The Bachelorette star JoJo Fletcher ousted a whopping five bachelors during Monday night's broadcast of the series' twelfth season on ABC.
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"It felt like daggers through my heart. In retrospect, I really wish I had better taken advantage of the time that we had. I thought I could come out here and be this amazing guy, and in some ways, I never gave myself a chance to show her my heart, and I wanted to tonight. I'm so disappointed in myself, and I am really, really sad. I tried," Evan said in tears following his ouster.
"I feel like she did make a mistake tonight by sending me home," Grant noted as he got a little choked up. "I mean, it sucks. I don't get it. I seriously don't. I feel hurt but so confused at the same time."
The Bachelorette broadcast began with all of the remaining men celebrating Chad's departure by spreading his protein powder outside as if it were his ashes. Chad, however, returned to the house where the guys were staying while Alex Woytkiw, a 26-year-old U.S. Marine from Oceanside, CA, enjoyed the second portion of the two-on-one date.
Chad told the guys that Alex had thrown him under the bus -- pretty much like everyone else had been trying to do -- and so JoJo found him too intense. Jordan Rodgers, a 27-year-old former pro quarterback from Chico, CA, attempted to bury the hatchet with Chad by apologizing on behalf of the guys for ganging up on him.
However, he expected an apology in return in order to leave the situation cordially, and Chad had no intention of admitting any wrongdoing. Instead, Chad insisted that if he could do the whole process all over again, he'd say the same things and behave the same way. Chad argued that the guys didn't give him a choice other than to threaten them with physical action.
Once Alex returned home, the guys hoisted him up on their shoulders and celebrated his victory over Chad, calling him the "dragon slayer." JoJo told her remaining group of guys that Chad disappointed her. She also told the cameras that letting him go was probably the best decision she's made thus far because the gentleman and sweet guys in the house agreed he was no good for her.
The cocktail party then commenced. Robby Hayes, a 27-year-old former competitive swimmer from Jacksonville, FL, said in a confessional that he was falling for JoJo. He made a wish with JoJo in the fountain outside of the mansion and then kissed her in front of the other guys.
While most of the guys had become good friends, the consensus was that their "gentlemen's agreement" had gone out the window. The group lost its common enemy in Chad, so they no longer had something to bond over. Evan told the cameras that "mini Chads" were emerging as a result because the guys were no longer being compassionate towards each other. For example, men with roses were stealing JoJo away for more time.
James F. then read JoJo a poem and Luke Pell, a 31-year-old war veteran from Burnet, TX, admitted to her that he was falling in love because his heart skipped a beat every time he saw her, and when he wasn't with her, he was thinking about her all the time. Jordan also snuck in a quick makeout session behind a wall.
At the episode's first Rose Ceremony, JoJo gave out roses in the following order: Derek Peth, a 29-year-old commercial banker from Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Robby; Chase McNary, a 27-year-old medical sale representative from Highlands Ranch, CO; Wells Adams, a 31-year-old radio DJ from Nashville, TN; Grant; Vinny; James Taylor, a 29-year-old singer/songwriter from Katy, TX; and Evan.
James F. and Daniel were therefore eliminated. Daniel joked his personality must have sucked because his buff body wasn't enough for her to keep him around.
JoJo and her remaining 11 suitors then traveled to Uruguay for the next week of dates.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOWJordan got the first one-on-one date. Wells considered Jordan the frontrunner but thought he was "playing the game just to get another stamp on his passport." Derek also questioned Jordan more than anyone and didn't trust him.
For their date, JoJo and Jordan enjoyed a beautiful day on a yacht.
Meanwhile, the men stumbled across a tabloid magazine in which JoJo's ex-boyfriend Chad Rookstool basically trashed her. He claimed that they reunited after her stint on The Bachelor, and that although she was still in love with him, she went on The Bachelorette as a career opportunity.
JoJo's suitors began questioning whether she could still be in love with another man or was on the show for the wrong reasons. When Luke, Derek, Chase, Evan, James T., Vinny, Grant, Wells and Alex discovered they'd be accompanying JoJo on the next Group Date, they weren't even excited because it was like a dark cloud had entered the room. No one was looking forward to confronting her about the article.
Meanwhile, JoJo revealed to Jordan that her boyfriend before Ben Higgins made her feel very insecure and their relationship was filled with such highs and lows that she didn't trust him.
On that topic, JoJo bluntly asked Jordan about whether he had cheated on an ex-girlfriend because JoJo ran into one of his former flames in Dallas. The mystery woman told JoJo that Jordan wasn't a good boyfriend and there were trust issues.
Jordan explained that because of how much time he invested in his former pro football career, he didn't treat the girl great. He confessed to flirting and making mistakes, however, he insisted that there wasn't any cheating involved. JoJo just didn't want the same thing to happen to her.
"I know the man I am now, and I know I'm not a cheater," Jordan noted.
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JoJo was so happy. She kissed Jordan, gave him the date's rose, and then they went dancing in the streets of Uruguay. Her heart skipped a beat when Jordan expressed his feelings to her, and she said in a confessional that she couldn't be more elated.
However, JoJo's emotions crashed quickly because a producer handed her the tabloid with Chad Rookstool's interview in it. JoJo read it and immediately dubbed it all false. She cried about how horrible it was for Chad to say those things, especially since she had just tried to be his friend because he was heartbroken.
"I don't get people like that! I don't deserve that!... If he's not happy, he wants to take everyone down with him... I hate him! It's not fair," JoJo told the cameras as tears streamed down her face.
JoJo then talked to the guys about the article and promised them she was on the show to find her true love. She didn't want anyone to doubt her motives or sincerity because she cared about each and every guy so much. Alex just said the article showed how much of "a piece of sh-t" Chad was to say those things publicly. It didn't take long for the men to side with JoJo on the issue and believe what she had to say.
The next day, JoJo and her suitors went sand-surfing for the Group Date. Derek hated seeing JoJo with other guys and it made him jealous, but he acknowledged that was probably a good thing because it meant he really cared about her.
Meanwhile, the next Date Card revealed that Robby would embark on the next one-on-one date with JoJo. He told the cameras flat out that he was "in love" with JoJo.
Back on the Group Date, the men were very supportive of JoJo, especially Luke and James T. Wells also toasted JoJo to their future, not the past.
"I apologize to all the Chads out there who are good men; I just haven't met one," JoJo said in a confessional.
Alex then confessed that while Derek seemed like a nice guy, he thought the commercial banker was "calculative, jealous and insecure." Alex didn't like him at all. Alex expected the date's rose because he told JoJo that he was falling in love with her, but JoJo ended up giving it to Derek so he could have some reassurance, which infuriated Alex.
Alex called Derek "an insecure little bitch" who just needed validation.
"I don't want the pity rose," Alex said, slamming Derek in the process.
The next day, JoJo walked the streets of Uruguay with Robby for their one-on-one date, taking in the sights and soaking in the local culture. She thought he was the perfect combination of sexy, sweet, loving, flirty and playful. JoJo had "a school girl crush" on Robby.
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The couple then went cliff jumping despite their nerves and fears. JoJo trusted Robby whole-heartedly, saying that he made her feel safe and alive.
During dinner that night, Robby revealed that he made significant changes in his life after he lost a childhood friend in April of last year. Robby said that he began questioning everything since tomorrow wasn't a guarantee, and he therefore ended a nearly four-year relationship, quit his job and moved out of the city. JoJo was eating everything Robby had to say up, and then he opened his heart.
"I just want you to know that I have fallen in love with you, JoJo. I have. I'm not going to hide it," Robby blurted out.
JoJo was shocked but so appreciated that Robby was that vulnerable and honest with her. She gave him a rose and realized she was on the path to falling in love with him. She felt adored, cherished and secure with Robby.
JoJo eventually canceled the cocktail party because she had made her mind up about whom to eliminate based on her gut feelings. The only drama that went down was between Derek and the group he called "a mean girls' clique -- which was comprised of Robby, Chase, Alex and Jordan. Alex just thought Derek was a "sensitive little bitch."
The episode concluded with a Rose Ceremony. JoJo handed one rose at a time to Luke, Chase, Alex, James T., and then Wells. That meant that Evan, Grant and Vinny were sent packing.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
