'No one wanted this': Viewers slam Colton Underwood as the next 'Bachelor'
Time to start lining up the long-stemmed red roses: A new Bachelor is ready to find his one true love — or at least woo a couple dozen women before inevitably landing a spot on Dancing With the Stars.On Tuesday, Good Morning America revealed that Colton Underwood will be the star of The Bachelor‘s 23rd season. The 26-year-old former NFL star is familiar to viewers thanks to his fourth-place finish on Becca Kufrin‘s recent season of The Bachelorette, followed by a stint on Bachelor in Paradise. He was last seen ending his on-off romance with Tia Booth before departing the spinoff and swapping his island fling for a shot at stardom.
So excited and grateful for a new adventure… It’s time to find a wife!
— Colton Underwood (@Colt3FIVE) September 4, 2018
Underwood, who is also known for once dating Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman, will be the first self-proclaimed νirgiп to be the Bachelor. (Sean Lowe — who is still married to the woman who received his final rose, Catherine Giudici Lowe — was a “born-again νirgiп” on a six-year celibacy journey when he starred on Season 17.)
Underwood told GMA‘s Michael Strahan that he’s looking forward to “being engaged and getting married shortly after that.” But some fans of the show aren’t as enthusiastic.
Colton tells all with @michaelstrahan and gets some advice from former @BachelorABC & @BachParadise contestants: https://t.co/VWRnMFrK1s#TheBachelor@Colt3FIVE! pic.twitter.com/2B5XN5rFqB
— Good Morning America (@GMA) September 4, 2018
Although he has more than his fair share of supporters, news of Underwood’s casting — which was leaked online just days ago — has been widely slammed by viewers who claim he’s too young and not ready for a long relationship. Many have also protested showrunner Mike Fleiss’s decision not to cast a person of color, noting that there has yet to be a black Bachelor.
impressed ABC was brave enough in 2018 to cast a white, blonde football player known primarily for not being able to feel enough and his love of cottage cheese as the new Bachelor
— Samantha Rollins (@SamanthaRollins) September 4, 2018
No one wanted this, no one asked for this. The producers hate us and the bachelor is corrupt.
— Tayler Stipes (@taylerthegoat) September 4, 2018
Why? Another poor choice for this reality TV show. He's doing nothing more than chasing the spotlight…his 15 minutes of fame have been over a LONG time ago. Looks like I'll have extra time to tune into another show. #losingfans #poorchoice #bachelorofcolor
— Paula HensonWilliams (@winelover68) September 4, 2018
why would you pick a guy to young and obviously not ready to settle down for the rest of his life again???? Can’t wait for another nick viall season again …
— Miranda price (@Mirandaprice__) September 4, 2018
Good morning to everyone except Colton Underwood and Mike Fleiss.
— Alexandra Fernandez (@FERNalicious) September 4, 2018
I absolutely will not be watching @BachelorABC with @Colt3FIVE . Ew. Times a hundred… ew
— just call me Mom (@jess_vickerz) September 4, 2018
Where’s the diversity in the show?! I’m tired of seeing insecure white men!!! Colton is not a man, he’s a child. Give us a guy who is real!
— Katie Gillette (@KatieGillette) September 4, 2018
“He has the personality of a piece of toast” – unhappy coworker over the Colton bachelor annoucement
— Danielle Schmidt (@_DanniJ) September 4, 2018
Not to worry: Mass disappointment aside, ABC will surely still be able to drum up 25 to 30 women willing to jump in a hot tub/cry on camera/shoot daggers when a rival interrupts their conversation. If Brad Womack can get a second chance after rejecting his final two ladies, maybe there’s hope for Underwood to change viewers’ minds too?
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