The Bachelorette star Ashley Hebert sent two bachelors home and saw another one quit, narrowing her search for love down to 12 men during last night's broadcast of the ABC reality dating series' seventh season.

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Jeff Medolla, a 35-year-old entrepreneur from St. Louis, MO who wore a mask for most of his time on The Bachelorette, and Chris Drish, a 25-year-old sports marketing coordinator from Chicago, IL, were eliminated during the third episode's Rose Ceremony, while Bentley Williams, a 28-year-old businessman from Salt Lake City, UT, chose to quit and go home on his own because he wasn't interested in Ashley.

"I'm stunned. I'm shocked. William was a complete **** on the stage. Just keeping someone around for another chance? I get that. That's fine, but I mean, I feel defeated. I feel like I lost. She's positive, she's upbeat, she's driven, she's intelligent, she's someone that I'd like to spend the rest of my life with. I lost quite an awesome woman," Chris D. said following his ouster.

"Wearing the mask, the whole original idea behind it was to go in and not show my face and have her get to know me for who I am on the inside and not the outside, but it was a lot more difficult than I thought it was going to be. I came here for the chance that maybe I'd fall in love with Ashley, but she decided that I'm not the one. I would be totally bummed out if I spent the rest of my life alone," Jeff said after his elimination.

The Bachelorette's third seventh-season episode began with the 15 remaining bachelors learning from host Chris Harrison that there would be two one-on-one dates and one group date over the course of the next week. There would be a rose up for grabs during each -- and if the bachelors on the one-on-one dates failed to receive a rose, they would be ousted immediately.

Ben Castoriano, a 28-year-old lawyer from New Orleans, LA, then was told he would be accompanying Ashley on the week's first one-on-one date.

Ashley picked Ben C. up and the two drove to a dance studio where Ashley taught him a small routine she told him to remember. They then went to a park and enjoyed a little picnic until Ashley suggested they should do the dance in front of everyone just for fun. Ben C. was nervous about randomly dancing without music in front of strangers, but he wanted to impress Ashley and show her he was up for any challenge.

They started their dance and then Far East Movement's "Fly Like a G6" blasted over the speakers and a group organized by Flash Mob of America joined in their dance, surrounding them in the park. A flash mob is a large group of people that assemble in a public place and surprisingly breakout dancing the same routine.

"Ashley and I danced in the middle of the park. I turn around, and all these people that I thought were strangers are behind us doing every single step of this dance and I'm in complete shock. I look over at her and we're smiling and having fun together, and in that moment, I realized Ashley is totally the kind of girl I would want to spend the rest of my life with," Ben C. said.

The couple then listened to a live concert from Far East Movement in the park. They danced and shared their first kiss in front of the huge crowd cheering them on. Although Ben C. thought the first half of their date was amazing, he said he was looking forward to dinner and quiet time with her.

That night, Ashley and Ben C. ate dinner on the rooftop of the Hilton Hotel poolside. Ben C. was anxious to tell Ashley exactly how he felt and what he was looking for in a relationship, dominating most of the conversation. He said he wanted an "unbelievably special relationship" where he and his girlfriend or wife basically live in their own bubble.

"Ben seems to have really high expectations in relationships. He's looking for something that's this everlasting love and something that you've never felt before and that you don't think you could ever find anything better. That's honestly what I want," Ashley said.

Meanwhile back at the mansion, Chris D.; Jeff; Ryan Park, a 31-year-old solar energy executive from Corona Del Mar, CA; Ben Flajnik, a 28-year-old winemaker from Sonoma, CA; Nick Peterson, a 26-year-old personal trainer from Tampa, FL; and Bentley would be accompanying Ashley on the week's group date.

The other men who were selected for the group date included: Lucas Daniels, a 30-year-old oilfield equipment distributor from Odessa, TX; Blake Julian, a 27-year-old dentist from Greenville, SC; William Holman, a 30-year-old cellular phone salesman from Galloway, OH; and Ames Brown, a 31-year-old portfolio manager from New York, NY.

"My strategy is to beat out every other guy for the rose. It's fun and games for me. Ashley's digging what I'm putting out and I'm going to go in for the kill," Bentley said.

On Ashley's date, Ben C. told her he'd love to go on a second date with her, and if they were under normal circumstances in everyday life and not on a reality TV show, he'd question how and when to get in touch with her.

Ashley then decided to give Ben C. the rose.

"Tonight, I'm seeing your sincerity and I feel the same way about getting to know each other a little bit more. So, tonight is a huge turning point for me with you, and I believe everything you're saying and I follow everything you're saying. I would be crazy not to give you this rose tonight. So, Ben, will you accept this rose?" Ashley asked.

"Yes, I will!" Ben C. said.

Ashley said her "heart fluttered" for Ben C. and that their date ended perfectly.

The next day, Ashley picked up the men at the mansion who would be going on the group date with Ashley, but before they took off, Jeff grabbed Ashley and requested a conversation with her. 

Jeff and Ashley went outside and he told her he wanted to finally reveal his face. Ashley said she was so happy he was ready to open up to her, because she felt that being yourself and putting it all on the line was exactly what the show was all about.

Jeff took off his mask and Ashley was pleased, but she also noted he looked a lot older than she had suspected he was.

The men then got in the limo and many of them said William was the funniest guy in the house. William admitted he was really looking forward to showcasing his comedic skills on the date to hopefully win a rose, as he said his dream was always to become a stand-up comedian.

The bachelors and Ashley arrived at a comedy club and were greeted by stand-up comedian Jeffrey Ross, who told them they would be participating in a roast of The Bachelorette Ashley. The 10 suitors were seemingly very nervous about crossing the thin line of what would be considered offensive versus funny.

Jeffrey then revealed in addition to the roast, the all must perform the show in front of a sold out house.

"I've always wanted to be a comedian, so this is a huge opportunity for me. I get a couple minutes on the stage and I need to use it to my fullest advantage. If I can impress Jeffrey Ross, it could open a door to my dream. I could roast Ashley tonight and then roast a famous celebrity in a couple months," William said.

"I really want to make Ashley laugh, but I may make her cry tonight. I don't really want to do that, but it's ruthless tonight. There's an opportunity to be real with Ashley. Oh, I'm going to be real."

"With every statement that's made, there's probably going to be an ounce of truth. So, maybe I'll learn something about some of the guys tonight. I'm excited about that," Ashley said.

The jokes started and they all seemed to revolved around the bachelors in the house, Ashley having "small breasts," and how she was rejected by fifteenth-season The Bachelor Brad Womack. However, William's jokes took the roast to a whole new uncomfortable level.

"Ashley so beautiful, so gorgeous, so used. They say one man's trash is another man's treasure. I thought I signed up to be with [fifteenth-season The Bachelor bachelorettes Emily Maynard or Chantal O'Brien] and then Ashley's here. Really, who gives a s**t?!" William said in front of the full audience.

"I can't believe he said that. I mean, I feel the same way, but I'm not going to say that to her face. Don't be stupid," Bentley said.

The crowd booed William off the stage and one woman yelled out that he was not going to receive a rose at the end of the night. He seemed extremely embarrassed that not only had he hurt Ashley, but it was a silent awkward room and no one laughed at his jokes.

After the show ended, the guys got on William about how he had offended her and went about the roast all wrong. Bentley then saw Ashley hiding in the corner across the room crying and decided it would be an ideal time to come across looking like the hero.

"She was crying, so I'm not going to pass up an opportunity to mess with her head and get some one-on-one time... I hate it when people cry. It's not attractive at all, but I'm obviously here for a reason and that's getting another rose. So, I'll do what it takes," Bentley said. 

Ashley told Bentley she was worried she let the guys down because she was The Bachelorette and not Emily. Bentley attempted to calm her fears and concerns by telling her she had a great body, a beautiful face, and was "the best dancer in the world."

Bentley then went on to tell her 24 out of the 25 guys who came on the show wanted it to be Ashley and were happy it was her when they stepped out of the limo. Ironically, Ashley had no idea that the one person Bentley was leaving out of that equation was actually himself. He smirked in the camera and Ashley fell into his arms.

Afterward, Ashley and the men changed scenery and the bachelors waited for Ashley to address them about how poorly the roast had gone. Ashley then told them her main insecurity with the group was raised during the roast in that she worried they were going to be disappointed upon their arrival. She explained how sensitive she was about the men wanting Emily over her.

"Hopefully you guys get to know the real me and you want to stick around," Ashley said.

William then pulled Ashley aside and tried to apologize for his hurtful jokes.

"Roasting was the dumbest f***ing idea we could have done tonight," William said as he began to cry. "I said all the wrong things at the wrong time, and I just feel like honestly, there's no way that I can make it up to you. The only thing that I think is appropriate is honestly, packing up my stuff and going home, honestly," William told Ashley.

"No," Ashley pleaded.

"I hurt you absolutely more than anyone today, and the only thing that's going to cure that right now, is for you to talk with one of the other guys and have them cheer your spirits. There's nothing that I can say to undo what I did."

William cried and left the building feeling defeated in the competition.

"I'm an idiot... Honestly right now, I know that I hurt her really bad. You hurt a person you care about a lot and you just wish everything in the world that you can take that moment back," William said after leaving the location.

Ashley then admitted she just wanted William to comfort her, but instead, he left. She began to worry that all the guys felt the same way as William and said she was "beat up."

William went on to say how he hated that he had made Ashley cry and hoped she would give him a second chance. Meanwhile, Ashley was sad and needed to be comforted and Ryan stood up to the plate. He said he wanted Ashley to be The Bachelorette and couldn't wait to spend more time with her. He thought he had so much to look forward to with her.

Ryan and Ashley shared a kiss and she said he made her feel a lot better.

Back at the mansion, the men got the date card and learned the person who would be joining Ashley on the week's third date. J.P. Rosenbaum, a 34-year-old construction manager from New York, NY, would be accompanying her on the next one-on-one date, and he was thrilled because it would be his first date yet with Ashley.

Meanwhile on the group date, Ashley got some alone time with Bentley and told him what was on her mind. She told him about the text messages she had received from fifteenth-season The Bachelor bachelorette Michelle Money about him coming on the show for a couple weeks and then going home. She admitted how she heard he wanted to promote his business, and that Michelle told her to watch out for him.

Ashley told Bentley she had strong feelings for him but feared he would be the one to end up breaking her heart.

Bentley said what they had going on between them didn't relate to anything Michelle had said. Ashley said if he was going to leave, it would hurt her more than anything that happened to her on The Bachelor season. In return, Bentley promised her he was going to stay with her every step of the way throughout her The Bachelorette journey.

"After talking to Bentley, I believe every word he said and I'm moving forward. I'm not letting this hinder our relationship. Honestly, my heart races when I'm with him. I feel warm, I feel comfortable, I feel secure, I feel protected, I feel like I could trust him forever," Ashley explained.

"That was f***ing close. Michelle tried to sabotage my chances with Ashley. I think she was unsuccessful. I think she had her attempt at being a snake, but I'm still here. Ashley's completely head over heels and I'm probably going to get a rose," Bentley said.

Even though Ashley felt her alone time with Bentley was amazing, she ended up handing out the group date's rose to Ryan. As a result, Ryan couldn't have been happier about her decision, but Bentley was mad he didn't get it and determined then and there that he was ready to "check out."

The following day, Ashley was pacing outside of her house and explained how Bentley consoling her was all she needed to feel better at the end of the day. She felt she had gained the strongest connection with him over anyone else on the show.

"I completely fell in love with Bentley last night. There's something about him that's so sincere. I just know that he's my guy. If it was up to me, I'd grab Bentley and take off to Salt Lake City, honestly. I think I'm going to leave here what I hoped to leave here with, a husband. Today marks the first day of my love story," Ashley said.

However, Bentley felt the exact opposite about Ashley and said he had no motivation left to stay in the house and continue competing for Ashley.

"I've been saying from the beginning that she's just not my type. I'm not feeling it. I feel like it's a waste of time, and it's better just to walk away to the point where all I want to do is be on the first plane back ASAP," Bentley said.

Bentley then packed up his things, which confused and shocked the other guys. He told them he missed his daughter but then later privately admitted his daughter wasn't the actual reason why he wanted to go home. Bentley said he just "wasn't that into her."

Bentley proudly called the other bachelors "fools," and "frigin' idiots" for believing him excuse, and he said they were probably relieved about his anticipated exit because he was a frontrunner in the competition to win Ashley's heart. He suggested he had a better connection with Ashley over anyone and played the game well.

"I don't care about Ashley. I had the opportunity and I played everyone. That's something that's never been done before," Bentley bragged.

"I came in thinking that Ashley was not attractive at all. I knew for a fact I wasn't going to fall in love with her. So, I need to go say goodbye to Ashley. The time is now. I'm not looking forward to this at all, because it's going to be emotional for her... The only other option I have is to stay, and that's not an option for me. So, I'm going to make Ashley cry. I hope my hair looks okay."

Bentley went to say goodbye to Ashley because he knew she just wasn't for him.

"I came into The Bachelorette hoping it was Emily. It's like, she's such a standout. She's so breathtakingly beautiful that Ashley kind of looks like an ugly duckling to me, and if I'm not interested in the girl, I'm not going to stick around," Bentley expressed.

Bentley then went inside Ashley's house and she had a confused look on her face as to why he was there. He told her he missed his daughter more than anything and was leaving but most likely not coming back. Bentley said he woke up feeling like his daughter really missed him, adding that he couldn't fall in love with her when his "baby angel" at home had his whole heart.

Bentley was happy Ashley fell for his excuse and she couldn't stop crying. She admitted she wasn't sure whether the process would actually work for her in the end because she couldn't forget about him. However, Ashley believing he was leaving solely for his daughter, said she couldn't be selfish.

Ashley said she pictured Bentley in the end and he agreed he felt the same way about her, although it was obviously a lie. Bentley told her he had cried over the situation himself, but then later admitted in a confessional that holding her while she kept crying was simply "annoying."

They hugged goodbye and in the middle of his short speeches, Bentley made many private sexual comments about Ashley's body and her positioning on him. He said he talked to her like he was interesting in her but wasn't actually interested at all, while she would be the type of girl he would just want to "hookup" with a couple times.

Before leaving, Bentley asked Ashley to keep their relationship at a "dot, dot dot," which meant their relationship would remain open with the possibility of them getting back together in the future. He told her it would be better than a "period" and although he had no intention to be with her down the road, he didn't want her to move on.

"Things probably would have been a lot different if the Bachelorette was Emily," Bentley said.

They said their final goodbyes and Ashley ran into her bed crying, completely distraught that her love had left her. She was given no closure from Bentley and said she was "heart broken," because all she wanted was her happy ending, and she thought it was with him.

Ashley said she felt the pain she felt during The Bachelor when Brad rejected her all over again. She fell hard for Bentley and worried her instincts were actually wrong and that she wouldn't be able to fall in love again.

Later that night even though Ashley was crushed, she still had to go through with her one-on-one date with J.P.

J.P. arrived at Ashley's house and knew she was going to be upset over Bentley. However, he wanted to make her feel better and then move on together. They had a "relaxing evening at home," shared glasses of wine, sat in front of the fire, and just talked about their lives.

Ashley told him she was emotionally drained and didn't know if she was capable of giving him the kind of date he deserved, but J.P. insisted he just wanted her to be okay and loved having the quiet peaceful time at home with her. The couple then got into their pajamas, and J.P. continued to comfort and woo her.

J.P. admitted he loved the date in all its simplicity and felt it was the little things that mattered. Ashley kept apologizing for what became their first date, but J.P. told her it was exactly what he wanted.

"Do not feel defeated. I really want to be here and you're going to be okay," J.P. said, adding in a confessional that his head and heart were in it for the right reasons and that he really wanted to find love with Ashley.

Ashley then offered J.P. the one-on-one date's rose and was so thankful he was such an understanding caring person.  

"I promise we're going to have a really, really fun next date... Will you accept this rose, J.P.?" Ashley asked him.

"Absolutely," J.P. replied.

"I had an unbelievable time. I'm flying. It was an absolutely unbelievable night. It was perfect. You don't think feelings can develop that quickly, but there's something there. There's absolutely something there. I feel it. I hope she felt it," J.P. said.

"There's something about J.P.'s kisses. Even comparing them to a kiss I had with Bentley -- J.P. over Bentley in the kiss department," Ashley explained.

The next day, Chris met with Ashley to discuss her emotions, position in her journey, and whether she would be able to move past Bentley and find love.

After she openly said she saw Bentley as her husband and "her guy," and then it broke her heart to have to watch him leave, she told Chris that she thought she was in love with him.

Chris asked her what it was about him that she fell in love with and Ashley said couldn't put a finger on it, but she started questioning whether Michelle was right with her warnings.

Chris said he never saw her so upset before, and Ashley told him she knew it wouldn't be fair to the other guys to try to have a great night because she was really only invested in Bentley at the moment and the pain she was feeling. Chris understood but told her all the guys were dying to see her.

Ashley then decided she was not up for a cocktail ceremony and wished to go straight to the Rose Ceremony. She said she felt confident in who she wanted to send home.

The Bachelorette's third Rose Ceremony then commenced.

"I just didn't feel like I had the energy to give you guys the conversations you deserve. I came here saying I was going to be very open with my emotions at the risk of getting hurt, and to be really honest with you, I did get hurt," Ashley told them before handing out the first rose of the ceremony.

"So, I'm trying to find the good in this, and the only thing I see that's good right now are all of you. Thank you so much for being here and for being honest with me, and I'm so looking forward to moving forward in this process with you guys." 

Besides Ben C., Ryan, and J.P., Ashley gave roses to Constantine Tzortzis, a 30-year-old restaurant owner from Atlanta, GA; West Lee, a 30-year-old lawyer from Chapin, SC; Mickey McLean, a 31-year-old chef from Cleveland, OH; Ben F.; Blake; Nick; Ames; Lucas; and William.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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