All it took was one word to go viral: “Whaboom.” That, and a convulsive head shake to go with it.
One contestant on this season’s The Bachelorette has taken the internet by storm since making his debut on Monday night’s premiere.
His name is Lucas Yancey, and the 30-year-old’s job was labeled onscreen simply as “Whaboom.”He explained to Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay — the historic first black lead of the long-running ABC franchise — that “Whaboom” is a lifestyle. When she asked for a demonstration, he screamed “Whaboom!” while having a near physical fit.
Thanks to Bachelor Nation, a catchphrase was born.
It didn’t take long, however, for viewers to question whether Yancey, who rocked his own “Whaboom” merchandise throughout the premiere, is on the show for “the right reasons” — a phrase often used to describe contestants who appear to be more interested in fame than love.
Most of Lindsay’s castmembers — who make up the most diverse grouping in the history of the long-running franchise — boast successful careers, such as as lawyers, medical professionals or consultants. But Yancey’s official occupation on the ABC website is listed only as “a whaboom,” with no further details. He also describes himself as a fan of the “good old bump and grind” and names his best one-night stand as having a threesome at a wedding.
Yancey quickly emerged as the eyebrow-raising star of season 13, becoming fodder for late-night television — the focus of two Tonight Show segments — and dominating the social conversation: Yancey’s arrival was the most tweeted moment of the night, according to Twitter, and he accounted for 14 percent of The Bachelorette‘s social conversation across platforms, according to audience-insights firm Fizziology.
The “Whaboom” guy is far from the first gimmicky contestant to be featured during the traditional Night One limousine entrances.
(Last season’s talker was a contestant who dressed in costume as a shark but thought she was a dolphin.) Before the debut of Bachelor spinoff series Bachelor in Paradise in 2014, the jokers usually got the boot after the first night. Now, however, the ones who are able to make a name for themselves go on to compete in the summer challenge, often becoming a star of the franchise — and often furthering their brand in the process.Ahead of Monday’s episode, The Hollywood Reporter did a little digging and discovered Yancey has an acting background that questions the intentions of “Whaboom’s” ventures on The Bachelorette. Here’s how…
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