The Bachelorette declared Kaitlyn Bristowe its Season 11 star, saw one guy quit to chase after eliminated Bachelorette Britt Nilsson, and eliminated four suitors during Tuesday night's broadcast.
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After host Chris Harrison announced Kaitlyn is the official Bachelorette, Brady Toops, a 33-year-old singer and songwriter from Nashville, TN, quit the show to pursue Britt because he thought they had made a real connection.
During the season's first Rose Ceremony, Kaitlyn ousted Bradley, a 25-year-old international auto shipper from Atlanta, GA; David, a 28-year-old real estate agent from Orlando, FL; Josh, a 27-year-old law student and exotic dancer from Chicago, IL; and Shawn E., a 31-year-old amateur sex coach from Ontario, Canada.
The second part of The Bachelorette's two-night premiere began with Chris revealing to Britt the majority of the men in the mansion had voted for Kaitlyn to become the season's only Bachelorette.
Britt tried to hold the tears back and just kept repeating "wow" because she was obviously shocked. Britt was extremely disappointed because she had met some amazing guys and wanted it really bad. However, Britt was still thankful to have been a part of the process.
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"I didn't see that coming at all. I want to be a wife and a mom more than anything in the world and I feel like meeting men who are also looking for that and feeling that connection was such a -- I'm still grateful for the experience, but I almost wish I hadn't met them, because that makes it a lot harder to walk away from it," Britt said after being eliminated.
"I'm just so confused and tired and I feel alone. I don't know how many times you have to put your heart out there, and I've never held anything back. What can I do differently? I had a lot of love to give and I do. And I know that I will when the time is right. I just thought it was now."
Chris Harrison then went up to Kaitlyn and shared the same news without any excitement in his voice. She nervously asked him, "Why the long face?" Chris called her the Bachelorette and Kaitlyn was so excited she cried. She asked if Britt handled the situation okay, and Chris assured her that Britt was sad but fine.
"The rest of this journey is about you hopefully finding love," Chris Harrison told an ecstatic Kaitlyn, adding that she'd still have a Rose Ceremony that night and be required to send men home.
Kaitlyn told the cameras it was the best moment of her life. Chris Harrison gave Kaitlyn a moment alone before revealing herself to the men and she called her mom, who sounded absolutely thrilled for her on the phone. Her mom advised Kaitlyn to go talk to her future son-in-law, and Kaitlyn said she had the best group of guys.
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Afterward, Kaitlyn entered the mansion and the guys cheered and clapped. She announced that the man she was going to spend forever with was probably in that room.
Shawn B., a 28-year-old personal trainer from Windsor Locks, CT, was so happy Kaitlyn became the Bachelorette, as was Justin, a 28-year-old fitness trainer from Naperville, IL, and Ian, a 28-year-old executive recruiter from Los Angeles, CA.
Joshua, a 31-year-old industrial welder from Kuna, ID, sat down with Kaitlyn and gave her a rose he had welded out of steel. Kaitlyn found the gesture "so hot," especially because that meant Joshua was masculine and good with his hands.
Chris Harrison then brought out the first impression rose. Kaitlyn thought all the guys were so different and great in their own ways.
There were a few guys who had voted for Britt and were a little upset about Kaitlyn being the Bachelorette.
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David; Jonathan, a 33-year-old automotive spokesman, Detroit, MI; and Tony, a 35-year-old healer from St. Louis, MO, tried to connect with Kaitlyn, but just like Tony had said, their hearts resonated with Britt -- and her leaving hurt them.
Brady was especially taken aback by Britt's elimination and he didn't know what to do with all the emotions he was feeling.
Jared, a 26-year-old restaurant manager from Warwick, RI, admitted to Kaitlyn he had voted for Britt but wanted to stay and give any potential romantic relationship between them a chance. Kaitlyn actually appreciated his honesty, and it made her realize she needed to figure out who was really there for her still and who was there for the right reasons.
JJ -- a 32-year-old former investment banker from Denver, CO, who has a three-year-old daughter, originally established a connection with Britt but felt he owed it to himself to get to know Kaitlyn. She told him that she'd take him more seriously than the others because he has a child. JJ said talking to Kaitlyn reset how he felt about things.
Kaitlyn told JJ she was really into him and he shouldn't be afraid of that. She said he topped the charts in her mind.
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Kaitlyn then talked to Chris, a 28-year-old dentist from Nashville, TN, and she called him "really cute." Chris, who came off mild and very sweet, actually went in for a kiss when he thought no one was watching at an opportune time, and Kaitlyn later joked he had moves and wheels.
Clint, a 27-year-old architectural engineer from Chicago, IL, saw Kaitlyn and Chris kiss as well as a couple other guys.
Kaitlyn told the cameras she wiped the slate clean and started fresh with all the guys regardless of whether they had preferred Britt.
Kaitlyn decided to give her first impression rose to Shawn B. because she believed they had an amazing connection, she found him really attractive, and she couldn't wait to go on a date with him. Shawn B. confessed he was "crushing on" her "really hard."
Kaitlyn and Shawn B. then kissed for the first time and she said it was like a first kiss in elementary school because she had butterflies. Shawn B. told the Bachelorette he hadn't been so happy in a long time.
The season's first Rose Ceremony then commenced and Kaitlyn gave roses to Chris; Joshua; Ben H., a 26-year-old software salesman from Denver, CO; Joe, a 28-year-old insurance agent from Columbia, KY; Kupah, a 32-year-old entrepreneur from Boston, MA; and Ryan B., a 32-year-old realtor from Wellington, FL.
Kaitlyn also handed a rose to JJ; Justin; Ian; Jonathan; Jared; Corey, a 30-year-old investment banker from New York, NY; Cory, a 35-year-old residential developer from Pearland, TX; Daniel, a 28-year-old fashion designer from Nashville, TN; Ben Z., a 26-year-old fitness coach from San Jose, CA; and Tanner, a 28-year-old auto finance manager from Kansas City, MO.
In the middle of the Rose Ceremony, Brady interrupted the process and stepped down to talk to Kaitlyn.
Brady said things had been really hard for him because, although he was "so impressed" with Kaitlyn "on so many levels," his heart was with Britt. Brady therefore decided to leave and go find Britt, which Chris Harrison promised to help him with. Brady said in a confessional the risk of finding true love was worth it.
Kaitlyn appreciated Brady's honesty but hoped the guys would stick around and give her a chance. She thought some of the guys wouldn't want to leave if they just took the time to get to know her better.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski