Joe Amabile, known as "Grocery Store Joe" from Becca Kufrin's season of "The Bachelorette" in 2018, announced he has been diagnosed with an early-stage glioma after undergoing a routine full-body scan.
Amabile shared the diagnosis through an Instagram video, describing the discovery of a tumor roughly the size of a blueberry in his brain tissue. He said he would need a craniotomy within two weeks to remove the growth and allow pathologists to analyze it.
"I think it's one of those things where you're like, 'Oh, something like this'll never happen to me,' and here I am," Amabile said in the video.
Amabile noted that doctors indicated they caught the tumor early, and he expressed hope that surgical removal will resolve the issue.
In his social media post, Amabile reflected on his decision to publicly share his diagnosis: "I've gone back and forth about what I wanted to share on social media but ultimately, this is now part of my life now, so might as well." He credited his support system, expressing gratitude for "a lot of support from family and friends."
Amabile gained initial fame during Kufrin's 2018 season of "The Bachelorette" for his down-to-earth personality. He later appeared on Season 7 of "Bachelor in Paradise," where he met Serena Pitt. The couple became engaged at the 2021 finale and married in a New York City courthouse in October 2022, followed by a larger celebration in September 2023.
Amabile's decision to publicly announce his diagnosis through video, in his own voice and without intermediaries, reflects a broader shift in how public figures communicate about personal struggles. The approach prioritizes direct communication over strategically managed statements.
The discovery underscores the value of preventive health screenings. Advanced scanning technologies, increasingly accessible to those with means, can detect tumors early when treatment outcomes are typically more favorable.
