This plot twist might be familiar? While fans continue to speculate how Season 24 of The Bachelor, starring Peter Weber, ends exactly, one rather controversial former lead, Arie Luyendyk Jr., shared his advice on Tuesday, March 10—regardless of the outcome.
Monday night’s finale ended with Bachelor Peter Weber being dumped by Madison Prewett in a dramatic (buggy and muggy) showdown in Australia. Weber’s other runner-up, Hannah Ann Sluss, remains in the picture, but it’s unclear to fans whether Weber will propose or ditch the situation in pursuit of Prewett. With so many factors up in the air, Luyendyk referred to his rather unpredictable outcome from 2018 to encourage Weber.
To recall what happened on what still remains “the most dramatic season ever” (as Chris Harrison would say), race car driver Luyendyk famously proposed to Becca Kufrin on his season finale, only to dump his former fiancée back in the U.S. Meanwhile, cameras rolled and documented the entire uncomfortable breakup, causing an uproar amongst fans. All this was done so that Luyendyk could pursue his runner-up, Lauren Burnham, whom he ended up marrying a year later in Hawaii. They are now parents to a baby girl and happily married in Arizona.
(ABC/Paul Hebert)
ARIE LUYENDYK JR., CHRIS HARRISON
THE BACHELOR – “The Bachelor: Season Finale Part 1” – Peter’s romantic journey is coming to an unbelievable conclusion. After the shocking ending to the fantasy suite dates, Peter, Hannah and Madison travel to Alice Springs, Australia, on night one of a two-night, live special, season finale event on “The Bachelor,” MONDAY, MARCH 9 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC. (ABC/John Fleenor)
CHRIS HARRISON, PETER WEBER
All that aside, if anyone is able to empathize with Weber, it’s certainly Luyendyk. The proud husband and dad posted a photo with his wife on the social platform hours before Part 2 of Weber’s Bachelor finale and wrote, “2 years ago the morning after our dramatic finale before going on @goodmorningamerica.”
“Hoping @pilot_pete finds his way despite what road it takes to get there,” he added. “At the end of the day, it’s a decision that leads to the rest of your life and however hard and complicated it’s 1000% worth the risk. Don’t know how this season ends but don’t be quick to pass judgment if it isn’t what you at home want or expect from it. So much more to this journey than the viewer sees. Can’t wait to see what happens!”
“Yes to all this!” Burnham commented. “Love you!!”
The couple married at a converted sugar mill in Maui in January 2019. The day was exceptional in every way—especially when Burnham (who was pregnant at the time) walked down the aisle. “It was a moment I’ll never forget,” Luyendyk told The Knot. “As soon as I saw her, I began to cry. All I could say to myself was, ‘Hold it together!’ She looked just as I had imagined when I played the scene in my head a thousand times before that day… perfect.”
“I knew I was going to be emotional once I saw Arie, because I, too, had been picturing that moment in my head over and over again,” Burnham told us in the same interview. “I was tearing up as I walked towards Arie, but my dad did a good job of keeping things light for me.”
For the spouses, their rocky Bachelor finale start only helped their relationship solidify. “We’re just really happy with each other and we vibe well together,” Burnham previously said. “We’re best friends, so we’re just ready for that next step.”