![](https://uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/arie.jpg)
For the second year in a row, The Bachelor has left Bachelor Nation stunned by its choice for the new leading man for the popular reality dating series. Arie Luyendyk Jr., a 35-year-old professional race car driver (son of two-time Indianapolis 500 winning driver Arie Luyendyk) and runner up on Emily Maynard’s season eight of The Bachelorette, has been named as season 22’s Bachelor. The move comes particularly out of left field as Luyendyk Jr. has not been involved with the franchise at all since 2012.
WATCH: A look back at @ariejr's journey on Season 8 of the @BacheloretteABC, before becoming the newest Bachelor!@BachelorABC #TheBachelor pic.twitter.com/p0RIRGr5Xg
— Good Morning America (@GMA) September 7, 2017
Typically, the new Bachelor or Bachelorette is chosen from the pool of runners up from the previous respective season. Although last year the series also deviated from form by choosing Nick Viall, who had recently competed in the free-for-all Bachelor in Paradise instead of one of JoJo Fletcher’s (Bachelorette season 12) castoffs.
Most were expecting frontrunner Peter Kraus, who was the runner up on Rachel Lindsay’s season of The Bachelorette; Eric Bigger or Dean Unglert, who came in third and fourth on Rachel’s season, respectively; or even fan favorite Wells Adams, who inexplicably appears as the bartender on the current season of Bachelor in Paradise.
Suffice to say, fans were not happy with the choice, and many took to Twitter to voice their displeasure. With the short attention span of reality TV viewers, many are asking the question, who is this guy, anyway?
Me when they revealed #TheBachelor pic.twitter.com/hS7j0q6ueV
— Shayla Smith (@shaylaasmith) September 7, 2017
Could not be more underwhelmed. So many options and 🤔#TheBachelor pic.twitter.com/Bxf5OoteSu
— Samantha Elizabeth 💫 (@samxo) September 7, 2017
All of #bachelornation rn 🥀 #thebachelor pic.twitter.com/K1TxOE8nnW
— Hannah Young (@uhhuhhannah) September 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/kristen__spires/status/905766615836495872
https://twitter.com/AlbrechtKelli/status/905770889001791488
My actual reaction to #TheBachelor announcement pic.twitter.com/dKruRYsCGk
— Alyssa (@alyssacf10) September 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/brittkaszuba/status/905774076983173120
https://twitter.com/kaybe224/status/905765520481427460
If you think we're all disappointed, imagine the people who signed up to be a contestant thinking it'd be Peter, Wells or Eric! #thebachelor
— Amanda (@gallagal266) September 7, 2017
When you order something online vs. when it arrives in the mail #TheBachelor pic.twitter.com/z2wKZvDu2v
— Possessionista (@Possessionista) September 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/Petty_Bach/status/905642486952976385
https://twitter.com/BrettSVergara/status/905768193242927104
Well, you know how the saying goes: Fool us once, shame on The Bachelor, fool us twice, shame on us.
(Via EOnline)