Bachelor In Paradise contestant Ali Oetjen announced as next Bachelorette

FOLLOWING her stint in Paradise, Ali Oetjen has been announced as the next Bachelorette, leaving many Bach fans asking: ‘Her?’

TEN have announced the next Bachelorette — but it’s not who everyone was expecting, and fans of the show aren’t happy.

Lisa Hyde was believed to be appearing as the next Bachelorette for the reality TV dating show, having previously appeared on Blake Garvey’s season of The Bachelor — and more recently, as a contestant on Bachelor In Paradise.

However, on Monday night, Ten announced Ali Oetjen would be Australia’s Bachelorette in the fourth season of The Bachelorette Australia, coming later this year.

Meet Australia’s New Bachelorette: Ali Oetjen

The announcement came right after the Bachelor In Paradise finale had finished airing — and minutes after viewers had watched Oetjen pledge her love to American contestant Grant during their commitment ceremony.

Ali told Grant she was “looking forward to the day where we can raise our children together in a home full of peace and love and happiness,” while Grant insisted that “I already know I want to, and I will, spent the rest of my life with you.”

Guess not, huh?

Host Osher Gunsberg took to social media after the show to explain how Oetjen went from that loved-up public pronouncement to being the new Bachelorette.

“After appearing on Bachelor In Paradise, unfortunately distance proved too big a hurdle for Ali & Grant. Eager to make it third time lucky in love, Ali is ready to call the shots,” he wrote on Instagram.

But the announcement about the two-time contestant — Oetjen first appeared in the inaugural 2013 season of The Bachelor Australia before her stint in Paradise — was met with a decidedly mixed response from viewers, many of whom branded the reality TV veteran boring.

Who else yelled NO when Ali was revealed as the next bachelorette..... #BachelorInParadiseAU

— dafs (@minyardsten) April 30, 2018

#BachelorinParadiseAU Urgh Ali as the next Bachelorette - she has ZERO personality. Boooring.

— Gidgit VonLaRue (@GidgitVonLaRue) April 30, 2018

ALI AS THE BACHELORETTE IS GONNA BE THE MOST BORING THING ON EARTH

— Robot Queen (@lmogenRose) April 30, 2018

honestly whom is your casting director fire them we literally just endured matty j

— Yes (@irsnaar) April 30, 2018

I’m sure she’s very interesting although she looks like beach Barbie but gosh she was dull in #BachelorInParadiseAU

— Tim Chan💧 (@timchanofficial) April 30, 2018

Okay so not florence??? that'd be the best decision not only for casting, ratings, and drama, but we actually like her because she's funny and unfiltered!

— jordz🙃 (@msjordzadele) April 30, 2018

Grant was an actor and Bachelor in paradise was a massive ploy to make Ali relevant again so she could be the next bachelorette #BachelorInParadiseAU #conspiracy

— Kaity Weldon (@KaityWeldon1) April 30, 2018

I'm so confused about who at channel 10 sat through the editing process of this show and looked at ali and thought she would be a good pick for the bachelorette #bachelorinparadiseau

— kate (@hardboiledkate) April 30, 2018

In an interview with Fifi, Fev & Byron on 101.9 Fox FM this morning, Oetjen appeared defensive when asked about what had taken place between she and Grant’s commitment ceremony and her announcement as the newBachelorette.

“First of all, everyone has to realise I’m in Adelaide, I’m not in Fiji, and that [the show] was filmed months ago. Grant and I had such an amazing time in Fiji ... everything that was said and done in Fiji was genuine. We tried to make the long distance work, I went over to LA to see him, but we realised that distance was just too hard.”

Asked if she found Grant’s behaviour fake when watching the show back, Oetjen hesitated.

“Uh ... there are lots of rumours around the show and ... yeah. Grant and I are keeping some things private. I want to respect us because we had a really meaningful relationship, and it just didn’t work out.”

She said she and Grant were no longer in touch. Oetjen’s season of The Bachelorette will air on Ten later this year.