Sunday night’s episode featured a first for The Bachelor format.

The Golden Bachelor cast / Barry 'Bear' Myrden.

The Golden Bachelor switched things up in Sunday night’s dramatic episode. Photos: Channel 9

It’s been 12 years since The Bachelor franchise first premiered in Australia, so viewers are quite familiar with the format of the reality show. Each episode typically features a single date, a group date, a cocktail party, and a rose ceremony, with at least one contestant sent home after not receiving a rose.

However, viewers tuning into Sunday night’s episode of The Golden Bachelor were surprised when the Channel 9 spinoff switched things up and ended on a cliffhanger. The rose ceremony began with host Samantha Armytage announcing that Barry ‘Bear’ Myrden had only six roses to give out, meaning that five contestants would be going home in a mass elimination.

Bear began by handing out roses to twice-widowed doctor Kim and pilates studio owner Janette, who received the first single date, before announcing Terri’s name.

The property investor, who enjoyed a single date with Bear at Luna Park last week, then stepped forward and shocked her co-stars when she rejected him.

“I’ve thought long and hard about it. I’m not going to accept your rose,” she said.

The Golden Bachelor's Terri / Barry 'Bear' Myrden.

Terri chose to reject Bear’s rose. Photo: Channel 9

What happens next?

The episode then ended before showing Bear’s response, with the words ‘To be continued’ flashing on screen.

This certainly isn’t the first time a contestant has rejected the lead on The Bachelor, with Megan Marx and Brooke Blurton both famously walking out on their seasons; however, it is the first time an episode has ended halfway through a rose ceremony.

This means that Monday night’s episode will likely feature a rose ceremony at the beginning and end of the episode.

Terri’s decision also casts doubt on how many roses will ultimately be handed out, and whether one contestant who faced elimination will now stay to fill her place.

Fans applaud ’empowering’ moment

Regardless of how it impacts the season, Terri has received enormous praise on social media for rejecting Bear’s rose and doing what’s right for her.

“This is so empowering. You are an inspiration to women Terri,” one person wrote.

“Good on her! Her decision. Well done Terri,” another added.

Her co-star Shana even weighed in and said it was “so strong and empowering” to see Terri choose herself.

“I hope she finds her love without competing with others,” someone else said, while a different user replied, “Brava Terri! You don’t need to fight for a man!”.

The wild moment comes as rumours circulate that Bear won’t end up choosing anyone in the upcoming finale, and instead recreate Nick ‘The Honey Badger’ Cummins’ controversial finale.