'The Bachelorette' bachelor Marcus Grodd: My family was surprised Andi Dorfman eliminated me, no doubt

Marcus Grodd, a 25-year-old sports medicine manager from Dallas, TX, was denied one of Andi Dorfman's three roses after hometown dates during The Bachelorette's most recent episode.


Marcus had confessed his feelings of love for Andi on numerous occasions, being open and vulnerable as Andi had requested of her guys. During his hometown date, Marcus gave Andi a private striptease dance in order to reenact his first group date with The Bachelorette star.

Andi appreciated how honest Marcus had been about his past family issues and his father leaving them, but in the end, Andi eliminated him because -- although she believed he could give her the world -- she didn't envision him as the "great love" she had been looking for. Andi told Marcus her feelings just hadn't caught up to his, which left Josh Murray, Chris Soules and Nick Viall still in the running for her heart.

During a Thursday conference call with reporters, Marcus talked about his The Bachelorette experience. Below is what he had to tell Reality TV World. Check back with us soon for more.

Reality TV World: You said in your final words you shouldn't have told Andi you loved her. Did that come from a place of embarrassment just because Andi didn't reciprocate those feelings or did you think coming on so strongly is what got you eliminated? Because since Andi wasn't falling in love with you yet, she cut you asap to avoid hurting you worse towards the end of the process.


Marcus Grodd: Yeah, it was -- my last comment of saying I shouldn't have told her I loved her was coming from more of an embarrassment and disappointment that the feelings weren't reciprocated. I don't think from my sense I came on too strongly. I was just open and honest with where I was in the relationship, and you know, if that got me eliminated, then so be it.

At least I knew at that time instead of going further and being disappointed further down the road. So I was just open and honest about my feelings and, you know, I don't have any regrets from that.

Reality TV World: Looking back, do you wish Andi had eliminated you before your hometown visit or are you still glad you got the opportunity for Andi to meet your family? I can imagine getting sent home after your hometown date would just worsen the blow.

Marcus Grodd: Yeah, it was definitely tough getting let go after hometowns and bringing her into my family and meeting everyone, because that's not something I do very often. It's only something I've done with one other girl. So it was definitely tougher being let go after the fact of her meeting my family and my niece and nephew.

But, you know, the experience with her, I didn't know where she was in that situation or where she was in the relationship. So, everything leading up to that process and that point, I don't regret anything. And looking back on it, I'm very thankful and happy that she got the opportunity to meet my family.


Reality TV World: You seemed to be open about your feelings for Andi throughout the whole process more so than everyone else. Therefore, do you feel like Andi led you on at all? Knowing what you know now, do you think she was ready to send you home earlier but still kept you around for whatever reason?

Marcus Grodd: I don't know what was going on in Andi's head. She's in a tough position because she is being pulled in different directions from a bunch of different guys, and it's hard to kind of find clarity, especially when you're dating four guys and going and visiting their hometowns and meeting all these families. So, she's in a tough position.

I don't know -- I don't think she was leading me on by any means. I think she was just trying to figure out every guy and my time with her. She figured she had probably a stronger connection with the three other guys and realized where I was in the relationship wasn't where she was.

So, that's why she sent me home, and as far as leading me on, I don't think she led me on by any means. She just tried to figure this crazy dating world out.

Reality TV World: How did your family react once you got home? Were they disappointed or did they reveal anything new to you about what they thought of your relationship with Andi -- maybe something you wish they had told you during that hometown visit?


Marcus Grodd: They were just very supportive when I came back and they saw that she was a great girl. My family definitely saw a future with Andi and I, but they were surprised -- no doubt. But they saw how hard it was on me, and I think they were just comforting me. And I didn't really ask what Andi and them talked about. I think that's between them, their conversation, and that should just be kept between them.

I talked about everything that I could with Andi outside of the limo before I left, and it brought a lot of clarity. It was hard to hear, but especially when I came back and got close to my family and opened up to them about my experience, hearing what Andi had to say made a lot of sense and brought a lot of clarity for when I got back home.

Reality TV World: From what you learned about Andi, do you think she'd really be up for moving to Iowa in order to be with Chris -- if she picked him in the end -- and be a part of his farm? While you were competing for Andi, were you thinking that was kind of a longshot?

Marcus Grodd: When we got further down to hometowns, I knew she's very career-driven and she wants a lot out of life and she wants to experience things. She wants to experience new things. And I thought it would be hard for her to do that in Iowa and be part of a farming community.

But if you love somebody so much and you see a future with them, I don't think it matters where you are. And if that person is next to you, then nothing else matters. But, you know, for her, I think it's going to be -- it would be a little difficult to have a future in Iowa.


Reality TV World: Now that you've seen Josh's hometown date, could you imagine Andi fitting into such a sports-focused family -- one that she'd basically have to attend a sporting event with every week?

Marcus Grodd: Um, you know, I don't know. She definitely does like sports, so I could definitely see that -- Josh and his family fitting in with Andi. And I know that Andi's dad is a big Georgia fan, so they have that. I think they would make a good couple and I think Andi would fit in really well with Josh's family.

Reality TV World: It's very clear Andi is taken with her bachelors' looks and bodies this season. She repeatedly called you hot and she seems to comment about the guys' looks very often. Did you feel a physical attraction was really important to Andi while you were on the show and have any of her comments surprised you along the way?

Marcus Grodd: No, I don't -- of course physical attraction has to play into a relationship. I think that's an initial starter. But definitely, obviously, personality keeps one together. And I think for the Final 4 of us, we had different personalities and different character traits and they're all good-looking guys.

So I think she was just trying to find the right to spend her life with, and that personality needs to mesh with hers as well. I think that's what she was trying to figure out. All of these guys are good-looking guys, and so, just personality traits -- she needs to find someone that just fits her personality.


During a Thursday conference call with reporters, Marcus talked about his The Bachelorette experience. Above is what he had to tell Reality TV World. Check back with us soon for more.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski