And the Next [Shocking] Bachelorette Is...

Was it Britt, Kaitlyn or another woman who was revealed to be the star of the ABC hit franchise's next season? Find out!

By Tierney Bricker, Lauren Piester Mar 10, 2015 3:05 AMTags
Kaitlyn, Britt, The Bachelor, Season 19ABC/Craig Sjodin

Uh, what? 

After months of speculation, rumors, and debate, the new Bachelorette has finally been named — but there's a twist. 

There was apparently such a divide (amongst people who were apparently not in that Kaitlyn-skewing studio audience) between who wanted Britt Nilsson or Kaitlyn Bristowe to be the next Bachelorette that the producers decided to just not decide. 

Yeah. You read that right. There will be two Bachelorettes next season. 

Chris Harrison made the announcement at the end of tonight's live After the Rose ceremony following The Bachelor finale. 

"For the first time in Bachelorette history, we're gonna have two Bachelorettes," he told a stunned and confused studio audience. "That's right, it is going to be Britt and Kaitlyn. So tthe 25 men, on night one, they are going to have the ultimate say on who they think would make the best wife." 

According to an official ABC press release, both Britt and Kaitlyn will go on dates with all of the suitors, and it will be up to the men to decide who they like better. Eventually, only one woman will be left to hand out the final rose. 

At least both Britt and Kaitlyn seemed as confused as we are right now.

"I'd say we would make a prety good first impression with the tears and the laughs," Kaitlyn said, and Britt went a little more diplomatic. 

"I mean, I'm super grateful, I think it's an amazing opportunity, it's more than I can comprehend, I'm still having trouble processing it, but I love Kaitlyn, so we'll see how it goes," the actress/model/waitress said. 

"I think we discussed that we'll end up in the same hottub at some point," added Kaitlyn, ever the joker. 

Kaitlyn also admitted that her first thoughts when hearing the news were, "Well, that's not ideal." 

Britt, however, has high hopes for the show based on her dramatic experience this past season with Chris. 

"I mean, I was falling in love, so I know that it works," she explained, "Yeah it was painful, but you know, it's all just part of the process. And it can't be as hard as that was." 

"Oh no, it will be harder," said Kaitlyn, basically sealing our opinion that this next season is going to be a lot of fun with these two working together/competing against each other. It will also be weird, but hopefully a fun, dramatic kind of weird. 

The Bachelorette returns to ABC on May 18!

What do you think of the announcement? Let us know in the comments!