt extra fast on my run today in my new Hybrid Rockets (available now!!)🏃🏻♂️🚀 Let the triathlon raining begin! @puma #PUMAHybrid #sponsored https://t.co/GHaismpgZh pic.twitter.com/2WqBsgtYME
— Peter Kraus (@peterkrauswi) August 15, 2018
Like most reality TV things, the Internet came ready to roast. Here is a taste of what people have to say -- including those who agreed with former PhillyVoice "Bachelor" correspondent Dan Craig's pick for Wills as "Bachelor."
Stop trying to make Colton as the bachelor happen, no one wants it to happen. #BachelorInParadise pic.twitter.com/jpA2Dl7rJ4
— Grocery Joe (@JRodgersHair) September 4, 2018
ABC: who do you want to be the next bachelor?
— Aly Barnaba (@alybarnaba) September 4, 2018
us: JASON! BLAKE! JOE!
ABC: guess who’s back! Colton!
us:#TheBachelor pic.twitter.com/kAqwzfmeDc
Colton: I came on #BachelorinParadise for TIA!!! I don’t want to date ANYONE else!!!
— Brett S. Vergara (@BrettSVergara) September 4, 2018
Producers: hey u wanna be Bachelor?
Colton: pic.twitter.com/YxzOtuCgSE
Hey you know who would be a better bachelor than Colton? #BachelorInParadise pic.twitter.com/X0G51RxO1T
— Ashley (@AshWatchingTV) September 4, 2018
Last year: Give us Peter.
— Megan Farber (@15mefarber) September 4, 2018
Bachelor franchise: Okay! How about some guy you dont even remember?
This year: Give us Wills, Grocery Joe, Blake, LITERALLY ANYONE BUT COLTON
Bachelor francise: #TheBachelor pic.twitter.com/DX6VXjsoWT
You’re telling me we could have had-
— Katie Drennen (@thekatiedrennen) September 4, 2018
1. Wills: the swaggiest/best dressed Bachelor
2. Jason: the most well-rounded, emotionally intelligent Bachelor
3. Blake: the sweetest/most open Bachelor
... but somehow we settled on the boring guy that dumped Tia twice? #TheBachelor pic.twitter.com/rdRbQ5moDv
Meanwhile, in an alternate reality, this handsome devil will be handing out roses. You'll always be my dream Bachelor, @still_wills. pic.twitter.com/YG61x4kAxE
— Kristen Baldwin (@KristenGBaldwin) September 4, 2018
Can we please have a moment of silence for all the amazing outfits we're missing out on by not having @still_wills as the next bachelor? #TheBachelor
— Cari (@notcawri) September 4, 2018
Colton as the bachelor is the ugliest thing I’ve heard all day. I’m pissed
— M (@lRlSPATTON) August 29, 2018
#BachelorinParadise no one wants Colton as bachelor. Go home and bring PETER we WANT PETER BRING US PETER pic.twitter.com/VykNMSylYb
— Ashleigh💍 (@ashleigh1N1) September 4, 2018
After some speculation, it looks like Tia will officially not appear as a contestant on the show, which would be super weird because he already dumped her twice, once on televsion.
What do you think of the pick? Let us know in the comments.
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