The Bachelorette star Rachel Lindsay sent DeMario Jackson packing during Monday night's episode of Season 13 on ABC.
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Rachel eliminated DeMario, a 30-year-old executive recruiter from Century City, CA, after his girlfriend of about seven months from back home, Lexi, showed up on a basketball group date to put DeMario in his place and inform The Bachelorette star of his alleged betrayal and lies.
Lexi claimed to Rachel that DeMario had been dating and having sex with her right up until he cut off communication -- with no alleged explanation -- several days before he appeared on The Bachelor: After the Final Rose special to meet Rachel and begin getting to know her. Lexi called DeMario "trash" and "a piece of sh-t," but he called her "crazy and "psycho" and alleged they had an on-again, off-again fling a while ago.
But after Rachel read text messages in Lexi's phone that proved DeMario had a relationship with Lexi shortly before filming began, the Bachelorette angrily kicked him to the curb.
"You don't make sense right now," Rachel told DeMario after he insisted he had broken things off with his Lexi in person despite their apparent continued communication.
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"I don't know her, but to be honest, I don't know you either. I believe you want to be here. I just don't think you want to be here for me. So let me tell you something: I'm not here to be played. I'm not here to be made a joke of, which is what I feel like you're doing right now with me. So I'm really going to need you to get the f-ck out. I don't like being f-cking embarrassed, like, I can't even look at you right now."
The Bachelorette broadcast began with host Chris Harrison sharing with Rachel's group of men that there would be two groups dates and a single one-on-one date during the week in California.
The names on the first group-date card were as follows: Dean Unglert, a 26-year-old startup recruiter from Venice, CA; Jonathan Treece, a 31-year-old "tickle monster" from New Smyrna Beach, FL; Jack Stone, a 32-year-old attorney from Dallas, TX; Blake Elarbee, a 31-year-old aspiring drummer from Marina del Rey, CA; Ignacio "Iggy" Rodriguez, a 30-year-old consulting firm CEO from Chicago, IL; Fred Johnson, a 27-year-old executive assistant from Dallas, TX; Kenny Layne, a 35-year-old professional wrestler from Las Vegas, NV; and Lucas Yancey, a 30-year-old "whaboom" from Santa Monica, CA.
The card from Rachel read, "I'm looking for husband material."
After enjoying Moscow mules, a little touch football and a barbecue during which Blake vented to the cameras that Lucas was "garbage" and looking to be a TV star, Rachel introduced the guys on her group date to Hollywood couple Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunas.
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Ashton and Mila, who revealed they're huge fans of The Bachelor, explained the guys must go through an obstacle course designed to prove whether these men could take care of a baby while multi-tasking. There were six obstacles -- including changing a baby, vacuuming with the baby, pulling hair out of a drain, and setting up the dinner table -- and guys would be eliminated at each stage of the challenge.
Ashton predicted Rachel's winner was not among this group of guys.
At the very end of the competition, Lucas pushed Kenny out of the way for the win, and he "whaboomed" for a very confused Ashton and Mila.
That night, the group date moved to an arcade, where Lucas got to enjoy some alone time with Rachel first. As he was talking to the Bachelorette, Blake informed the group that Lucas just wanted to be on TV. However, Lucas read Rachel a sweet poem during their time together, and she said he continued to surprise her in a good way. She really liked him!
Rachel, however, had trouble turning the corner with Fred due to their previous dynamic when she served as his camp counselor when he was a young trouble-maker. Rachel struggled to get over their past, and she was missing the romantic aspect of a relationship with him.
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During this time, Blake confronted Lucas about his intentions, and Lucas said he knows when to turn his crazy antics on and off.
Blake then revealed to Rachel that Lucas' ex-girlfriend was his roommate and she had vented about Lucas' bad behavior during their relationship. Blake alleged that Lucas even brought makeup with him to look his best on TV. Rachel said she appreciated Blake's warning, but it was clear she was agitated they spent their time alone talking about Lucas.
Upon returning to the group, Blake admitted to Lucas that he had warned Rachel about his desire for "whaboom" exposure. Lucas was upset Blake was judging him and called his ex-girlfriend "a maniac."
Meanwhile, Rachel told the cameras she was upset and worried about her lack of chemistry or spark with all the guys -- until Dean, whom Rachel called "so handsome" with a bright smile and great personality and style.
Rachel then sat down with Kenny, who talked about his 10-year-old daughter, saying she keeps him grounded and on his toes. She thought it was beautiful how patient and understanding he seemed.
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At the end of the night, Rachel gave her group-date rose to Dean, who also got a kiss out of the deal. Rachel considered it a "sweet and genuine" kiss.
The following day, Rachel embarked on a one-on-one date with Peter Kraus, a 31-year-old personal trainer and business owner from Madison, WI. The pair went to Palm Springs with Rachel's dog Copper for Bark Fest, which was a festival for dogs. Copper and Peter got along well, and he was surprised to feel a connection with Rachel so soon. During their date, they both expressed how they'd relocate for love.
Rachel thought Peter was tall and very handsome, and the date was going so well that she said her mind was blown.
Rachel saw a lot of potential in her relationship with Peter and hoped he felt the same way. Peter revealed to the Bachelorette he had been broken-hearted several times in his past and therefore underwent relationship therapy. Rachel also sought therapy for her lovelife, so the couple bonded over the fact they're more calm and confident now when it comes to pursuing romance.
Peter was "scaring" Rachel in a good way. They had a lot in common, and she was definitely feeling passion. He surpassed her expectations and offered Peter the date's rose, which he was thrilled to accept.
Rachel then made a move on Peter and they shared their first kiss. She felt butterflies, and not just because he's handsome, but rather because things just "felt good" with him.
"I am such a smitten kitten over Peter," Rachel told the cameras.
After their dinner date, Rachel and Peter watched fireworks together outside. Peter could see himself spending the rest of his life with Rachel, and they were both excited to see where the relationship could go.
It then became time for the week's last group date in which all the guys participated in some basketball drills in front of NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and then played in a game against each other.
The men on this date were DeMario; Eric Bigger, a 29-year-old personal trainer from Los Angeles, CA; Josiah Graham, a 28-year-old prosecuting attorney from Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Alex Bordyukov, a 28-year-old information systems supervisor from Grosse Pointe Park, MI; Will Gaskins, a 28-year-old sales manager from Miami, FL; Lee Garrett, a 30-year-old singer and songwriter from Nashville, TN; Jamey Kocan, a 32-year-old sales account executive from Santa Monica, CA; Kenneth "Diggy" Moreland, a 31-year-old senior inventory analyst from Chicago, IL; Adam Gottschalk, a 27-year-old real estate agent from Dallas, TX; and Matthew "Matt" Munson, a 32-year-old construction sales representative from Meriden, CT.
Rachel felt chemistry with DeMario during the date and they flirted. It also didn't help he turned out to be an awesome basketball player. However, Rachel was a tad skeptical of the suitor because he seemed a little cocky, especially when he dunked the ball when playing against Rachel on the court.
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The game was a great time for Rachel, who cheered with the big crowd throughout. She thought all the guys looked hot in their athletic gear, and she noticed the guys stepped up and really played well as two teams. But DeMario clearly stood out, and Rachel has a weakness for athletes.
The guys went into the locker room to get dressed in their normal clothes, and while Rachel waited on the court, she was approached by Lexi. Lexi said she watched DeMario on After the Final Rose and he had been her boyfriend at the time. Lexi said DeMario stopped talking to her several days before the TV appearance when he brought an engagement ring with him.
Lexi insisted DeMario still had the keys to her apartment. Once Rachel had DeMario join the conversation, he looked at Lexi and then looked at Rachel and said, "Oooooh, who's this?" Lexi stood with her arms crossed and noted, "Karma is a bitch. You thought you could deceive all these people!"
DeMario claimed he broke up with Lexi and had mailed her keys back -- although they still spoke occasionally. Lexi called DeMario a liar, saying he never met her family and friends because he promised to work on himself and work through his personal issues.
Lexi promised Rachel and swore on her dead relatives' graves that the last time DeMario saw her, they were "f-cking." DeMario tried to tell Rachel that he dated Lexi on and off "a long time ago," but she just wasn't buying it, especially after Lexi showed her text messages as proof of her last exchange with DeMario.
In one text message, DeMario wrote, "Goodnight babe," which totally turned Rachel off.
After Rachel dumped DeMario, he walked away yelling, "Sorry, Rachel," before venting that the situation was "crazy" and "nuts."
"I didn't sign up for this sh-t," Rachel cried. "I'm so annoyed, I want to go home. I don't even want to do this anymore."
Rachel then confronted the rest of her guys in the locker room after DeMario left, saying that if anyone else had a girlfriend, he needed to leave. Rachel said, "DeMario is a dirty, dirty dog."
That night, Rachel decided she needed to dive deeper into conversation with these guys in order to see their true colors -- and see past their charm or appearance.
Josiah showed his protective nature by expressing how bothered he was by the situation with DeMario. Rachel loved how genuine he seemed. Alex then sang Rachel an old Russian folk song about a woman with dark eyes. Rachel also shared a big kiss with Eric.
But Josiah ended up getting the rose as a "thank you" for comforting Rachel in her time of need. A bad day resulted in an "amazing" night, because Rachel felt the nine guys were all there for her and had the right intentions.
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The episode ended with the cocktail party. Bryan Abasolo, a 37-year-old chiropractor from Miami, FL, snuck in a steamy kiss and said he missed Rachel because he didn't have a date with her. He also gave her a romantic back massage outside of the mansion.
DeMario then arrived and asked Chris if he could speak with Rachel because he didn't want to leave things on such a negative note. DeMario confessed to Chris, "I did f-ck up," and Rachel decided she wanted to at least hear the bachelor out.
"My curiosity is at an all-time high," Rachel told the cameras.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski