'The Bachelorette' star Ali Fedotowsky eliminates her first 8 bachelors

Ali Fedotowsky eliminated her first eight The Bachelorette sixth-season suitors during last night's premiere broadcast of the ABC reality dating series.


"I never expected it to be this hard. I have such a great group of guys and if you don't get a rose tonight, it's not personal," said Ali at the beginning of the season's first Rose Ceremony.

"This night was long because it took me forever to make these decisions."

Derek, a 28-year-old sales manager from Warren, MI; Derrick, a 27-year-old construction engineer from San Diego, CA; Jason, a 27-year-old construction consultant from Denver, CO; Jay, a 29-year-old lawyer from Barrington, RI; John N., a 27-year-old in engineering software sales from Wichita, KS; Kyle, a 26-year-old outdoorsman from Highlands Ranch, CO; Phil, a 30-year-old investment manager from Chicago, IL; and Tyler M., a 25-year-old catering manager from Austin, TX all failed to receive a rose from the 25-year-old former The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love bachelorette.

"I was 100% ready to fall in love with Ali. She was beyond my expectations," opined Jay after his ouster.


"I'm kicking myself because I just didn't bring it. I would have sent myself home if I was her. I wish I could replay that night again. I just never brought who I am to her tonight. It sucks. It's definitely tough to walk away from this one."

The Bachelorette's sixth-season premiere began with a brief recap of Ali's journey as a The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love bachelorette last year, introductions to several of her suitors, and a sit-down interview between Ali and host Chris Harrison.

The 25 bachelors then arrived at the Malibu mansion before the initial cocktail reception commenced.

"Thank you guys so much for coming here. It means a lot that you guys are taking time out of your lives to be here," Ali told her suitors once inside.

"We're all here to find love and I just want you to be real with me. Be open, be honest and have my back -- because I'm going to have your back."


Roberto, a 26-year-old insurance agent from Charleston, SC, was immediately impressed by Ali and called her "super fly."

"It sounds cheesy, but she immediately took my breath away," he added.

Justin, a 26-year-old entertainment wrestler from Toronto, CA, said she felt some "puppy love" for Ali.

"She's absolutely a complete sweetheart," he added.

All of the guys immediately tried to secure some one-on-one time with Ali.


Frank, a 31-year-old retail manager, from Geneva, IL, shared his story of moving to Paris to follow his dream of writing screenplays, while Kirk, a 27-year-old sales consultant from Green Bay, WI, presented her with a sentimental scrapbook he made specifically for her.

Kasey, a 27-year-old advertising account executive from Clovis, CA, shared an emotional story about how his mom was cheated on by his father, while Hunter, a 28-year-old Internet account executive from San Antonio, TX, played her a song on the ukulele.

Derek was anxious to grab Ali's attention and revealed how he received the nickname "Shooter," which entailed how he once prematurely ejaculated in college.

"You are a brave man for telling that story," Ali told him with a laugh. "You know you're not going to live that one down."

"I hope she thinks it's funny and not weird," he said in a confessional.


Ali then sat down with Craig M., a 34-year-old in dental sales from Sarnia, Canada, and Jonathan, a 30-year-old weatherman from Houston, TX. Craig M. was upset since Jonathan was doing all the talking. Craig M. subsequently told Jonathan to let the lady talk next time they're conversing.

"Craig M. was kind of patronizing me a little bit," said Jonathan in a confessional. "I didn't appreciate it."

Chris Harrison then arrived and placed the first-impression rose on the table, telling her to present it whenever and to whomever she wished to assure he'd be safe at the impending Rose Ceremony.

"Chris walked out with the rose, that was kind of the moment I knew I had to step it up," said Roberto, who took Ali for some one-on-one time.

Outside the mansion, the two talked about life. Ali expressed her desire to have a family that fills her with unconditional love, and Roberto agreed.


"Being with Ali feels really natural. I feel a connection with her," he said in a confessional. "Hopefully she feels a connection with me."

The two then salsa danced, and Ali thought it was "so fun."

"I am really, really digging Roberto," said Ali in a confessional. "He is sexy, he's sweet. I would have liked to dance a little more, but there's still some guys I need to talk to."

Kyle conversed with Ali and presented her with a good luck charm that he uses while hunting in Colorado, and while Jay was sitting with them, he didn't say a word.

"I totally dropped the ball," he said in a confessional. "I totally blew it. I would say that I'm not getting a rose tonight, just the first impression I left her. I have a lot of ground to make up."

Ali then took Justin outside, and the other bachelors were worried he would get the "sympathy" rose since he had crutches and a cast due to a broken ankle. He revealed he hurt it while wrestling two weeks ago and explained how when he's in the ring he does things the "rated R" way. Needless to say, the other bachelors weren't impressed, especially Craig M..


"If I hear you say something to me that's promoting yourself, then I'm not with you," Craig R., a 27-year-old lawyer from Philadelphia, PA, told Justin before elaborating on his feelings in a confessional.

"Justin, I just don't know if he's here for the right reasons," he added.

"I feel like I have a responsibility to let her know things that I find out about that are behind her back. At the same time, I will remain true to the fact that the reason I'm here is because I am the right one for her."

Craig R. then told Ali to "be careful" about the intentions of the bachelors before opening himself up to her by presenting her with a yellow Converse sneaker keychain.

"I really appreciate you reminding me about a lot of the things I need to remember, like who's here for me," Ali told him, who added in a confessional that she was "concerned."

Chris Harrison then arrived and told the bachelors that each of them would write down the name or names of a fellow suitor they feel is not there for the right reason. Craig M. refused to write a name down, which some guys thought was suspicious.


"When Chris brought out the box I was actually kind of relieved because there's a half a dozen guys that aren't there for the right reasons," boasted Justin in a confessional.

"I'm hoping that none of them put my name on that piece of paper. If I see my name on there, it's because they're all jumping on me, making fun of me for what I do, what I have a passion for. That's really insulting for me."

While the vote was happening, Jesse, a 24-year-old general contractor from Peculiar, MO, presented Ali with a heart pendant made from a jigsaw puzzle. She was impressed by the gesture.

Ali said there were lots of ways she could approach the first-impression rose, but decided to give it to a guy she felt she could end up with. She then presented it to Roberto.

"You just made me feel really at ease," she told him. "You're sweet... I feel really comfortable with you."

"I feel the same," he replied.


Roberto said in a confessional he "never imagined" he'd receive the first-impression rose.

"I didn't know what to expect coming into this, and honestly, it's definitely a good thing," he added. "I know that she at least felt some of what I felt. That's the part that feels good about it."

Chris Harrison then revealed that one bachelor received an "overwhelming amount of votes as the guy who is not here for the right reasons."

"So now Ali, you have a decision to make," continued Chris. "Ali, you can choose to send this guy home immediately or you can choose to trust him, believe he's here for the right reasons, give him that rose and he's safe for tonight's Rose Ceremony."

He then revealed Justin was the suitor with the most votes.

"Wow, I'm floored," said Justin, who went to talk with Ali in private.


He explained that he was there for her and not to "play games." She asked why the other guys would vote for him, and he revealed it was because of the "wrestling thing."

"A lot of the guys were almost attacking me," he said. "I was really taken aback by that, because this is something that I'm really passionate about."

Once Ali reconvened with all of the bachelors, she revealed that Justin would be receiving a rose and continuing in the competition.

"I think she made a mistake," said Steve, a 28-year-old sales representative from Cleveland, OH. "I think he's the guy that I need to keep my eye on."

"Justin should go home right now," added Craig R.. "I just don't trust him. I'm just skeptical of a guy like that."

The Bachelorette's first sixth-season Rose Ceremony then commenced.


In addition to Roberto and Justin, Ali gave a rose to Jesse; Ty, a 31-year-old in medical sales from Nashville, TN; Craig R.; Tyler V., a 25-year-old in online advertising from Chelsea, VT; Frank; Steve; Chris L., a 33-year-old landscaper from Cape Cod, MA; Kirk; John C., a 32-year-old in hotel business development from Issaquah, WA; Chris N., a 29-year-old entrepreneur from Orlando, FL; Chris H., a 27-year-old real estate developer from Vancouver, Canada; Hunter; Craig M.; Jonathan; and Kasey.

"I came here with an open heart ready to fall in love, and I honestly thought Ali was the right one. I really did," opined Kyle after his ouster. "Obviously it's not what she wanted. For the first time in my life, I honestly do feel like a failure."

"I'm so f--king mad that I made a fool of myself, said Derek after he failed to receive a rose. "It wasn't like I planned it to be originally."

The Bachelorette's next sixth-season episode will air Monday, May 31 at 8PM ET/PT on ABC.






About The Author: Christopher Rocchio