The fallout from the infamous “thinking of you”-gate resurfaced in Grant Ellis’ season of The Bachelor, leading to a dramatic exit.
Rose, a 27-year-old nurse, chose to leave the show during the Monday, February 17 episode after weeks of ongoing tension with Carolina, a 29-year-old PR producer. Their conflict, which started in week three, escalated further, prompting Rose to walk away.
A Dramatic Week in Spain
Week four began with the contestants traveling to Spain, where Dina, a 32-year-old attorney, received the first one-on-one date. Dubbed the “ice queen”, she opened up about growing up as one of 11 siblings and struggling to express emotions. Grant, 31, found her story relatable and compared her to his mother—though he reassured her it was not in a weird way. Ultimately, Dina received a rose.
Meanwhile, Carolina, who had previously enjoyed a solo date in Las Vegas, was visibly upset about being placed on a group date. “If I’m lucky, he’ll kiss someone in front of me,” she sarcastically remarked after venting about not getting enough one-on-one time—despite some women still waiting for their first solo date.
Group Date Tension
After a brief comic interlude featuring Parisa’s series of unfortunate events—a pimple outbreak, a curling iron burn, and a chipping spray tan—the women participated in a matador class, followed by a donkey ride and mechanical bull-riding.
During the date, Zoe, a 27-year-old tech engineer and model, shared her emotional story of being adopted and growing up as a Black woman in a predominantly white neighborhood. This moment would typically secure a group date rose, but Grant chose not to award one.
The reason? Juliana, a 28-year-old client service associate, confronted Carolina about taking her time with Grant for granted. The other women sided with Juliana, leading Carolina to break down in tears—just as Grant walked in and rushed to comfort her. In a surprising turn, Juliana later apologized, which indirectly suggested Carolina might have indeed been the source of the drama.
Grant’s Second One-on-One: A Rainy Bungee Jump
Grant later took Serafina, a 29-year-old associate media director, on a thrilling bungee-jumping date in the rain. Things almost went sideways when Grant misinterpreted her hesitation during their kiss as a lack of attraction. However, Serafina clarified that she was being cautious because her mother was watching—arguably one of the most relatable moments in Bachelor history. She opened up about never feeling truly fulfilled in past relationships, earning her a rose from Grant.
The Cocktail Party & Rose’s Breaking Point
At the cocktail party, Grant immediately pulled Juliana aside to discuss her concerns about Carolina. He assured Carolina that while her feelings were valid, she should only express them to him and not complain to the other contestants.
While this was unfolding, Rose was growing increasingly frustrated. She had previously expressed her anxiety to Grant about her issues with Carolina. But when Dina comforted Carolina in front of the group, Rose felt deeply betrayed.
ICYMI: Last week, Rose had told Carolina that Grant had been thinking about her during a solo dance with Carolina. When Carolina confronted Grant, he denied the interpretation, but the damage had already been done—Carolina was triggered, leading to a major rift between her and Rose.
Feeling betrayed and emotionally exhausted, Rose decided to leave the show, telling Grant before the rose ceremony:
“I’ve been fighting myself for a long time—fighting to stay and fighting through my own emotions. Everything that happened with Carolina invalidated so much about my relationship that was so good. This is definitely a tipping point for me.”
The Rose Ceremony: A Tough Goodbye
At the rose ceremony, Grant informed the women that Rose had left, admitting he was hurt but emphasizing that staying in the competition was ultimately their choice.
As Grant handed out roses, Parisa’s bad day got even worse when Carolina secured the final rose of the night. And just like that, Grant’s final seven contestants were set:
- Carolina
- Dina
- Serafina
- Zoe
- Juliana
- Litia
- Alexe
With Rose’s dramatic departure, tensions are higher than ever. Will Carolina’s behavior continue to cause waves? Can Grant find genuine love amidst all the drama? The Bachelor continues next week.
