Joe Amabile diagnosed with early-stage brain tumor, surgery scheduled
Reality-TV personality Joe Amabile revealed that MRI scans identified a blueberry-size lesion in his brain, which doctors suspect to be an early-stage glioma. He is scheduled to undergo surgery to have the lesion removed and tested within roughly two weeks.
Joe Amabile diagnosed with early-stage brain tumor, surgery scheduled
Fans of The Bachelorette were jolted on 13 July 2026 when the reality‑TV alum announced a brain lesion that doctors suspect to be an early‑stage glioma. The revelation arrived in a brief video the 40‑year‑old posted to Instagram, where he explained that a series of MRI scans “ended up finding a lesion in my brain.” He described the abnormality as “a blueberry‑size lesion … that looks to be a glioma, which is a tumor.”
"They ended up finding a lesion in my brain. There was a blueberry‑size lesion in my brain that looks to be a glioma, which is a tumor."
Media additions
Image via slate.com
Joe Amabile, Instagram video, via Yahoo News
Amabile added that he feels “fine” otherwise and that “they say it’s really early stages.” He said surgeons are slated to remove the lesion and “get it tested” within roughly two weeks. “It’s been a wild couple weeks, definitely wasn’t expecting this,” he said, acknowledging the shock of a health scare that feels “like something that never happened to me.”
The personal side of the announcement unfolded in the comment section of his post. His wife, Serena Pitt — whom he married in 2022 after meeting on season seven of Bachelor in Paradise — wrote, “You’re so strong and we’re going to get through this together. I love you.” The couple’s fans rallied, with former Dancing With the Stars partner Jenna Johnson posting, “Omg Joe! Sending you all the love and support.” Jenna’s wife‑to‑be Emma Slater added, “Love you Joe. Always here for you.”
Support spilled over from other corners of Bachelor Nation. Wells Adams, a long‑time host of the franchise, replied, “Love you brother. You got this and we’ve got you!” Jason Tartick sent, “Sending prayers and love man,” while Adam Gottschalk highlighted that “best ‘prevention’ is early detection so I’m glad you got these results back in the time you did. Go get em.” The outpouring illustrates how the communal network of former contestants often rallies around a member facing a medical crisis.
Medical context came from the Mayo Clinic, which defines a brain lesion as “an abnormality seen on an imaging test that doesn’t look like normal brain tissue.” The clinic notes that the condition underlying a lesion can range “from relatively minor to life‑threatening,” underscoring why Amabile’s forthcoming surgery is essential for a definitive diagnosis.
How the story unfolded across platforms
The initial report surfaced on Yahoo, which quoted the Instagram video in full and listed the supportive reactions from fellow alumni. A separate, unrelated piece from Slate on 12 June 2025 examined a different celebrity health saga, Justin Bieber’s series of public incidents and social‑media turmoil. While the Slate article does not cover Amabile, its inclusion in the broader media environment highlights the trend of reality‑TV personalities and music stars having their private health matters thrust into the public eye.
Chronology of the diagnosis
Multiple MRI scans were performed prior to 13 July 2026, revealing an unexpected brain lesion.
On 13 July 2026, Amabile posted an Instagram video describing the finding and labeling it a “blueberry‑size” glioma‑suspected lesion.
He confirmed that doctors consider the lesion to be in an “early stage” and that he feels fine otherwise.
