'The Bachelorette' recap: JoJo Fletcher gives roses to Chase McNary, Evan Bass and James Taylor as Chad Johnson drama continues

The Bachelorette star JoJo Fletcher handed out three roses as tension heightened between Chad Johnson and the rest of the guys during Monday night's Season 12 episode of the special two-night event on ABC.


JoJo gave a rose to Chase McNary, a 27-year-old medical sale representative from Highlands Ranch, CO, on their one-on-one date; Evan Bass, a 33-year-old erectile dysfunction specialist from Nashville, TN, on the Group Date; and finally James Taylor, a 29-year-old singer/songwriter from Katy, TX, after their one-on-one date.

The Bachelorette broadcast began with Evan saying Chad, a 28-year-old luxury real estate agent from Tulsa, OK, had two sides to him -- a "douche" and an "assh-le."

When the guys received their first Date Card of the week -- which read, "Let's get physical," they learned Chase would be going on the one-on-one with JoJo.

For their date, JoJo and Chase went on a hot couples' yoga date. It was awkward at first for JoJo, but she definitely felt an attraction towards Chase. JoJo joked it was the first time she ever mounted a guy on a first date, as she was instructed to straddle him on the floor. She felt safe in his arms, and he also felt a connection.


The couple kissed during the yoga exercise, and Chase believed they had built a "solid foundation" for a relationship. She saw his funny and goofy side that day and wanted to see more from him that night.

Later on, when the pair enjoyed dinner, Chase revealed that marriage is a "one and done deal" for him, that he values the sanctity of marriage and would only propose if he was certain that girl is the right one for him. Chase watched his parents get a divorce when he was eight-years-old, so that played a role in his outlook on marriage. JoJo thought it was amazing they could discuss such serious topics.

JoJo ended up giving Chase a rose because he was sincere and she could imagine a future with him. The couple then enjoyed a concert by Charles Kelley, who serenaded the couple as they danced and kissed. JoJo saw "so many wonderful sides" of Chase on their date. Chase thought it was the start of something great.

Meanwhile, the following men learned they'd be accompanying JoJo on the week's only Group Date: Evan; Chad; Grant Kemp, a 28-year-old firefighter from San Francisco, CA; Daniel Maguire, a 31-year-old Canadian from Vancouver, B.C., Canada; Vincent "Vinny" Ventiera, a 28-year-old barber from Delray Beach, FL; Ali Zahiri, a 27-year-old bartender from Santa Monica, CA; Wells Adams, a 31-year-old radio DJ from Nashville, TN; Jordan Rodgers, a 27-year-old former pro quarterback from Chico, CA; Christian Bishop, a 26-year-old telecom consultant from Los Angeles, CA; Nick Benvenutti, a 33-year-old electrical engineer from Fort Lauderdale, FL; James Fuertes, a 34-year-old boxing club owner from Nashville, TN; and Alex Woytkiw, a 26-year-old U.S. Marine from Oceanside, CA.

The Group Date card teased, "Love has no secrets."


Chad told the group he didn't want to go on a date with 11 other dudes. Everyone else agreed any opportunity to spend time with JoJo was a great one. James T. told Chad to be thankful, and Derek Peth, a 29-year-old commercial banker from Ft. Lauderdale, FL, was upset he couldn't talk to JoJo until the cocktail hour.

Jordan then said aloud that if the guys were going to be divided up into teams on the date, he hoped it would be a bench-pressing contest instead of a Spelling Bee for Chad's sake.

Chad was angry that Jordan was insinuating he's stupid and therefore called him out for doing nothing in life other than "throwing a piece of leather." Chad rubbed in Jordan's face how he's a failed football player and barked at Evan to stop talking.

Alex called Chad a "solid piece of sh-t" that was stinking up the room, and then Chad called Alex a name that had to be censored.

Chad told the cameras he wasn't going to change himself just because the other guys were sensitive. Alex was hoping his true colors would come out on the date, but Chad stood by everything he said, insisting he was simply honest in saying he didn't want to share JoJo with a bunch of other guys.


For the Group Date, the guys were required to divulge their deepest and darkest sexual secrets and stories. Evan joked that it was just another day at the office for him, and James F. asked his mom to turn off the television right away.

The live audience was expecting the stories to be embarrassing, crazy and funny. Chad got upset because he didn't want to talk about sex in his past, saying it was inappropriate for the stage of his relationship with JoJo and it was none of her business. He also didn't want to know about her sexual history. 

When Evan got up onstage, he suggested Chad is on steroids by pointing out the "signs" of irritability, withdrawal, and saying the girl he liked was nagging him. When Evan went to sit down, he crossed paths with Chad, and Chad ripped the back of his shirt. JoJo said resorting to violence was never the answer.

Chad then asked JoJo to join him onstage and he simply said he was looking forward to their future together. He tried to kiss her, but then she turned the cheek.

"Crash and burn, brother!" Alex yelled out.


After everyone delivered their stand-up comedy routine, Chad punched a door on his way out of the theater and got bloody knuckles.

"You're gonna f--king die if you don't chill out," Chad said to Evan, adding that if he couldn't lift weights right away he'd kill someone.

Jordan called Chad's behavior "roid rage."

That night, the guys tried to refocus on JoJo. Jordan had positioned himself well to not get his heart broken, but he knew he needed to be vulnerable to fall in love. Jordan told JoJo that he had made mistakes in his last relationship a few years ago because he put football first and had insecurities about what kind of guy he wanted to be and thought he should be.

Jordan told JoJo he was really attracted to her and was experiencing feelings that had been absent for a long time. He revealed he's only said, "I love you," to one girl in his whole life.


Chad then said in a confessional he doesn't have a problem with anyone and everyone was trying to make him seem like a jerk and were testing him. Chad told the guys that if he was JoJo, he would've turned him down too onstage for that kiss as well. He didn't think JoJo wanted to kiss him in front of everyone else.

Chad claimed he didn't start anything with the guys -- he'd only "react in retaliation," saying Evan plowed into him at the theater. Chad confronted Evan about being a bully to the bully, and he asked Evan to just leave him alone. Chad said he was accused of things he hadn't done.

In a confessional, Chad said Evan already had his chance at love but failed and ended up with three kids.

Meanwhile, the next Date Card arrived with James T.'s name on it. He was going to "kick it old school" with JoJo.

Back on the Group Date, JoJo told Chad she was more confused about him than anyone she's ever met because he shows her a sweet, soft and sensitive side but a different tough and aggressive side with the guys.

Evan then sat down with JoJo and gave her an ultimatum. He asked her to choose between himself and Chad, implying that he couldn't stay in the house with Chad any longer. That put JoJo in a tough spot because she wanted them both there for the time being.


Later on, JoJo pulled Evan aside and said it was too hard for her to make a decision about whom to keep, but she definitely wanted him to stay. JoJo therefore offered Evan the rose, and he gladly accepted it. He felt he won the rose for his kids as much as himself.

When JoJo addressed the guys before the date ended, Chad was making faces and then asked JoJo if she was "seriously vibing" on Evan. Chad was in disbelief Evan got the rose, but JoJo didn't appreciate his lack of respect. She flat out said she didn't appreciate that side of Chad, and Alex was thrilled Chad embarrassed himself in front of everyone.

Jordan figured Chad was a "time bomb waiting to explode." Chad told the cameras that girls don't pick guys like Evan for anything -- unless it's to sweep their front yard or something.

At the house that night, Derek didn't feel safe sleeping in the same room as Chad because he thought Chad was going to snap at any moment. The guys therefore asked a security guard to keep an eye on Chad the whole time, which Chad found absolutely ridiculous.

The following day, JoJo embarked on her one-on-one date with James T. JoJo called him "an old school gentleman" and was hoping to connect with him emotionally since they had already established a friendship.

For their date, the couple learned how to swing dance, and JoJo found James' energy and positivity so attractive. They also went out to the streets and danced to live music. They had a lot of fun and JoJo couldn't stop smiling. James felt like he was living out a movie, and JoJo made him feel very special.


During the night portion of their date, JoJo and James sat on a cliff in a classic car and appeared to drink hot chocolate. JoJo was looking for chemistry since they got along so great and she thought he'd made a great partner in life.

James then opened up about how he was made fun of for his looks as a kid. He said he had big ears and a long neck. As a result, James was always afraid to go after beautiful women, like JoJo, in fear he'd fail. JoJo gave him confidence and filled a void of emptiness that he had before the show.

James loved the way JoJo looked at him, and he ended up singing her a song that he wrote just for her. She cried again, saying it was beautiful and touched her heart. James could see love on the horizon.

Instead of a cocktail party, Chris Harrison later revealed there would be an all-day pool party instead that JoJo would be a part of.

Evan then pulled Chris aside to share his worries about Chad, whom he dubbed "a dark storm cloud" walking around the house. Evan tattled on Chad for punching a door, ripping his shirt and scaring the other guys in the house to the point where they asked security to watch him.

Chris talked to Chad about these accusations, and Chad insisted he never started anything and the guys were acting ridiculous. Instead of kicking Chad off the show, Chris said he needed to do something to make things right again between him and the other bachelors.


Chad was infuriated by the fact Evan had told on him, so he told the cameras he'd rip everyone's legs and arms off if he could and then throw their torsos in the pool. Chad said if Evan wasn't going to stop talking on his own, he'd need to physically hurt him to shut him up.

The episode concluded with Chad confronting the men. To be continued!  
   






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski