The Bachelorette featured Aaron Erb quitting the show and dropping a bombshell on Jenn Tran on his way out, Sam Nejad making an unpopular "premature" love profession, and more Sam McKinney vs. Devin Strader drama during the Season 21 episode that aired Monday night on ABC.
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And at the third Rose Ceremony of the season, Jenn eliminated Hakeem Moulton, a 29-year-old medical device salesman from Schaumburg, IL, and Tomas Azzano, a 27-year-old physiotherapist from Toronto, Canada.
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The Bachelorette broadcast began with Jenn and her 15 remaining bachelors spending another week in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Spencer Conley, a 30-year-old pet portrait entrepreneur from Dallas, TX, announced that, this week, everyone should focus on Jenn and not get into beef with each other.
Spencer called out Devin, a 28-year-old freight company owner from Houston, TX; Sam, a 27-year-old contractor from Myrtle Beach, SC; and Thomas Nguyen, a 31-year-old retirement advisor from Tucker, GA, for sparking all the drama, and he hoped they could set their differences aside because Jenn deserved so much more.
Devin boasted about how his connection with Jenn was definitely real because he had been observing her body language and the way she looked at him and listened to him.
Jenn then embarked on a one-on-one date with Spencer, whom she said was attentive and had "Golden Retriever energy" that she really liked.
The pair enjoyed a romantic helicopter ride over The Great Ocean Road, viewing the Twelve Apostles. Jenn pointed out how Spencer seemed to put her first. He also acted like a gentleman by assisting Jenn with her seatbelt and making her feel comfortable and safe during the ride.
Meanwhile, Thomas and Sam M. were still venting their frustrations about Devin's recent behavior and aggressive tactics pursuing Jenn.
"Devin is a guy that likes to talk about other people as well as himself. F-ck Devin. Why would I want to align myself with someone who has nothing in common with me?" Thomas asked Sam M.
"He is just an ankle biting dog... There is no way she can really grow with a guy like Devin and a guy like me at the same time," Sam M. added.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOW"There is no doubt I'm at the end of this with Jenn, so Devin isn't worth a second of my breath or my energy. He's smooth with his words, but I'm smooth with [my guns]."
At Jenn and Spencer's dinner that night, Spencer opened up to Jenn about how he had been engaged before and that woman cheated on him and broke his heart. The pair had bought a house together, but two months before their wedding, the woman returned home from a trip and claimed she needed time to think about things.
Spencer's ex-fiancee suddenly moved in with her parents and then Spencer "started uncovering things," including cheating. He said he still doesn't know the extent of it.
Spencer called that time "dark" and said his ex's affair was "a hard punch to take." He had complete trust in her prior to his world shattering.
Jenn asked Spencer if this "traumatic experience" resulted in him having an inherent distrust in relationships, but Spencer insisted he was healed and felt ready for love again -- more than ever before.
Jenn decided to give Spencer a rose because he had been open with her and made her feel cared for. Spencer felt on top of the world, and then the couple watched fireworks together and kissed the night away.
Jenn and Spencer had both dated the wrong people, and so they were excited about the future.
Meanwhile, a Date Card arrived for Thomas N.; Sam M.; Tomas; Devin; Dylan Buckor, a 24-year-old medical student from Elk Grove, CA; Grant Ellis, a 30-year-old day trader from Houston, TX; and John Mitchell, a 25-year-old medical student from Delray Beach, FL.
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For the group date, the men met a few guys from the Thunder Down Under Show at a theater and learned some stripper moves. The guys had to put on a show of their own that night for Jenn, two former The Bachelorette: Australia stars named Elly and Becky, and a big cheering crowd of ladies. Only one man was going to be crowned the champion of the night.
Sam N. immediately felt uncomfortable and told the cameras, "I didn't come here to strip. I came here for love."
Sam N. even hurt his wrist when trying to perform a "dolphin" stunt. He strained his right thumb and was terrified of having to strip for a crowd.
Devin also admitted he was totally out of his element because he had a hairy chest and didn't have abs. He called having to perform his "worst nightmare," yet he wasn't about to walk away from the challenge.
Sam M. and Thomas, on the other hand, were excited to show off their chiseled bodies and strong moves on the dance floor. Sam M. predicted that he was going to run away with the competition.
"Sam M. and I have very palpable sexual tension," Jenn said in a confessional.
The men ultimately performed in costume, and Jenn was looking for confidence and for the men to simply have a good time. Jonathon dressed as a firefighter, Marcus performed as an astronaut -- and looked "like a pro," according to Tomas -- and Sam M. took the stage as a chef.
Jenn said Marcus brought his "sexy side" to the table and "really surprised" her, but Jenn had to fan herself when Sam M. essentially gave her a lap dance.
Elly warned Jenn to be "wary" of the men with whom she felt extreme sexual tension, adding, "I did that. I picked him, and it ended up being not a smart choice."
Jonathon did a handstand and wrote "JE-NN" on his two butt cheeks, and Devin undressed into only a thong and waved his junk right in Jenn's face.
And finally, it was Sam N.'s turn. Sam N. walked out onstage and yelled out for someone to "cut the music," shocking everyone in the room.
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The men were stunned by Sam N.'s profession of love during Week 2 of the process, and Thomas said it was an "intense" and "premature" move. Thomas, however, pointed out how Sam N. had never been in love before and so maybe he didn't know what it's like to feel that way.
Sam N. admittedly felt like a "fool" for saying those things, and Sam M. thought it was disrespectful on Sam N.'s part to do that. Sam M. didn't think it was the right time or place to make such a declaration.
In the end, Jonathon was crowned "Mr. Thunder Down Under," but he didn't receive any extra time with Jenn.
At the afterparty that evening, Jenn dove a little bit deeper with her big group of bachelors.
When Devin sat down with Jenn, he explained how dancing without clothes on was a really big deal to him because he had grown up as a heavy kid with insecurities about how he looked.
"I didn't want to look at myself in the mirror... and I worked really hard to change that," Devin shared with Jenn.
"But I'd be lying to you if I said it doesn't still come up in my mind. That was another thing I wanted to thank you for, giving me the confidence to feel better about myself in that moment."
Jenn said Devin really surprised her that night because he was able to be vulnerable about something he struggled with. She was glad to peel back the layers of his goofy self.
Sam N. spoke to Jenn next, and The Bachelorette assured Sam N. that she appreciated his words and she'd never want him to feel ashamed or embarrassed when expressing himself and sharing his true feelings.
Jenn acknowledged Sam N. had made a "big, big statement" very early on, but at the same time, she said the love declaration felt good to hear because she was on The Bachelorette to find her husband and it seemed like the journey was working for her.
After Sam M. and Thomas were shown knocking Sam N. for his announcement at the strip show and questioning if he was ready to be Jenn's partner, Sam N. explained to the group that he felt "pathetic" and could've said his words better.
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Devin immediately stood up for Sam N. and advised him not to "backtrack" or even explain how he felt in that moment. Devin insisted that Sam N. had every right to speak his mind and what's on his heart, and he told the soft-spoken bachelor not to apologize for his actions.
Devin could see that Sam M. and Thomas were laughing and not making eye contact with Sam N. in that moment. Devin accused the men of preaching "mutual respect" when they clearly weren't giving that respect to Sam N.
"You guys whisper too much. You guys are chatters. You say 'mutual respect,' but you don't believe that," Devin snapped.
"Do you think you've got respect for us? Yes or no? I can't talk to a clown like this," Sam M. griped.
"I've definitely tried to take the high approach with you, Sam," Devin replied.
Devin and Sam M. continued to bicker, and Sam M. announced how he didn't respect Devin and therefore didn't want to talk to him or be friends with him.
When Devin ended the conversation with murmuring "mutual respect," Thomas flipped out and called him "a child." Thomas complained about how Devin always needed to have the last word.
Sam M. proceeded to call Devin "a bully," and ABC slammed the suitor by writing in an onscreen graphic that Sam M. needed "to look up the definition of bully in a dictionary."
Afterward, Sam M. had a makeout session with Jenn and asked her to be his girlfriend.
Jenn ended up giving the group-date rose to Devin for showing confidence and vulnerability, and Sam M. certainly didn't seem happy. Devin, on the other hand, was so pleased that Jenn had seen her true colors and liked him for who he is.
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The next morning, Aaron received a call from his supervisor that his fight-pilot training dates had just come through for him and were scheduled. Aaron had been waiting a year-and-a-half for this invitation, and he only had one day to think about it.
Aaron hated the idea he was faced with an ultimatum because he was still building a relationship with Jenn and thought they could have something really special together.
Aaron then accompanied Jenn on a group date along with Hakeem; Austin Ott, a 28-year-old sales executive from San Diego, CA; and Jeremy Simon, a 29-year-old real estate investor from New York, NY.
The group was dropped off at a racetrack, where they did some drills and raced fast cars with Jenn in the passenger seat.
Aaron was the only man who knew how to drive a stick, but Austin actually secured the fastest time racing the car around the track. Austin got to enjoy a moment alone with Jenn, as a result.
"I think my pride took a little hit, especially since I was the only guy who knew how to drive the car... There is a very big life decision I need to make, and I need clarity from Jenn," Aaron explained in a confessional.
At the afterparty that night, Aaron talked to Jenn about how he wanted to live every day like it's his last. He said he saw potential for their relationship and he was really excited about that.
Jenn also opened up to Jeremy about how her previous relationships weren't good because men had put her into a mold and she couldn't be herself. Jenn felt the need to downplay her success and intelligence.
Jenn shared how Jeremy made her feel "thought of," and she added, "He gets me without me even having to say anything sometimes."
Hakeem, who had also grown up in a broken family, then told Jenn that he wanted her to feel safe around him, and Austin admitted he had never been in love before and had been cheated on in the past.
Following an "amazing" day, Jenn gave the group-date rose to Jeremy, which left Aaron feeling deflated. Aaron had been hoping to receive a "stamp of validation" from Jenn to help him make a wise decision about whether to leave the journey or stay.
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Aaron said his heart was being "pulled" in two different directions but his relationship with Jenn wasn't far enough along to desert everything he had worked so hard to achieve in his adult life.
Aaron therefore pulled Jenn aside for a chat, and he explained how he always dreamed of being a fighter pilot and he needed to go home for training in the next week.
"I wish I was further along where I felt like, 'As long as I have Jenn in my life, I'm happy,' and I'm just not there yet. So I made the decision that the dreams and aspirations I have, I am choosing those," Aaron told Jenn.
Jenn said she totally understood Aaron's decision and never wanted to be a source of resentment for him. Jenn insisted that she wanted to support the bachelor in his endeavors and never hold him back.
"I care about you, and I want you to know that there are so many good guys here," Aaron said in reply.
"I just want you to make the right decision for you. I am not going to name names, but there are people who aren't ready. I don't think they'll be ready at the end like you are."
Aaron's disclosure left Jenn feeling confused and surprised.
"They're not ready or they're here for the wrong reasons?" Jenn asked.
"Both," Aaron said. "Some aren't ready. Some may not be here for the right reasons."
Jenn asked Aaron if someone was treating The Bachelorette like a game, and he insisted that he never meant to scare her.
Jenn said she didn't know what was going on because she felt a genuine connection with a lot of the guys who were competing for her. Aaron said he cared about Jenn but it was up to her to find out who was truly there for the right reasons.
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Jenn found herself in her head, and she set out to discover the truth.
Jenn confronted her cast of bachelors and announced about a potential engagement, "I need you to sit here and really think about it. This is my life. I've made wrong decisions in the past, and I'm not going to do that anymore. So if you think this is a place where you should not be, then you need to get out."
Marcus and Sam M. rushed to comfort Jenn and make her feel better. Both men promised Jenn that they were on the show for her, and Sam M. let Jenn know that he wasn't the man whom Aaron had been talking about because they were boys.
"Everything that you said doesn't apply to me," Sam M. said of Jenn's angry speech earlier in the evening.
Devin also told Jenn that he didn't need her to be perfect and he just wanted her to be her authentic self. Devin said he'd be willing to take punches -- and get knocked out -- for her because he'd always have her back and show up for her.
The turn of events actually empowered Jenn and made her feel stronger than ever before, but the bomb Aaron had dropped resulted in chaos amongst the men and a lot of bickering. Spencer even yelled at the group to shut up because all of the chatter was getting out of hand.
At the Rose Ceremony, Jenn handed out roses to Marcus, John M., Jonathon, Austin, Grant, Sam M., Thomas N., Dylan, and Sam N.
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Click here to read episode-by-episode spoilers about how Jenn's The Bachelorette season unfolds, including who Jenn picks as her winner and runner-up.
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
