If you ask any member of Bachelor Nation who their least favorite Bachelor is, there’s a pretty good chance they’ll have a strong opinion. For all the franchise lacks in authenticity (not to mention diversity), it’s never failed to spark controversy among its fans, season after season. Viewers will divide into two camps; for example, the 24th season of The Bachelor divided fans into those who thought Peter Weber might be the franchise’s worst yet, and those who enjoyed his whiplash-inducing journey (no, I was not #TeamPeter). For every beloved Bachelor alum like Ben Higgins, there’s one who sparked more anger than affection, like Juan Pablo Galavis. But as we begin Clayton Echard’s coolly-anticipated journey, who really got the most attention from viewers? Using SEMRush data from 2020, we got a clear look at the top ten least popular Bachelor men of all time, ranked.
Per this data, most popular refers to Bachelors who have been searched the most, while least popular refers to Bachelors who have been searched the least. Basically, the least popular Bachelors are those fans didn’t really care to find out more about, likely because their season didn’t make much of an impression. Most of the “least popular” Bachelors on this list are those who broke with tradition in a way that indicated they didn’t take the process particularly seriously, or who simply weren’t meant for reality TV.
While Chris Harrison will determinedly call each season of The Bachelor the most dramatic season ever, let’s see what fans really thought of the show’s 24 leads. These are the top ten least popular Bachelor men, ranked from least to most popular.
A version of this story was originally published in 2020.
1. Matt Grant
Matt Grant was the least popular of The Bachelor’s 24 seasons. He was the series’ first British lead in season 12, and proposed to Shayne Lamas in the finale, but the couple broke up within the year.
2. Andrew Baldwin
US Naval Officer Andrew Baldwin took on the series in season 10, titled The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman. While he proposed to Tessa Horst in the finale, the couple broke things off while he was on deployment eight months later.
3. Lorenzo Borghese
Italian-American entrepreneur Lorenzo Borghese was the series lead in season 9’s The Bachelor: Rome, but even the Italian backdrop couldn’t save his season. He ended the season with Jennifer Wilson, though he didn’t propose, and later dated runner-up Sadie Murray after he and Wilson had parted ways.
4. Byron Velvick
Fisherman and ESPN commentator Byron Velvick led season 6 of The Bachelor, and ended up with contestant Mary Delgado. After a 2004 proposal, Delgado was arrested in 2007 for assaulting Velvick after the couple had appeared on a Bachelor live show. They ultimately split in 2009.
5. Aaron Buerge
Banker Aaron Buerge was the series’ second-ever Bachelor, and he ended his season by proposing to Helene Eksterowicz. The couple ended things within the year.
6. Travis Lane Stork
Medical doctor Travis Lane Stork starred in season 8 of The Bachelor, called The Bachelor: Paris. He didn’t propose to final pick Sarah Stone, and the couple broke up just one week after the finale aired.
7. Alex Michel
Consultant Alex Michel, AKA the original Bachelor, led the first-ever season in 2002. He picked Amanda Marsh for his final rose, but didn’t propose. Unsurprisingly, the couple split up a few months later.
8. Bob Guiney
Musician, entrepreneur, and TV host Bob Guiney was the first Bachelor to be chosen after being rejected on the first-ever season of The Bachelorette. Guiney took over season 4, ultimately offering Estella Gardinier his final rose and a “promise ring,” but not a proposal. They broke up months later.
9. Ben Flajnik
Winemaker Ben Flajnik starred in season 16 of The Bachelor after being rejected in the finale of Ashley Hebert’s Bachelorette season. He proposed to Courtney Robertson in the finale, but the couple broke off the engagement a year later — after Robertson was spotted kissing future Bachelor lead Arie Luyendyk Jr.
10. Andrew Firestone
Sales manager Andrew Firestone helmed season 3 of The Bachelor, proposing to Jen Schefft in the series finale. Schefft moved to California to be with Firestone, but the couple broke up within the year and Schefft went on to star in Season 3 of The Bachelorette.
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