Bachelor Nation’s Big Week: A Wedding, An Engagement, A Divorce, Cheating Rumors, And More Kick Off 2024

We’re only one week into 2024, which is incredibly difficult to comprehend considering Bachelor Nation has already witnessed a year’s worth of surprises, chaos, relationship developments, and drama.

Thanks to The Golden Bachelor‘s groundbreaking debut, 2023 was a year of recovery and reinvention for the franchise, which was teetering on the brink of obscurity before the senior spin-off became a sweeping success. But if the first eight days are any indication of what’s to come, 2024 has the potential to be The Most Dramatic Year In Bachelor History.

From new relationship announcements and shocking breakups to unexpected cheating allegations, a live wedding special, a baby on the way, and so much more, Bachelor Nation kicked off the new year with bang so loud that fan-favorite spoiler Reality Steve tweeted, “2024 has been an absolute shit show for Bachelor Nation and we’re 2 days in” on January 2.

Since then, things have only got more eventful! So buckle up and brace yourselves for a look back at the major romance, heartbreak, rumors, and spectacles that went down during Bachelor Nation’s first week of 2024.

1. Eliza Isichei’s Got A Brand New Man

   Paradise be damned! Eliza’s got a brand new man! On Jan. 2, the Paradise Season 8 and 9 alum quietly posted proof of a new mystery beau to Instagram Stories alongside the caption, “A good one.” For those who need a refresher, Isichei left Paradise happily engaged to Bachelorette alum Aaron Bryant, but shortly after the finale, Bryant posted an Instagram Story that read, “I want to thank our family, friends and Bachelor Nation for all their support not just through the Paradise journey but after as well. Tricky emotions watching it all unfold but unfortunately me and @elizaisichei’s love story has come to an end. We’re leading our amicable split with nothing but positivity and mutual respect for one another. Thank you all 🖤.” Fans who were waiting for Isichei to publicly comment on the breakup got confirmation of what appears to be a new ship instead!

2. Bryan Abasolo Files For Divorce From Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay After Four Years Of Marriage

   The Bachelor franchise giveth love, and the Bachelor franchise taketh love away. Members of Bachelor Nation were jaws dropped SHOCKED to learn that one of The Bachelorette‘s most seemingly successful couples, Bachelorette lead Rachel Lindsay and her winner/hubby of four years Bryan Abasolo, were splitting via an unexpected Instagram Story from Abasolo. “If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I don’t like to put my personal affairs on social media and like to keep a safe space for our family. Many of you know me as a chiropractor, and also as a husband, my proudest role so far,” he wrote on Jan. 2. “Rachel and I have made the difficult decision to part ways and start anew. My parents have been married forever and I’m a family man, but sometimes loving yourself and your partner means you must let go.”

   E! News reported that court documents from the divorce filing showed the couple split up on Dec. 31. and Abasolo filed for divorce on Jan. 2, citing irreconcilable differences and requesting spousal support. Since the news broke, Lindsay addressed the breakup on a Jan.5 episode of her Higher Learning podcast with Van Lathan, saying, “I didn’t think I would get emotional… Obviously it’s a difficult time, if you’ve read the headlines, and you’re probably wondering why I would even work. But to be honest with you I need to distract myself from myself and the best way to do that is to do something that I love and I love Higher Learning.” Lindsay told fans she’ll eventually go into further detail about the split, but she’s “just trying to take it day by day” for now.

3. The Kaitlyn Bristowe/Zac Clark Cheating Rumors (And Tayshia Adams’ Response)

   Remember when Kaitlyn Bristowe and Tayshia Adams co-hosted The Bachelorette following Chris Harrison’s departure? They were close pals! But that friendship came into question after fans saw Bristowe (who split from fiancé Jason Tartick over the summer) ring in the new year with Adams’ ex Zac Clark. After infidelity rumors started flying, Bristowe hopped on Instagram and commented on a post: “Hi! Here to say that there was never an ounce of cheating happening and I will not stand for this rumor. Y’all are NASTY in here. Anywho. Swear on my dogs lives. No cheating went on. So we can just put that to rest. Thank you!! Happy new year everyone. Go donate some blood or somethin!”

   Bristowe went on to share an Instagram Story of her own, which said, “I did not kill someone. I had a party with some of my favorite people. Shame On YOU… I wish I could just share my truth and tell you my side. It’s hard to bite my dang tongue sometimes. But you just go on and continue to have your own little made up story in your head and believe what you want to believe.” After all the online chatter, Adams seemingly responded by posting an unbothered Instagram photo of her at the beach with the caption, “did someone say somethin?!??” The two co-hosts were later spotted at The Golden Wedding together, so here’s hoping their friendship is still going strong!

4. Leslie Fhima’s Health Scare

   Before we dive into the televised nuptials, we need to address Golden Bachelor runner-up’s medical scare that happened mere days before the big event! In the lead-up to The Golden Wedding, Fhima hopped on Instagram to inform followers that she was in the hospital due to a bowel blockage. In a video recorded from her hospital bed, she explained that the issue was related to her childhood appendectomy and assured everyone her spirits were high despite the unexpected setback. On January 3, aka Golden Wedding Eve, Fhima posted another Instagram Story to thank fans for their support and deliver another status report. “I’m definitely on the mend,” Fhima explained. “I’m feeling so much better that now I get to go to the wedding and I can’t wait to support Gerry and Theresa in their beautiful day. And I know it’s gonna be really really amazing.” Not only did she show up looking stunning, but she danced the night away with her fellow contestants and Bachelor Nation alum.

5. The Golden Wedding

   The most highly-anticipated wedding in Bachelor history took place on Thursday, January 4, 2024 as Golden Bachelor fiancés Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist tied the knot in front of family, friends, franchise alum, and Bachelor Nation viewers watching from home. The two-hour televised event featured dozens of exciting franchise reunions, a glimpse at the wedding prep and reception, and more peak reality TV moments. Let’s dive in, shall we?

6. Brayden Bowers And Christina Mandrell’s Surprise Golden Engagement

   One of the biggest Golden Wedding surprises? Brayden Bowers proposed to girlfriend Christina Mandrell on live television mid-wedding special, and she accepted! As Bachelor Nation will recall, Bachelor in Paradise Season 9 ended with news that Bowers was dating Mandrell, a single mom and early frontrunner on Zach Shallcross’ season of The Bachelor. Though we haven’t seen their relationship play out on screen, Bowers gave us a glimpse of their time together in his proposal.

   “Christina, from the moment that you picked me up at the airport with your crazy-ass rose and your fake disguise I knew that there was something special and something different and I got to spend time with you and time with Blakely and introduce you to my family and for the first time in my life I feel like I found someone I can be myself with unapologetically,” he said. “I have no doubts that I want to spend the rest of my life with you and like Gerry said we have so little time…and so Christina Mandrell, will you marry me?”

   We also learned that Bowers is moving to Tennessee to start his life with Mandrell, and in case you were concerned, Jesse Palmer revealed that he called Gerry and Theresa ahead of time to ask for their blessing.

7. The Golden Bachelor Boudoir Photoshoot

   Pre-taped Golden Wedding footage showed fellow Golden Bachelor contestants Susan, Ellen, Sandra, and third runner-up Faith Martin meet with Theresa to give her a gift ahead of the wedding. But their daytime champagne toast turned into an impromptu boudoir photoshoot as a throwback to Theresa showing up on Night 1 in her birthday suit! That was followed by yet another naughty game of Never Have I Ever, plus, some strippers. These golden gals know how to party — especially thirsty Denzel Washington fan, Sandra!

8. Jesse Palmer, Soon-To-Be Daddy

   Gerry Turner may be Bachelor Nation’s go-to Grandzaddy, but host Jesse Palmer is about to become the franchise’s foremost Daddy. At the top of the live Golden Wedding special, the 45-year-old host told viewers that his wife Emely Fardo was mere days away from giving birth, so he was prepared to ditch the big day at any given moment. Thankfully, he made it to the reception before heading home, and we’re eagerly awaiting news on one of 2024’s biggest Bachelor babies!

9. Bachelorette Charity Lawson And Fiancé Dotun Olubeko Set A Wedding Date

   Another Golden Wedding shocker? Bachelorette Season 20’s Charity Lawson and Dotun Olubeko attended the event more in love than ever before and informed Bachelor Nation that they’ve officially set a date for their own wedding, which may or may not be televised! Stay tuned for more info ahead of the Fall 2025 ceremony.

10. Bachelor Nation Gets A Painful Look At Joey’s Season of The Bachelor

    Next up on Bachelor Nation’s watch list? The Bachelor Season 28 starring Bachelorette runner-up Joey Graziadei, which premieres later this month on ABC. Following The Golden Wedding, Bachelor Nation got a look at another franchise-related wedding, featuring Joey and several of his contestants. When one of Joey’s group date turns into a game of musical chairs, the women spring into competition mode, with one daring darling (Evalin, a 29-year-old from San Antonio, Texas) LEAPING over a table and crashing in a painful fashion to ensure she was able to grab a seat next to her man.

11. Nick Viall Welcomes Gypsy Rose Blanchard To The Viall Files

    Monday on The Viall Files click here to subscribe! https://t.co/KgTmwPFLrY pic.twitter.com/UvOFwZThNW

    — Nick Viall (@NickViall) January 5, 2024

    In the ultimate twist, this dramatic list of franchise developments ends with something I’m confident not a single soul had on their 2024 bingo cards: Bachelor alum Nick Viall welcoming Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her husband Ryan on The Viall Files for their first podcast interview following her release from prison. For anyone who wants the tea, the full episode was released Monday, January 8.

Well, there you have it, folks! What other delights and horrors await Bachelor Nation in the new year? Only time will tell, but the bar is currently set sky high.