Charity Lawson<\/strong><\/a> is passing the bouquet of roses to Joey Graziadei<\/strong>.<\/p>\n During After the Final Rose<\/em><\/a> on Monday, August 21, Jesse Palmer<\/strong><\/a> announced Joey, 28, will be the star of season 28 of The Bachelor.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201c[It\u2019s] definitely surreal. It is sinking in very slowly, but I am trying my best just to stay present, enjoy it,\u201d Joey said. \u201cBut it\u2019s crazy. I\u2019ll be the first person to say. I never expected this at all. [I] didn\u2019t know this is what my life was turning into. Crazy stuff! \u2026 I put [looking for The One on] the back burner for a while I\u2019m ready to prioritize it again.\u201d<\/p>\n Earlier during Monday\u2019s episode, Charity got emotional as she stopped Joey before he got down on one knee because she had stronger feelings for Dotun Olubeko<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cSharing this journey with you has been far more than I could have ever asked for. And when I think and look at our love, it is so special. It\u2019s rare, and people search their whole lives looking for something like this. And when I look into your eyes, I\u2019m reminded of how you always put me first. And you\u2019ve been very consistent in the love that you\u2019ve shown. And those things, I\u2019ve never experienced before. I never doubted, never questioned how deep our love is. I know it\u2019s there. And I feel it. But \u2026\u201d Charity said before she started crying. \u201cAs crazy as it sounds, I\u2019ve found love that\u2019s deeper with someone else. And it won\u2019t make sense in this moment, and \u2014 it\u2019s hard to get these words out. Because the truth is, Joey, that I am in love with you. \u2026 I\u2019m truly broken and I know this is hard for you.\u201d<\/p>\n Joey comforted Charity, telling her: \u201cI just want you to be happy, that\u2019s all. And this is one step closer to you being happy.\u201d<\/p>\n During AFR<\/em>, Joey\u00a0reiterated that he would always \u201chave love\u201d for Charity.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s something that I can\u2019t even explain to someone else,\u201d he said. \u201cThis was your story and as I said that day, I felt lucky to be part of it, so thank you for everything. And you know I wish you and whatever happens next, nothing but the best.\u201d<\/p>\n For those who didn\u2019t watch Charity\u2019s season, Joey is a tennis pro who relocated to Koloa, Hawaii, after graduating from West Chester University in Pennsylvania. \u201cAs the Bachelor, [Joey] is looking for a life partner who is outgoing, caring, and shares his love for adventure and exploring the outdoors,\u201d ABC said in a press release on Monday. \u201cHe loves hiking, surfing and ending his days watching the sunset but knows he has much more love to give, and the only thing missing is someone with whom to share his life.\u201d<\/p>\n Joey\u2019s journey will likely start airing in January 2024. ABC announced earlier on Monday that The Golden Bachelor<\/em>, starring Gerry Turner<\/strong><\/a>, will premiere<\/a> on Thursday, September 28, at 8 p.m. ET followed by season 9 of Bachelor in Paradise<\/a> <\/em>at 9 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Joey](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Joey-Graziadei-Announced-as-Season-28-Bachelor.jpg?w=700&quality=86&strip=all\")
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