Greg Grippo has reportedly been selected as the next The Bachelor star and ABC is embracing the fact he's a controversial and polarizing choice.
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Both Reality Steve spoiler blogger Steve Carbone and The Sun reported on Thursday that Greg, a 27-year-old marketing sales representative from Edison, NJ, is closing a deal with ABC to star on The Bachelor's 26th season in 2022.
RELATED LINK: GREG GRIPPO IS ALLEGEDLY A "SCHEMER" AND FAME-SEEKER WHO TRIED TO GET ON 'THE BACHELORETTE' FOR "YEARS"
Carbone tweeted, "(SPOILER): What I've been hearing the past 5 days or so regarding the next Bachelor are this...been told it's going to be Greg. Obviously it's never 'official' until ABC announces it (whenever that may be), but at this point I would be very surprised if it's not him."
While there are definitely huge Greg fans in The Bachelor universe, he unexpectedly dumped Katie Thurston after hometown dates on The Bachelorette's seventeenth season and was accused of having a big ego and gaslighting Katie during their tense breakup conversation, for which Greg has since apologized.
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"They pick who they pick and there will always be people upset no matter what," Carbone wrote.
"He's a polarizing figure that will have people talking, which is what they want," he added of ABC and producers. "But by all accounts and everything I'm being told, he's your next Bachelor."
The Sun, who dubbed Greg a "risky choice," reported that the former aspiring actor is "closing a deal" to become the franchise's next leading man.
"Execs have talked about Greg becoming The Bachelor since he left the show," according to a source close to the show.
"He would be one of, if not the most controversial pick and they know they will get backlash."
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However, the source told The Sun that producers aren't afraid of getting people fired up.
RELATED LINK: GREG GRIPPO ALLEGEDLY A "PHONY," SOURCE CLAIMS 'THE BACHELORETTE' FRONTRUNNER'S "NICE-BOY ACT IS NAUSEATING AND SAD FOR WOMEN"
In fact, protesting on social media has already begun, with many The Bachelor fans expressing outrage and anger at ABC's alleged decision to have Greg -- who has been described as "manipulative" and "fame hungry" by critics -- hand out roses.
"I DONT WANT GREG AS BACHELOR. Why are we rewarding bad behavior? Another f**ked up white guy. WAY TO GO ABC," one Twitter user wrote, according to The Sun.
And another person reportedly complained, "I have given the Bachelor franchise chance after chance after chance, but choosing Greg as the new Bachelor is my last straw."
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But the source close to the show reasoned that this type of reaction "happens nearly every season and happened the strongest with [Colton Underwood's] season which turned out to be one of the most-watched."
It apparently took Greg some time to come around to the idea of starring on the series, which is expected to premiere in early January.
"Greg wasn't interested at first but has opened up and has been seriously discussing the matter with execs," the source said.
"Nothing is set in stone until ABC announces it publicly but it's looking like, Greg will be the next Bachelor."
Bachelor Nation has assumed the next Bachelor would either be Greg, single dad Michael Allio or pro football player Andrew Spencer from Katie's season.
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Bachelor in Paradise bartender Wells Adams also recently said there's a man appearing on Season 7 of the summer spinoff, which just premiered on August 16, who would make a great Bachelor as well.
"I think that everyone should wait for Paradise to air before we anoint anyone the next Bachelor," Wells told former The Bachelor star Nick Viall on an episode of "The Viall Files" earlier this month.
"I think that there is one particular person that everyone is going to want to be the Bachelor," Wells continued, "and whether or not they are even available to be the next Bachelor at the end of it remains to be seen."
Wells went on to confirm Paradise has a Bachelor candidate by adding, "There is a big star in Paradise this year."
After watching Bachelor in Paradise's Season 7 premiere, Nick reasoned on his podcast that Wells must have been talking about Joe "Grocery Store Joe" Amabile because the endearing and quirky 35-year-old Chicago native seems to be receiving "a Bachelor edit."
"I loved Joe this episode," Nick said earlier this week. "I thought there's a real honesty and earnestness... You could see him really struggling [with his memories of ex Kendall Long]. I think it's very relatable."
The Season 21 The Bachelor star and two-time The Bachelorette runner-up suggested Joe is a genuine and authentic guy who actually speaks what's on his mind and is "very comfortable with himself."
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOW: WHOM DID 'THE BACHELORETTE' STARS AND THEIR BACHELOR PICKS ULTIMATELY END UP WITH?! (PHOTOS)
"He's probably one of the best people at owning his awkwardness and leaning into it and not pretending he's not being awkward," Nick added, "and that comes across very charming."
Meanwhile, a source claiming to be Greg's friend for years previously described Greg as an over-confident "schemer" and "fame seeker" who is a "phony" and has allegedly manipulated women in the past and played with their emotions.
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Greg ended up breaking Katie's heart on The Bachelorette because he said Katie had failed to give him the validation and reassurance he needed once he poured his heart out to her and declared his love.
Greg essentially scolded Katie for being too focused on her Bachelorette role when he desperately wanted their relationship to be real and for Katie to fully express her feelings to him. The relationship ended brutally and with apparent animosity on both sides.
Katie ended up falling in love with her ultimate The Bachelorette winner, Blake Moynes, and the couple got engaged during the Season 17 finale. They are still happy and together to this day.
Although Greg initially said on After the Final Rose he had "no regrets" about his The Bachelorette stint, Greg subsequently called himself an immature "ass" and "petulant child" for the way he had treated Katie during a recent appearance on "The Viall Files."
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS)
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