Grant Ellis Had “Zero Hesitations” About Becoming Next ‘The Bachelor’ Star

As a die-hard fan of The Bachelor franchise, I am absolutely thrilled to see Grant Ellis stepping into the limelight as the next lead! His journey from professional basketball player to day trader, and now the star of The Bachelor, is a testament to his versatility and resilience.


Grant Ellis made waves when he was announced as the next lead of The Bachelor.

Shortly following his departure from Jenn Tran’s ongoing season of “The Bachelorette”, ABC revealed that the ex-professional basketball player and present-day trader from New Jersey will lead the upcoming 29th season of their popular reality dating series, “The Bachelor”, when it resumes in 2025.

As a die-hard fan, I’ve noticed that usually, the upcoming season’s star is announced just before the finale. However, ABC’s unscripted chief Rob Mills shared on X that they expedited the reveal to give potential contestants the chance to apply for his season instead!

After facing diversity concerns for many years within the Warner Horizon juggernaut franchise, Ellis’ role marks him as the second male lead of color in the last two decades since The Bachelor debuted in 2002. Discussions about race within the franchise intensified during the 25th season, which featured the first Black Bachelor, Matt James, in 2021. Following that turbulent season, the show and its offshoots have been working to increase diversity, not only on screen with leads and contestants but also behind the scenes among producers.

Considering his past experiences, Ellis expressed surprise upon receiving the invitation to become the Bachelor on Thursday.

“He expressed no doubts at all during an appearance on the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast, which is co-hosted by Joe Amabile and Serena Pitt from Bachelor In Paradise,” he said, showing his genuine enthusiasm.

He went on to say, “It’s wonderful when someone can help select potential partners according to specific criteria, allowing you to choose the one who suits you best. Who wouldn’t want that freedom to decide? Thus, I consider myself fortunate and in an excellent position.”

To prepare, Ellis explains that he’s observing and analyzing past seasons of The Bachelor (referencing Joey Graziadei, Nick Viall, and Clayton Echard’s seasons), making notes much like how he prepared for sports and his role as a trader. His key findings are about timing commitment wisely, asking pertinent questions, showing empathy, and avoiding insensitivity towards his contestants.

“I’m simply overwhelmed with gratitude,” I shared. “Everything is happening so quickly, and I’m just cherishing each moment. When they offered me this opportunity, I couldn’t contain my excitement and responded, ‘Absolutely! Absolutely, I’ll accept the role.’ If they can help me locate my wife, that prospect thrills me beyond measure.”

Read More

2024-08-15 18:55