This is one “Bachelorette” twist Jesse Palmer is grateful to leave in the rearview.
When reflecting on his experience as host of the long-running ABC reality series, the former Giants quarterback revealed he “almost died in Fiji” while shooting Season 20 of the series, which chronicled Charity Lawson’s journey to find love in 2023.
“Charity and [constant] Dotun [Olubeko] had this amazing one-on-one date on this secluded little island in the middle of the water. I watched them on their date and thought about how I’d love to just go out there by myself and spend a couple hours on that beach when we were done filming. So I went out there,” Palmer, 47, recalled to Parade in an interview published Wednesday.
“But then the storm blew in, and the tide started climbing up onto the beach — to the point where the beach almost got completely covered by the ocean. I’m just out in the middle of the ocean, and there’s nothing there. And I thought to myself, ‘I’m just going to have to tread water and hope a boat comes by and picks me up.’”
Although “a boat came out to check on” Palmer “at the very last second,” the harrowing ordeal rattled the Toronto native.
“I did have some bad thoughts for a moment. Like, this is so crazy and ironic if this is how it ends,” he said.
The Giants’ fourth-round pick in 2001, Palmer spent five seasons in the league between New York and San Francisco before turning to the CFL.
In 2004, while still with the Giants, Palmer starred in Season 5 of “The Bachelor.” He pursued a relationship with 21-year-old law student Jessica Bowlin, but they parted ways after the finale.
Palmer has been married to Emely Fardo since 2020.
A year after the couple tied the knot, Palmer was named the new host of “The Bachelor” franchise.
He succeeded longtime host Chris Harrison, who exited the series after being embroiled in controversy for defending former “Bachelor” contestant Rachael Kirkconnell as photos of her attending an Antebellum-themed party surfaced.
Season 22 of “The Bachelorette” was canceled Thursday in the wake of an alleged domestic abuse dispute involving star Taylor Frankie Paul and her ex, Dakota Mortensen.
