JESSE Palmer has revealed he secretly married his fiancée Emely Fardo last year.
The 42-year-old TV personality, who has just been named the new host of The Bachelor, said “I do” in a ceremony in June 2020.
The couple were originally set to marry in France but were forced to cancel due to the pandemic.
Now, People reports that they tied the knot at a friend’s house in Connecticut.
“We were only able to invite a small group of close friends that live in the greater N.Y.C. area, and that were in quarantine at the time,” the couple told the publication.
“We had a lovely afternoon and look forward to celebrating our love with our parents and immediate families all together soon!”
The couple hinted they were already married as they’ve been sporting wedding bands in their social media posts and Emely, 35, also changed her last name to Palmer on her Instagram page.
The couple got engaged in Paris in July 2019 after dating since 2017.
“I’ve been so enamored, so in love with this woman and it only has grown. I’m head over heels for her,” the former NFL player told The Daily Mail at the time of his engagement.
Last week, Jesse was named as the host of the 26th season of The Bachelor.
“For more than 20 years, The Bachelor has brought the world dozens of unforgettable love stories, including at one time, my own,” Jesse said in a statement to Variety.
“Falling in love is one of life’s greatest gifts, and I am humbled by the opportunity to return to the show as host this season to offer the newest Bachelor advice gained from firsthand experience and I am grateful to play a small part in his journey.”
Jesse, 42, is best known as a television broadcaster and former NFL quarterback.
He also starred as The Bachelor himself during season five, which aired in 2004.
HOSTING CREDENTIALS
Jesse is no stranger to The Walt Disney Company, which owns ABC.
He works as a sports commentator on ESPN, while the former NFL player previously served as a special contributor on Good Morning America and across ABC News.
He currently hosts the network’s summer series The Ultimate Surfer and he previously hosted ABC’s short lived reality series The Proposal in 2018, which was created by The Bachelor boss Mike Fleiss.
While Jesse has only signed on to serve as the host for the upcoming season, insiders told Variety that producers hope to bring him on full time for future seasons of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette.
CHRIS’ FIRING
The new host was named months after longtime host Chris Harrison, 50, stepped down.
Chris exited the franchise after he defended Georgia contestant Rachael Kirkconnell, who was discovered to have attended an Antebellum plantation-themed party in 2018.
After the photos resurfaced, Chris defended her during an interview with former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay on Extra.
Earlier this year, Bachelor fans were shocked when it was announced Chris would to be replaced by Tayshia Adams, 31, and Kaitlyn Bristowe, 36, for The Bachelorette.
Additionally, the franchise hired guests hosts to fill in during the most recent season of Bachelor in Paradise.
THE NEW BACHELOR
Jesse will serve as the host as new Bachelor Clayton Echard searches for love on the dating reality show.
Variety previously reported that Clayton, 28, has been tapped as the next Bachelor.
Fans of the dating franchise have not yet met Clayton, who will appear as a contestant on Michelle Young’s upcoming season of The Bachelorette.
Sources told the outlet that producers quickly fell in love with Clayton and he rose to the top of the network’s shortlist.
After the network a number of other men from Bachelor Nation to fill the leading role, Clayton was named the next Bachelor.
