Krystal Nielson had a "temper tantrum" in the latest episode and was called "Hurricane Krystal" by Bekah Martinez, but The Bachelor host Chris Harrison apparently understands the root of Krystal's behavior.
ADVERTISEMENT
"What started off as a fun day at the bowling alley quickly descended into total chaos. There's always one date that just goes completely off the rails, but I don't think any of us expected it to be the bowling date. And I don't think anyone expected it to happen the way it happened," Chris wrote in his Entertainment Weekly blog.
Two teams of bachelorettes competed against each other in a Fort Lauderdale, FL, bowling alley for more time with Arie Luyendyk Jr. that night. Krystal's team won, but then Arie decided it was unfair to send the losing team home, so he welcomed all the girls on his date that night.
Krystal took this announcement very tough. She felt "disrespected" by Arie and was accused of calling the 36-year-old pro racing driver "a liar" off-camera. Krystal was so infuriated, in fact, that she packed her bags to go home and decided to skip out on time with Arie that night.
"This feels like one of the most dramatic turns I can remember... Let's talk about what may have caused all of this. Krystal has been a polarizing force in the house since her second week disagreement with [Bibiana Julian]," Chris explained.
ADVERTISEMENT
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' SPOILERS: ARIE LUYENDYK JR.'S WINNING FINAL PICK AND RUNNER-UP BACHELORETTE -- PLUS POST-FINALE SHOCKER!
"Last week things started to boil over with [Caroline Lunny] and [Tia Booth], but with Caroline gone and Tia on a one-on-one date, I think everyone thought this would all just blow over."
He added, "Something about Arie's inability to give Krystal the affirmation she felt she deserved really threw her over the edge. I can't say I fully blame her."
Krystal had one of the first one-on-one dates of the season. Arie took her home to Scottsdale, AZ, to meet his parents and younger brother, and Krystal learned a lot about Arie's childhood. This date made Arie feel the most connected to Krystal, which in turn made Krystal feel like she was way ahead of the pack.
Krystal therefore couldn't handle watching Arie's relationships with other bachelorettes blossom in front of her eyes.
ADVERTISEMENT
"When you get an early one-on-one and have to wait around it can be very emotionally taxing. [Becca Kufrin] admittedly was having a hard week as well, but the ways that she and Krystal handled it were basically polar opposites," Chris wrote in his blog.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' SPOILERS: WHICH BACHELORETTE'S EX-BOYFRIEND SHOWS UP TO GET HIS GIRL BACK FROM ARIE LUYENDYK JR.?!
"Krystal seemed to feel like Arie didn't care about her, but perhaps the most perplexing thing about the whole week was that she chose to not spend more time with Arie because she didn't feel like she wasn't going to have enough time with Arie? I'm confused. And so was Arie."
Arie decided to give Krystal a rose at the end of his week in Florida, but his issues with Krystal left him wondering whether he was making the right decision.
"The nagging doubts left by his interactions with Krystal weren't just making him question Krystal -- he was left to question his own judgment. After all, Krystal was one of the women that he felt the most confident about in the early weeks and now he's not even sure she's going to get a hometown date," Chris explained.
ADVERTISEMENT
"What other decisions has he made along the way that maybe weren't the best? These questions will continue to haunt him. Meanwhile, Krystal will live to see another day and next week there will be a reckoning and a decision to be made by both of them, one way or the other."
RELATED LINK: 'DANCING WITH THE STARS' PRO DANCERS: SEE WHO IS DATING OR MARRIED TO WHOM! (PHOTO GALLERY)
Chris noted that big steps forward have been taken on the show both in terms of romance and drama, but there is still more to come.
"It feels like Arie is on a rollercoaster and has just reached the top," Chris teased. "He's about to go straight down and feel the thrill, but I'm pretty confident there are quite a few loops and twists before he even gets to hometowns in a few weeks."
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' COUPLES NOW: WHO DID 'THE BACHELOR' STARS AND THEIR BACHELORETTE PICKS ACTUALLY END UP WITH? (PHOTOS)
ADVERTISEMENT
Interested in more The Bachelor news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group!