Joe Amabile, "Bachelor in Paradise" Star, Needs Brain Surgery After Finding a Tiny Spot

Who Is Joe Amabile?

Joe is a 40-year-old man who appears on TV shows that follow real people (not actors) as they look for love or learn to dance. Think of him as a familiar face from your parents’ favorite dating and dance competitions.

Here are some quick facts about him:

• He was on a show called "Bachelor in Paradise" (a place where people from dating shows meet and maybe fall in love).
• He was also on season 14 of "The Bachelorette" (a show where one woman dates many men).
• He competed on season 27 of "Dancing with the Stars" (a contest where celebrities learn choreographed dances).
• He is married to Serena Pitt, whom he met on "Bachelor in Paradise". They got married in October 2022.
• He attended the Los Angeles premiere of Amazon Freevee’s "THE GOAT" on April 30, 2024 in West Hollywood, California (photo by Paul Archuleta/Getty Images).
• He and Serena also attended iHeartRadio’s Jingle Ball 2025 on December 5, 2025 in Los Angeles (photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images).

What Happened? (ELI5 Style)

Imagine you go to the doctor for a special full-body photo shoot that looks inside your body without any ouchies. That’s called a whole-body MRI screening (MRI = a big magnet camera). Joe did this just to check his health. Here is what they found, step by step:

1. Joe got a whole-body MRI scan (a safe, no-poke picture of his insides).
2. The picture showed a small weird spot in his brain — about the size of a blueberry. Doctors call such a spot a "lesion" (just a simple word for an area that looks different from normal).
3. The doctors looked closer and said it "looks to be a glioma, which is a tumor". A tumor is like a lump of cells that grew where they shouldn’t. A glioma is a kind that starts in the brain.
4. Because of this, Joe needs brain surgery (an operation where doctors carefully fix the brain) in two weeks. They want to take the spot out and test it to know exactly what it is.
5. Joe told everyone in a video on Instagram (a social media app) on Monday.

What Joe Said About It

Joe was surprised! He shared:

• "I definitely wasn’t expecting this. I think it’s one of those things where you’re like, ‘oh, something like this can never happen to me.’ And here I am."
• He hopes that after surgery, doctors find it is in its early stages (meaning it hasn’t been there long or spread).
• He added: "I hope they are able to get it all and I’m fine, but I will keep you updated."

In the writing under his video, he gave more details:

• "This past month has been a lot of ups and downs to say the least. After multiple scans and MRIs I have what looks to be an early-stage brain tumor."
• He is "doing my best to stay positive during this time and am lucky to have a lot of support from family and friends."
• He said he went back and forth about telling social media, but "ultimately this is now part of my life now, so might as well. Onto a new journey."

Friends and Fans Send Love

Many people who watch his shows sent nice messages. Some examples:

• Jenna Johnson, his dance partner from "Dancing with the Stars," wrote: "Omg Joe! Sending you all the love and support."
• Joey Graziadei, a star from "The Bachelor," wrote: "Sending you all the love and support brother can’t wait to play a round of golf when you’re all better "
• Lots of folks from the "Bachelor" fan group and the "DWTS" community filled his comments with good wishes.

Important Points to Remember

Heads up! Here are the key things:

• Joe has a blueberry-sized spot in his brain that doctors think is an early-stage tumor called a glioma.
• He will have brain surgery in two weeks to remove and test it.
• He is 40 years old, married to Serena Pitt, and staying positive with help from friends and family.
• He promised to keep everyone updated after the operation.

Summary

Joe Amabile, a well-known reality TV star from shows like "Bachelor in Paradise," "The Bachelorette," and "Dancing with the Stars," found a small blueberry-sized lesion in his brain during a routine full-body MRI. Doctors believe it is a glioma (a type of brain tumor) and likely early-stage. He will undergo brain surgery in two weeks to remove and test it. Joe shared the news on Instagram, expressing surprise but optimism, and received an outpouring of support from fans and fellow stars like Jenna Johnson and Joey Graziadei. He is married to Serena Pitt, whom he met on "Bachelor in Paradise," and they wed in 2022. Joe asks for positivity and promises updates.

FAQ

1. What is a glioma?
A glioma is a kind of tumor (a lump of unusual cells) that begins in the brain or spinal cord. Doctors told Joe his spot looks like a glioma, but they will know for sure after they remove it and look at it closely.

2. What does "MRI" mean in simple words?
MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. It’s a big machine that uses magnets to take very detailed pictures of the inside of your body without any surgery or pain. Joe did a “whole-body MRI” to scan his entire body.

3. Is Joe Amabile going to be okay?
Joe and his doctors hope the tumor is in an early stage and that the surgery will remove it all so he can be fine. He said he will keep everyone updated after the operation, so we’ll learn more then.

4. Who is Serena Pitt?
Serena Pitt is Joe’s wife. They met on the TV show "Bachelor in Paradise" and got married in October 2022.

5. Why did Joe tell the public about his brain spot?
He said he thought about whether to share on social media, but decided to because it’s now a part of his life and he wants to bring people along on this “new journey” with updates.