'The Bachelorette' star Kaitlyn Bristowe eliminates four guys, Chris Harrison changes up show's format

The Bachelorette star Kaitlyn Bristowe sent a whopping four guys home during the eleventh season's eighth episode Monday night on ABC.


Kaitlyn traditionally eliminated Tanner Tolbert, a 28-year-old auto finance manager from Kansas City, MO, and Ben Zorn, a 26-year-old fitness coach from San Jose, CA, during the season's sixth Rose Ceremony.

The Bachelorette additionally ousted JJ Lane, a 32-year-old former investment banker from Denver, CO, on his two-on-one date -- ultimately losing to Joe Bailey, a 28-year-old insurance agent from Columbia, KY -- as well as Chris Strandburg, a 28-year-old dentist from Nashville, TN.

Kaitlyn sent Chris packing halfway through their one-on-one date in Ireland during which there wasn't even a rose to hand out. 

Kaitlyn's brutal cuts leave the following guys still in the running for her heart: Nick Viall, a 34-year-old software sales executive from Waukesha, WI; Shawn Booth, a 28-year-old personal trainer from Windsor Locks, CT; Ben Higgins, a 26-year-old software salesman from Denver, CO; and Jared Haibon, a 26-year-old restaurant manager from Warwick, RI.


The Bachelorette broadcast began where last week's episode had left off, with Shawn confronting Kaitlyn in her hotel suite about his concerns. Kaitlyn feared he was going to bring up her intimate night with Nick, but little did she know, Shawn wasn't even aware of the fact she had sex with another suitor.

"Are you in love with me?" Shawn asked Kaitlyn, desperate for some reassurance.

"You can't put me on the spot like that!" Kaitlyn replied, looking shocked but a little relieved.

"Yes or no?" Shawn pushed.

"I'm falling in love with you," Kaitlyn noted.


Shawn just wanted every minute he could get with Kaitlyn because he was having a hard time with the process and seeing her with other guys. He then said, "I don't know if I can do this."

Kaitlyn, taken aback by Shawn's lack of confidence or persistence, insisted, "This is hard for me too."

Kaitlyn asked him to decide if he can do the show or not. He kissed her, clearly showing he wanted to stick around, but Kaitlyn felt very guilty about her physical encounter with Nick. She didn't feel guilty about the sex itself, rather, it was because she had other relationships developing and she really cared for all of those guys' feelings.

Kaitlyn was overwhelmed. She didn't want to disappoint or hurt anyone she was dating, especially since the guys invested a lot into the process.

"My heart would break if Shawn left. If someone can't be here, well then, that person is probably not for me," Kaitlyn told the cameras.


Meanwhile, Nick was shown telling Tanner that Shawn hated his guts. Nick believed Shawn saw him to be "a master manipulator."

It then became time for Kaitlyn to embark on her dreaded and awkward two-on-one date with Joe and JJ.

Kaitlyn was "torn up" about whom to send home. JJ was a little cocky going into the date, saying his only competition was himself and he was his own worst enemy. On the flipside, Joe worried about getting sent home and so he determined he must open up to Kaitlyn more than ever before and be vulnerable.

The threesome went on a boat ride in Ireland, and Kaitlyn was thinking about which guy could really be her husband. She didn't want to keep JJ away from his three-year-old daughter if there wasn't a future there for them, while she needed to see more emotion out of Joe.

Much to Kaitlyn's surprise, both Joe and JJ said they were "falling" in love with her. Joe admitted to the show's star he had never liked anyone this much so quickly and passionately before in his life. He told Kaitlyn she was "one in a million" and "worth fighting for." Kaitlyn said Joe blew her away that day.


When JJ got his alone time with Kaitlyn, he really humbled himself.

JJ revealed he had cheated on his wife three years ago and lost everything that mattered to him because of that horrible mistake.

Kaitlyn confessed a man cheating was her worst nightmare, but JJ reiterated how he wasn't just on the show to get a rose -- he wanted to build an honest foundation with the girl he could envision being in a serious relationship and spending the rest of his life with. Kaitlyn appreciated him being so upfront with that story.

Kaitlyn then handed out the date's rose to Joe. She said she was genuinely looking for her husband and just needed more time with Joe. Kaitlyn burst into tears as she said goodbye to JJ, who was blindsided and upset. JJ said he's looking for his partner in crime, someone to see how beautiful his daughter is.

Kaitlyn then cuddled up to Joe on a sofa by a warm fireplace and they talked and kissed the night away. Joe renewed Kaitlyn's spirit and she felt very happy in that moment.


Meanwhile, Shawn spoke in a confessional about how he was worried he might lose Kaitlyn as she continued to build stronger relationships with other guys. While he loved hearing her say he's "the one," it made everything much harder from him.

When Joe returned to the group of guys from his date, he admitted he was falling in love with Kaitlyn. Shawn immediately stood up and left the room. He couldn't handle the process. Shawn said he was exhausted and couldn't even eat. Kaitlyn made him feel something he had never felt before.

As a result, Shawn marched his way back up to Kaitlyn's hotel suite. She was mentally preparing herself for Shawn to quit and go home because of "the mistake" she had made with Nick. Shawn explained to Kaitlyn how her honest words about him being "the one" for her just made everything extremely difficult because he had to sit back and watch her with other guys.

Kaitlyn felt she was at fault for reassuring him so much and reminded Shawn that The Bachelorette was hard for everybody. Kaitlyn seemed a little annoyed that everyone else in the competition was so positive when they had received much less reassurance from her than Shawn. Shawn just quipped that the other men didn't feel for her the way he did.

Kaitlyn then asked Shawn to focus on their relationship, because this was only weeks into forever and the rest of their lives. Kaitlyn wondered if she should back off from Shawn a little bit because the way he was acting was making her question things between them. Shawn said he'll try to be better about everything because she was worth it and he wanted to be with her more than anything.

Kaitlyn ultimately regretted telling Shawn he was "the one" and "it" because she did have feelings for other guys. She didn't want Shawn to think she was just going through the motions with the other men in order to just end up with him in the end. She also admitted things "went too far" with Nick, and she had no idea how Shawn would react to that news.


At the cocktail party, Kaitlyn told her group she was really nervous and confused. She also confessed to having made mistakes, however, her heart was still open.

The guys wondered what that "mistake" was -- including Nick, who really liked Kaitlyn and feared she may be talking about the night they had sex. While all the guys were freaking out, Shawn felt confident in the fact she was just talking about the bump in the road they had just faced.

Kaitlyn soon realized she was starting to fall in love with multiple guys. She chatted with Ben Z. and then got whisked away by Ben H., whom Kaitlyn found "handsome, sweet and funny."  

But Ben H. needed to talk to Kaitlyn and he seemed displeased. Ben H. told the Bachelorette that when Kaitlyn snuck down to talk to Ben H. and Shawn in Texas, he left to go shower and the mood had changed once he returned. Ben H. said Shawn was acting thrilled and confident, and he didn't understand why.

Ben H. said he didn't want to know any details, but he was also curious as to why Shawn felt such sudden validation. It bothered him to see Kaitlyn having a strong connection with someone else and the wheels were spinning in his head. Kaitlyn got emotional, and although she didn't reveal much, she told Ben H. she was disappointed in herself. A sweet gesture of visiting the guys off-camera altered things for her in a negative way. Ben H. then supported and comforted Kaitlyn.

Nick then got his time with Kaitlyn. He grew worried that Kaitlyn was confused about him and their relationship. He was rattled and nervous because of the way she had entered the cocktail party. Kaitlyn just explained she didn't want Nick to tell the other guys about what went down between them.


Kaitlyn told Nick their date was perfect, and Nick promised her that he never told the guys anything about how romantic the night became for them. Nick started crying, saying he was terrified and the process wasn't easy. Nick didn't want to be the over-confident guy anymore, because obviously he didn't win Andi Dorfman's heart when he felt that way before.

Kaitlyn loved Nick's sincerity and found herself even more drawn to him than before. She no longer had any concerns about Nick.

Meanwhile, Shawn wanted to get back on track with Kaitlyn. But Kaitlyn said she had been unfair to everyone -- including herself -- and wanted to take a step back from him. Kaitlyn wanted to genuinely go through the rest of The Bachelorette with her heart open to other relationships. Shawn had some doubt whether he would even get a rose that night. He called it "brutal." 

At the Rose Ceremony, an unsure Kaitlyn offered roses to Ben H, Chris, and Shawn. Jared, Nick and Joe already had roses. Therefore, Ben Z and Tanner were eliminated. 

Ben Z. was blindsided and didn't see it coming at all. He thought they had something really good. Ben Z. said she was such an awesome girl and something so wonderful just got ripped away from him. Ben Z. admitted it was tough for him to open up but he had found a "beautiful, cool, amazing woman" to do it with.

Going forward, Kaitlyn had to think about how to handle the Nick situation, and she was terrified it would ruin her forever and her happiness.


The following day, Kaitlyn headed to Killarney with her remaining suitors. While all the guys had to take a bus, Kaitlyn asked Jared to drive with her for a little road trip. The couple joked and had a great time together. They kissed The Blarney Stone and Jared said he certainly "got lucky" in Ireland.

Once the pair arrived at Kaitlyn's hotel, which looked like a castle, they went up to her room and kissed. Jared loved their banter, chemistry and how they could be sarcastic and witty with one another. She could see him as her husband and felt truly happy to be at his side. Their relationship grew stronger that day.

Chris Harrison then met with Kaitlyn and explained a twist. As originally planned, Kaitlyn was supposed to pick four men at the next Rose Ceremony and she would be visiting their hometowns. However, Kaitlyn already had some off-camera time with a couple of her guys, and Harrison thought it would be a great idea for her to really get to know all the guys via overnight fantasy-suite dates.

Kaitlyn would have overnight dates, get to know the guys on a very deep level, and then meet the families of her Final 2 men. Kaitlyn thought the change made sense, especially for her situation. Harrison then suggested that with the competition winding down, if she knew a guy wasn't going to be her husband, she should send him home immediately.

Harrison then revealed the same news to Kaitlyn's suitors. Three men would get roses and overnight fantasy-suite dates in Ireland. Harrison also dropped off the date card, which was a one-on-one for Chris "Cupcake." Chris felt great about the idea of taking Kaitlyn home to meet his family.

Kaitlyn and Cupcake took a helicopter ride to take in the views of Ireland, and he said the connection between them was magical. While there was no rose on the date, Kaitlyn still needed to figure out if she had real marriage potential with Cupcake.


The couple then enjoyed a picnic but Kaitlyn was overcome with stress and emotion. She cried and told Chris that he had everything on her "checklist" but she still just wasn't sure about their relationship. Kaitlyn no longer wanted to lead Cupcake on, especially because her heart was somewhere else and she had been led on before.

Chris asked Kaitlyn for elaboration. She just said he was everything she wanted in a man yet she couldn't really see a future with him. Kaitlyn tried to say goodbye to Cupcake, who said he wished Kaitlyn could be in his life. 

Kaitlyn then walked away bawling. Chris thought she was wrong and didn't know what she wanted, but he was glad to know now instead of in 10 or 20 years. Cupcake acknowledged that Kaitlyn deserves a life of happiness, yet he wasn't certain she was ready to find that yet.

Cupcake told the cameras she was a mess and he was scared too. Chris then broke down into a sobbing cry, venting about how people were always capable of saying goodbye to him. He was pissed at himself for crying but couldn't stop. 

"I never see it," Chris kept repeating to himself as the episode concluded.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski