Contestant Luke Parker has made waves on this season of The Bachelorette, rubbing his fellow contestants (and large swathes of the viewing public) the wrong way ever since he declared his love for Bachelorette Hannah Brown during the first group date. The “villain” of season 15 has been determined to win the heart of the show’s lead, but his overconfident manner and territorial behavior have given Hannah some serious doubts about his suitability as a potential fiancée. To find out more about the controversial reality TV star, take a look at these 10 fast facts.
1. He’s a keen athlete
24-year-old Luke hails from Gainesville, GA. After graduating from Ponte Vedra High School, Luke enrolled in a Communications — Sports Management degree at High Point University. After graduating from High Point in 2015, Luke decided to pursue Sports Management further at Faulkner University in the hope of turning it into a career. During his time at the university, Luke was a key player on the university’s baseball team. He’s kept up the interest in fitness since leaving education but now favors CrossFit as his preferred method of keeping trim.
2. He used to be a major player
These days, Luke is a committed Christian, but back in his younger days, he was a major player and had no hesitation in using his good lucks to win girls. “I think I’m a good-looking guy,” he explained. “When I was in college, a lot of the girls around me thought so, too”, adding that he spent his student days “chasing sex and caught up in sin of all kinds.” Since leaving university, Luke has put his bad boy days firmly behind him, and is determined on becoming a one-woman guy from now on.
3. He’s a devout Christian
Luke has been very open about his faith during the show, something which initially attracted Hannah to him, but which later caused some conflict when they revealed their very different attitudes to pre-marital sex. In an effort to share his faith with Hannah, he accompanied her on a visit to his local church, Christ Place Church, at which he teaches Sunday school. During the episode, Parker revealed how he came to faith after having a religious experience in the shower, in which he heard God “speak” to him. He’s been a believer ever since.
4. He can thank his sister-in-law for his place on the show
Luke’s place on Season 15 of The Bachelorette was less of his own making and more of his sister-in-law, Hannah Parker’s. “This time last year, he went through a bad break up,” Hannah explained to the Gainesville Times. ” I watch the show, so my husband and I were just sitting there and I was like, ‘I’m going to apply Luke for the show and just see what happens.”
5. He always wanted the lead to be Hannah
During the season premiere, Luke seemed visibly relieved to see that the lead was Hannah, telling her: “You are the only one that I wanted to be the next bachelorette. And now that I’m here actually holding your hands, in real life, seriously this is just blowing my mind and I seriously cannot wait to get to know you on a deeper level and just go on this adventure with you.” According to his brother Mike, the slightly-over-the top reaction was entirely genuine, as Luke had previously told him that he didn’t want to be on the show if its lead was anybody other than the former “The Bachelor” participant, Hannah.
6. He was the first to receive a rose
During the After the Final Rose special in May, Luke was one of the first of the contestants to be introduced to Hannah, and the first to receive a rose. Going by past precedent, this could mean good things, as Reality Steve noted in the tweet “(The) last four guys who received the first impression rose on the Bachelorette went on to get the final rose. Hannah B. gave her first impression rose to Luke Parker”. Whether this season’s outcome will follow past precedent, we’ll have to wait and see.
7. He has supporters in the Bachelor community
While Hannah and fellow Bachelor contestant Caelynn Miller-Keyes may not have the friendliest of histories, that hasn’t stopped Caelynn following her former competitor’s antics with interests. According to Caelynn (who, after all, knows a thing or two about reality TV show love matches), Luke and Hannah are the perfect match. “I read an article online that said that he’s a Christian, and Hannah’s faith’s important to her – she’s a strong Christian,” she revealed to Us Weekly. “They’re both from the South, I see that happening.”
8. He’s found watching himself on TV difficult
While filming The Bachelorette couldn’t always have been an easy ride, Luke has apparently found the experience of watching himself on TV even more difficult. In an Instagram message posted in May, Luke admitted that he had “flaws” and had made “mistakes”, but credited the experience with helping him grow and mature as a man. “For those of you who are on this journey with me I am grateful for your support and hope you get to learn and grow from my mistakes with me!” he added.
9. Demi Lovato isn’t a fan
It’s fair to say Luke has been one of, if not the, most controversial figure of this season’s The Bachelorette. His cockiness and overbearing manner haven’t just drawn the ire of his fellow contestants, it’s also drawn outrage from several of the show’s celebrity fans. Popstar Demi Lovato is just one of many who have taken to social media to warn Hannah of his flaws; “Hannah, honey, do not trust him!!!!!!” she wrote.
10. His occupation is listed as “Crossfit”
Since graduating from university, Parker has held a number of positions, including as a stint as an import/ export manager for Parker Warehouse. According to his LinkedIn profile, he also currently has a part time job in CrossFit… your guess is as good as ours.
