The Next Bachelor For 2024 Revealed—See Joey’s 1st Contestant

Joey Graziadei

Original Season: The Bachelorette Season 20 (Charity Lawson)

Joey Graziadei, a 28-year-old professional tennis player from Koloa, Hawaii, was announced as the next Bachelor for 2024 at The Bachelorette Season 20 “After the Final Rose” special in August 2023. “It’s sinking in very slowly but I’m trying my best just to stay present, enjoy it, but this is crazy. I mean, I’ll be the first person to say this is wild. I never expected this at all, didn’t know this is what my life is turning at this moment. So yeah, crazy stuff, but I’m excited,” said Joey, who was the runner-up on The Bachelorette Season 20 with Charity Lawson.

Joey, who called the experience “surreal,” told host Jesse Palmer that he felt ready to look for love again after Charity sent him home at the Final Rose Ceremony over her winner, Dotun Olubeko. “I’m more ready than I was in that moment,” Joey said. “For me, it was just, you have to take some time to get a little bit more closure. Watching Dotun and Charity’s connection was enough for me.”

Joey, who claimed that the breakup “opened up a part of me that wanted something so bad,” also told Palmer what he was looking for in a future partner. “Someone that’s just themselves that I can truthfully be a partner with. I want someone that challenges me. I want someone that I can challenge. I just want someone to do life with. I just want someone that’s going to be my person,” he said.

During The Bachelorette Season 20 “After the Final Rose” special, Joey also met his first contestant, Leia, who was in the audience for the live taping. “I think we have a lot in common, so I’m excited to kind of explore that,” Leia told Joey during the episode. In an Instagram video after the “After the Final Rose” special, Joey confirmed that was the Bachelor for the right reasons. “I’m definitely the hopeless romantic,” he said. “I want to be married. I want to have a love that lasts a lifetime. So I’m really ready to go on this journey.”

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in August 2023, Charity commended Joey for a conversation they had about interracial relationships during her Bachelorette season. “It’s huge to have had the opportunity to have that conversation, and then for it to be aired on national television — we don’t see it a lot, especially in this franchise. It was something that I was a little nervous about because I just did not know how it was going to go,” she said. “But my whole plan of being a Black woman in this lead role is having these important conversations. Also, there were conversations that I had with several other men that did not make air, and that’s OK. But it was one of my priorities to have conversations about something that’s extremely important to me and that would essentially become a very important part of their lives, too, if they ended up with me.”

In a blog post in July 2023, Reality Steve named Joey as The Bachelorette Season 20 contestant most likely to become the next Bachelor for Season 28. “I know Joey fans won’t be happy, but it is what it is,” Reality Steve wrote about Joey not receiving Charity’s Final Rose. “I’m sure he’s got a great shot for Bachelor, so I guess just hope for that. He seems to have the biggest following of Charity’s men and will be the sentimental favorite once Charity breaks up with him at final rose ceremony. So you’d think he’s got a good shot at it, but who knows.”

Read Joey’s Bachelorette 2023 biography and fun facts ahead:

“’Love’ may mean nothing in tennis, but to Joey, it’s everything! After graduation, this tennis pro quickly realized the corporate world wasn’t for him and moved to Hawaii to live his passion of teaching his favorite sport. Spending his days on the court and evenings on the beach watching the sunset with friends, Joey’s life is truly paradise. The only thing missing is someone with whom to share it. Outgoing, friendly and loyal, Joey is looking for a partner who can share in his love for adventure. Will he find a doubles partner in Charity? Here’s to hoping it’s “game, set, match” for Joey!

Fun Facts:

• Joey is a die-hard Green Bay Packers fan.

• Joey is an avid star gazer.

• Joey’s recent obsessions are golf and country music.”

Who Was Almost the Next Bachelor For 2024?

Who was almost the next Bachelor for 2024? See the men in the running to be the lead for The Bachelor Season 28 and why they weren’t chosen in the end.

Xavier Bonner

Original Season: The Bachelorette Season 20 (Charity Lawson)

Xavier Bonner is a 27-year-old biomedical scientist from Euclid, Ohio. He was a contestant on The Bachelorette Season 20 with Charity Lawson, where he was sent home in third place. Though many third place finalists have gone on to become leads on The Bachelor or The Bachelorette—such as Season 27 Bachelor Zach Shallcross, who self-eliminated in third place on The Bachelorette Season 19 with Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey; Season 24 Bachelor Peter Weber, who was sent home in third place on The Bachelorette Season 15 with Hannah Brown; and Season 13 Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay, who was sent home in third place on The Bachelor Season 21 with Nick Viall—it was unlikely that Xavier would become the next Bachelor for 2024 because of his unreadiness to get engaged or propose to Charity on The Bachelorette Season 20, according to Reality Steve, who reported that Xavier’s lack of readiness for an engagement was the reason he was sent home. He also revealed to Charity during their Fantasy Suite date that he had been unfaithful in a past relationship, which led Charity to send him home.

Peter Krause, the runner-up on The Bachelorette Season 13 with Rachel Lindsay, revealed in an interview on The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast in April 2020 that he turned the role to become the Season 22 Bachelor because he couldn’t promise an engagement to the producers. “I told [the producers] I had started to talk to someone and they said, ‘Are you guys in a relationship?’ I said, ‘No,’ and they said, ‘Would you be willing to leave that or exit that?'” Peter said at the time. “I wasn’t sure… It was really hard for me and I couldn’t say I would for sure get in an engagement at the end of the show. It wasn’t that I knew for a fact that I didn’t want to. It was more that I couldn’t promise them that I would and I didn’t want to be forced to do it if I said yes to the show.”

He continued, “I want to wait until I find someone that is my best friend first and we develop a relationship that is undeniable in its connection and then from there take the next steps in life. I’ve grown a lot since being on the show and changed a lot in my life. I think I really know what I want and I’m not wasting my time with things that aren’t there for me.” Given that Xavier had a similar stance on engagements on Charity’s Bachelorette season, it’s unlikely he’ll become the next Bachelor for 2024.

Read Xavier’s Bachelorette 2023 biography and fun facts ahead:

“Xavier is one tall glass of water. This 6-foot-6-inch scientific researcher has also got the smarts and charisma to match. In a relationship, Xavier will shower his partner with compliments because he genuinely wants to see his future wife happy. Xavier’s parents, who’ve been happily married for 30 years, embody the type of relationship he wants to find. Xavier says he most admires his mom and wants to find a partner who can give their children the kind of love he received as a kid. Could Charity be the one? It’s time to put their chemistry to the test!

Fun Facts:

• Xavier enjoys knitting.

• Xavier built his own computer for playing video games.

• Xavier’s ideal first date is skydiving.”

Aaron Bryant

Original Season: The Bachelorette Season 20 (Charity Lawson)

Aaron Bryant is a 29-year-old software salesman from Katy, Texas. He was a contestant on The Bachelorette Season 20 with Charity Lawson, where he was sent home in fourth place. He returned to The Bachelorette Season 20 during Fantasy Suites and asked to rejoin Charity’s season, however, she turned him down.

Though some fourth-place finalists have gone on to become the leads of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette—such as Season 20 Bachelorette Charity Lawson, who was sent home in fourth place on The Bachelor Season 27 with Zach Shallcross; and Season 23 Bachelor Colton Underwood, who was sent home in fourth place on The Bachelorette Season 14 with Becca Kufrin—it was unlikely that Aaron B. would become the next Bachelor for 2024 because of what happened on Bachelor in Paradise Season 9. Aaron B. is a contestant on Bachelor in Paradise Season 9 and ended up with Eliza Isichei, a contestant on The Bachelor Season 16 with Clayton Echard and Bachelor in Paradise Season 8, whom he left the show with.

In July 2023, Reality Steve also tweeted a video of Aaron B. and Eliza in the lobby of the Vidanta Resort in Vallarta Nayarit, where Bachelor in Paradise films, confirming they ended up together. “This was was taken a few days after filming ended in the Vidanta lobby & posted on an IG story that was sent to me. This is Eliza and Aaron B. I don’t know if they’re engaged and Eliza has been back in Germany since filming. But clearly they ended the show together,” Reality Steve tweeted at the time. Given that Aaron B. and Eliza are together and he’s no longer single, it’s unlikely that he will become the next Bachelor for 2024.

Read Aaron B.’s Bachelorette 2023 biography and fun facts ahead: 

“It’s easy to see what makes Aaron B. such a great catch. His smile lights up every room he walks into, and he wears his heart on his sleeve. Aaron B. is passionate, understanding, patient and a self-proclaimed hopeless romantic. The former football player says he’s truly ready to find his perfect match and hopes his future wife is outgoing, emotionally intelligent and thoughtful. When Aaron B. isn’t hustling at his job in software sales, he loves listening to Tyler, the Creator’s music; reading James Patterson novels; and enjoying some delicious Cajun food. After his last long-term relationship didn’t work out, Aaron B. is excited for the chance to fall in love again and can’t wait for his Bachelorette journey to begin.

Fun Facts:

• Aaron B. taught himself how to play the violin and the piano.

• Aaron B. eats peanut butter straight from the jar.

• Aaron B. is spheksophobic, aka scared of wasps.”

Dotun Olubeko

Original Season: The Bachelorette Season 20 (Charity Lawson)

Dotun Olubeko is a 30-year-old integrative medicine specialist from Fresno, California. He was a contestant on The Bachelorette Season 20 with Charity Lawson, where was the winner, according to Reality Steve. Charity gave her final rose to Dotun at the Final Rose Ceremony, where Dotun proposed to Charity and the two got engaged. Charity and Dotun are still together, according to Reality Steve.

While some winners have gone on to become leads on The Bachelor or The Bachelorette—such as Season 14 Bachelorette Becca Kufrin, who won The Bachelor Season 22 with Arie Luyendyk Jr. but broke up before the “After the Final Rose” special—it was highly unlikely Dotun will become the next Bachelor for 2024 given that he and Charity are still together. Charity and Dotun confirmed they were still together during The Bachelorette Season 20 “After the Final Rose” special. “We’ve anticipated this moment. Just to be free and in public, to live lives normally. This is everything,” Charity said. “She continued, You made me feel alive. You made me believe in love again. You made me feel so valued and so seen. I see you as my husband. I see you as my future. I see it so clear and I don’t have any doubts. I love you so much.”

Dotun added, “She’s everything to me.” He also told host Jesse Palmer that he’s “never been so sure” of anything in his life than he was in his relationship with Charity. Charity and Dotun also confirmed at the time that they’ve started wedding planning, but hadn’t chosen a date yet as they “enjoy this season of life.” Charity also called Dotun her “future baby daddy” but confirmed that they weren’t planning on having children any time soon.

Read Dotun’s Bachelorette 2023 biography and fun facts ahead:

“Dotun is the full package and is so ready to find his person. Dotun comes from a big Nigerian-American family and moved to the United States as a child. He describes himself as open-minded, full of love and the best listener. The integrative medicine specialist has a zest for life and even once went on a spontaneous 45-day trip around Europe. He’s hoping his future wife has the same love for adventure and excitement for the little things like he does. Charity, get ready for the adventure of a lifetime with Dotun!

Fun Facts:

• Dotun is terrible at movie trivia.

• Dotun would love to be the head of the CIA.

• Dotun loves his air fryer.”

Who is The Bachelorette 2023, Charity Lawson?

Who is the Bachelorette for 2023? The season 20 Bachelorette is Charity Lawson, a contestant from The Bachelor season 27 with Zach Shallcross, who came in fourth place after she was eliminated by Zach after their Hometown Date. Charity is the fourth Black Bachelorette in Bachelor Nation history after Rachel Lindsay (season 13); Tayshia Adams (season 16) and Michelle Young (season 18). 

Charity was announced as the next Bachelorette for 2023 at The Bachelor season 27 “Women Tell All” special on March 15, 2023. “Stop! Is this for real? “No way! Oh my god, I’m gonna cry.” Charity asked host Jesse Palmer when he offered her the opportunity to be the season 20 Bachelorette. Palmer responded, “Is that a yes? Will you do it?” to which Charity replied, “Absolutely! 100 percent!” She continued, “I’ve waited forever to find the love of my life. It blows my mind that I could meet my person and be engaged and literally have my happily ever after.”

Before Charity was announced as the next Bachelorette for 2023, Zach confirmed his support for Charity as the new lead in an interview with Us Weekly in March 2023. “She knows what she wants. She is so confident, she’s so sweet and, you know, she has a great heart,” Zach said. “She’s someone from the very beginning that—I don’t know what exactly it was—but [she] was just trustworthy. She was someone that I asked to, like, get her take on things and while there was some drama in the house early, she was always someone that I believed in [and] I trusted it too. She’s a very trustworthy person and I think she would absolutely kill it as Bachelorette.”

Palmer also supported Charity as the next Bachelorette. “I think she’d be awesome,” he said, adding that he “totally gets” why so many fans wanted Charity to be the new lead. He continued, “It’s hard because I feel like in past seasons we’ve had an obvious choice, like, two, maybe three [choices]. I feel like this season, there’s five or six that could be tremendous. So I’d love to know who it is and whoever it is, I’m sure it’s going to be an amazing season.”

Aly Jacobs, who came in eighth place The Bachelor season 27, also voted Charity as the next Bachelorette. “I would definitely say Charity. That’s my girl. I think everyone got to see a little taste of how protective some of us are over Charity when we were in Estonia,” Aly told Us Weekly, referring to when Kat Izzo snuck time with Zach before charity’s one-on-one date. “She’s a gem. She’s so cool, calm and collected. She’s very level-headed and I think, she would have just the best love story, something that I would want to tune into. So, definitely Charity.”

Brooklyn Willie, who came in sixth place on The Bachelor season 27, also voiced her support for Charity as the next Bachelorette. “If it can’t be me, then I want it to be Charity,” she said. “Charity has been my best friend through the whole thing. I think she is incredible. She’s very intelligent, she’s beautiful. She knows what she wants. This previous season, she’s just had so many moments taken from her. I want to see her get her moment to the full capacity, the full extent, and just absorb every last minute.”

Cat Wong, who was eliminated in week two on The Bachelor season 27, told Us Weekly, “I would a hundred percent nominate Charity. I think Charity would just be the best thing for this franchise that they need. She’s so in tune with her emotions and she carries her so well in group settings and individually, but also was, like, fun and light-hearted and just is the whole package. And I think that that’s something very refreshing to see — that a beautiful woman can also have all these amazing intellectual qualities too.”

Kylee Russell, who was eliminated in week five on The Bachelor season 27, also confirmed she was Team Charity as the next Bachelorette. “I am Team Charity. And she was my girl from night one,” Kylee told Us Weekly. “I think she’s so deserving. She deserves everything and more this world has to offer. … She’s a little feisty. She is not afraid to go after what she wants. So she has this calm, sweet demeanor and don’t get me wrong, she’s not a mean girl or anything, but she will stand up for what she believes in.”

So who is the Bachelorette for 2023, Charity Lawson? Charity is a 27-year-old from Columbus, Georgia, who now lives in Auburn, Alabama. Her Instagram handle is @charitylawson. “my best kept secret is out.. if you didn’t know, well now you do. 🫶🏾 Tune into the @bachelorabc January 23rd @ 8PM EST,” she captioned an Instagram post of her Bachelor headshot in January 2023, announcing she was on Zach’s season.

Charity listed her job on The Bachelor as a “Child and Family Therapist.” According to her Linkedin, she’s worked as a Child Advocacy Center Therapist at Tri-County CAC since July 2021. Before that, she worked as a Special Education Aide at Muscoee County School District. She graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation and Disability in 2018. She also earned a Master of Education and Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Auburn University in May 2022.

Read Charity’s Bachelor 2023 biography and fun facts ahead:

“It’s easy to see what makes Charity such a great catch! With a smile that lights up the room, a great career and a sweet personality to match, Charity is the total package! The Georgia beauty takes her name as a call to love and care for people and has built her life on that purpose. Charity is a mental health therapist and is extremely passionate about helping people live their best lives. Now, she is ready to receive the love she gives to so many others! Charity hopes her future husband is honest, loyal and shares similar morals. She says she is really excited to meet Zach and thinks the two of them could be a perfect match on paper. Time will tell if they’re also a perfect match in person!

Fun Facts:
• Charity’s all-time favorite movie is ‘The Notebook.’
• Charity wants to move to Walt Disney World one day.
• Charity throws a mean axe.”

Who is The Bachelorette 2023 host? 

Who is The Bachelorette 2023 host? The Bachelorette Season 20 host is Jesse Palmer, who was the season 5 Bachelor in 2004 and was the youngest Bachelor in Bachelor Nation history at 24 years old. Jesse hosted his first Bachelor franchise show in 2022 with The Bachelor season 26 with Clayton Echard. During The Bachelor season 5 finale, Jesse gave his Final Rose to Jessica Bowlin, but didn’t propose to her. Jesse and Jessica continued to date, but ended their relationship a few weeks after the finale of their Bachelor season aired. In June 2020, Jesse and his girlfriend, Emely Fardo, married in an intimate wedding in New York City. Jesse told Us Weekly in November 2021 that he and Emely planned to marry in Provence, France, before the current health crisis cancelled their wedding date. “We had originally planned a wedding in Provence, France, for summer 2020, which was postponed until summer of 2021 due to the pandemic, but we didn’t want to wait any longer,” he said at the time. “So, we had a small, private and intimate ceremony with close friends who lived in New York City.”

Jesse graduated from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played football for the Florida Gators, in 2001 with a bachelor’s of arts degree in political science and a bachelor’s of science degree in marketing. After graduation, Jesse was drafted by the National Football League to play for the New York Giants. He played with the team for four seasons from 2001 to 2005 as a quarterback. After the New York Giants, Jesse was drafted by the Canadian Football League to play for the Montreal Alouettes. He played with the team until 2005 when he was signed by the San Francisco 49ers. He then resigned with the Montreal Alouettes in 2006 before he retired from football in 2007 to pursue a broadcasting career. Since his broadcasting career started, Jesse has worked with networks like Fox, NFL Network, ESPN, ABC and SEC Network. He’s also guest starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and made guest appearances on shows like Recipe to Riches and Good Morning America, and hosted the Food Network’s Spring Baking Championship and Holiday Baking Championship.

Jesse was announced as The Bachelor season 26 host in September 2021. “For more than 20 years, The Bachelor has brought the world dozens of unforgettable love stories, including at one time, my own,” he said at the time. “Falling in love is one of life’s greatest gifts, and I am humbled by the opportunity to return to the show as host this season to offer the newest Bachelor advice gained from firsthand experience and I am grateful to play a small part in his journey.” The announcement came after Chris Harrison, the former host of Bachelor Nation, confirmed in June 2021 that he had retired as the franchise’s host after 19 years. “I’ve had a truly incredible run as host of The Bachelor franchise and now I’m excited to start a new chapter,” he wrote in an Instagram post at the time. “I’m so grateful to Bachelor Nation for all of the memories we’ve made together. While my two-decade journey is wrapping up, the friendships I’ve made will last a lifetime.”

Deadline reported at the time that Chris received a mid-range, eight-figure settlement as part of exit plan with ABC, the network that airs the Bachelor franchise, and Warner Bros. Television, the company that produces the Bachelor shows. The magazine also reported that Harrison’s settlement included a nondisclosure agreement. Chris’ decision to retire as Bachelor Nation’s host came after he was slammed for his response to season 25 Bachelor contestant Rachael Kirkconnell’s racism scandal in February 2021. Rachael, the winner of Matt James’ season, faced backlash at the time when photos resurfaced of her at an Old South Antebellum-themed party at Georgia College in 2018. Before the pictures went viral, Rachael was already under controversy after her former high school classmate accused her on TikTok of bullying her and other students for dating Black men. Other TikTok users then exposed Rachael for liking social media photos of her friends in culturally insensitive costumes and with Confederate flags.

Chris came under controversy after he was interviewed about the scandal by season 13 Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay on Extra. During the interview, Chris asked fans to give Rachael “grace” and explained that he didn’t find the Antebellum party photos offensive because they just looked like pictures a college student takes at a party. Harrison also questioned whether the photos would be considered racially insensitive in 2018 when they were taken. After the interview, many fans slammed Harrison and accused him of excusing Rachael’s behavior.

ABC confirmed in March 2021 that Chris wouldn’t host season 17 of The Bachelorette and would be replaced by Tayshia and Kaitlyn. “Chris Harrison will not be hosting the next season of The Bachelorette,” ABC said in a statement at the time. “We support Chris in the work that he is committed to doing. In his absence, former Bachelorettes Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe will support the new Bachelorette through next season. As we continue the dialogue around achieving greater equity and inclusion within The Bachelor franchise, we are dedicated to improving the BIPOC representation of our crew, including among the executive producer ranks. These are important steps in effecting fundamental change so that our franchise is a celebration of love that is reflective of our world.” He officially retired as the Bachelor Nation’s host in June 2021.

The Bachelorette is available to stream on Hulu. Here’s how to watch it for free.

Bachelor Nation by Amy Kaufman

To get more of an inside scoop, check out Los Angeles Times writer Amy Kaufman’s book, Bachelor Nation: Inside the World of America’s Favorite Guilty Pleasure, for a deep dive into the Bachelor franchise. The book uncovers the secrets of Bachelor Nation, from how much the Bachelor and the Bachelorette are paid to the rules contestants have to follow, that producers don’t want fans to know. It’s a must-read for any Bachelor Nation member.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

Bachelor Nation by Amy Kaufman

To get more of an inside scoop, check out Los Angeles Times writer Amy Kaufman’s book, Bachelor Nation: Inside the World of America’s Favorite Guilty Pleasure, for a deep dive into the Bachelor franchise. The book uncovers the secrets of Bachelor Nation, from how much the Bachelor and the Bachelorette are paid to the rules contestants have to follow, that producers don’t want fans to know. It’s a must-read for any Bachelor Nation member. “[Kaufman] has interviewed dozens of producers, contestants, and celebrity fans to give readers never-before-told details of the show’s inner workings: what it’s like to be trapped in the mansion ‘bubble’; dark, juicy tales of producer manipulation; and revelations about the alcohol-fueled debauchery that occurs long before the Fantasy Suite,” the publisher’s description reads.

Our mission at StyleCaster is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.