“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
After The single person Season 28 ended on March 25, a popular event tweeted fan account this familiar phrase knowing full well that Bachelor Nation was saying goodbye to Joey Graziadei, the greatest Bachelor a lead that we might witness in this life.
Those who saw the 28-year-old tennis professional become the finalist of Charity Lawson’s season. The Bachelorette I got my first glimpse of Graziadei’s warm heart, her dreamy green eyes, and her immense capacity to love. Hopes were high heading into Graziadei’s season, but from night one to his unprecedented three-hour finale, he exceeded expectations on every occasion, elevating the Bachelor bar to a height that I’m not yet sure any other mortal can surpass.
As Graziadei’s second chance at finding love within the franchise aired, viewers were quick to dub him “The Best Bachelor” and praise season 28 for restoring hope in TV romance -reality.
When asked what set his journey apart from others, Graziadei – as humble as ever – told Decider over Zoom: “I won’t take any credit. I’ll put it on women. I think they were amazing this year. Part of the reason season 28 was such a success is that it didn’t shy away from highlighting formative life experiences — both positive and negative. Graziadei and the producers provided a safe space where contestants felt comfortable talking about everything from health issues like Lyme disease, hearing loss and endometriosis to unconventional family dynamics, past relationships and to the death of loved ones. In doing so, the stories moved and educated viewers, helping those who had similar experiences feel less alone. But Graziadei’s emotional intelligence, empathy, and refreshing listening and communication skills took that vulnerability to the next level.
Further proof of Graziadei’s great stature came during the Women Tell All event, when all 16 contestants in attendance had nothing negative to say about her. Instead of criticizing his actions or expressing disappointment, as we saw in past seasons, they thanked him for his grace and for changing their lives for the better. Sydney Gordon – who Graziadei sent home after a one-on-one date with fan-favorite contestant Maria Georgas following their ongoing feud – even revealed she was the victim of Bullied by fans when the episodes aired, Graziadei reached out and offered support. “The real Joey that you see on screen, he’s like that in real life,” she said.
As a leader, Graziadei made a concerted effort not to get lost throughout the journey, continually supported his wives, and thoughtfully handled the dramas at home. But he also wasn’t afraid to show off his personality and openly embraced moments with Jesse Palmer and opportunities to let his goofy, ditzy sides shine.
Although we haven’t heard much about his own story this season, the protagonist has had his share of refreshingly honest moments on camera, including an emotional one-on-one with the producers in episode 6 where he spoke tearfully about his fears and insecurities. It’s rare to see a stud who simultaneously dates multiple women in a highly sought-after position of power on reality TV demonstrate intense introspection, repeatedly express his doubts, and offer generous transparency every step of the way , but Graziadei proved that sensitivity is both a strength and an ignition. (He even constantly stressed the importance of mental health resources. Swoon!)
“I definitely think I’m biased. Joey is an extraordinary man. He has such a big heart and is very intentional. So I think the season showed how genuine he is,” Graziadei’s winner/fiancé Kelsey Anderson told Decider when asked what made season 28 successful. “He’s also nice to look at,” she laughed.
Yeah. That too!
Graziadei’s season didn’t just bring good vibes and racing hearts. It was also a serious audience success which even surprised the producers. “What we experienced this year in Joey’s season is kind of an anomaly, which we’re really excited about…I think Joey’s Episode 1 numbers went up maybe because of Golden“, executive producer Jason Ehrlich told Decider in a February interview. “Joey is fantastic. He’s an incredible Bachelor. But his Show 1 numbers were up. Show 2’s episode count was higher than that of Show 1 and that of Show 3 was higher than that of Show 2, which excites us the most, because it indicates that people didn’t just come to taste Show 1. That never happens. Usually there has a dip after show 2, then it goes back up towards the finale. But the fact that more people are coming is a testament to the fact that Joey’s season is fantastic.
Within the franchise, Graziadei received overwhelming praise from his colleagues Bachelor contestants and other fan-favorite characters, including Golden Baccalaureate Gerry Turner, who said: “From Golden’s point of view, he absolutely killed it. »
After the final, Jason Tartick posted on Instagram: “The epitome of class! In my humble opinion, one of the best, if not the best Bachelor we’ve ever seen. So happy for you man! Tanner Courtad called Graziadei “the Mount Rushmore of singles.” And John Henry Spurlock said: “Honestly, I feel bad for the next Bachelor because good luck with the rest. Turn down the mic! »
“I think it’s for a reason,” Grazidei said when Decider asked his opinion on his “Best Bachelor” label. “They were able to see a beautiful love story. They were able to see women being open about who they were and discovering different sides of themselves. It was unique. It was a special season. They can call it whatever they want, but I know I’m the lucky one here.
New York Post
