The Bachelorseason 29 star Grant Ellis was one of the most belovedBachelorettecontestants in the history of the show, but, now thatThe Golden Bachelor’sGerry Turner has been diagnosed with cancer,the producers will be looking for a new villain, and I’m worried that they’ll make Grant their new bad guy. After Grant appeared on Jenn Tran’sBacheloretteseason,BachelorNation was so smitten with him that he was the obvious choice to be the next Bachelor.
The Bachelorseason 29follows Joey Graziadei’sBachelorseason, during which Joey was hailed as a hero who saved the franchise after Gerry’s disastrousGolden Bachelorseason, which ended in his divorce from Theresa Nist. However, now that Gerry has revealed that he has an incurable form of bone marrow cancer, theBachelorproducers will most likely back off from making him the bad guy, and look for a new villain. I’m worried for Grant becausethere are already signs that he’s their next target.
Grant Ellis' Bachelor Promo Is Troubling
Grant Appears To Be An Indecisive Bachelor
Although I know thatBachelorpromos can be deceiving, I’m very worried about how Grant is being portrayed in his. On Jenn’s season, Grant knew exactly what he wanted: to become a husband and a father. He was sweet, kind, thoughtful, and loving. Most importantly, he was open with his feelings.Grant was the perfect choice to be the next Bachelor because of this.
Grant’sBachelorpromo, shared viaThe BachelorInstagram page, begins with the women gushing about him. It then shows him saying that he’s ready for marriage and children. However, it quickly devolves into a chaotic whirlwind of drama. The women are shown arguing, which is troubling in itself, but it’s the very end of the promo that has me the most worried.Grant is shown telling Joey that he didn’t know how hard it was going to be for him to be the Bachelor. He says that his greatest fear is that he’ll end up alone.
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Grant is then seen showingone of the women a tattoo on his arm of a lone wolf, and he says that it symbolizes being alone.He then shares in his confessional that his family didn’t know that he felt lonely when he was growing up, and adds that he doesn’t want feeling lonely to be a theme in his life anymore. Grant then states,“I want to be happy. I want to have love. It’s something that’s important to me. But I’m scared of making the wrong decision.”
I want to be happy. I want to have love. It’s something that’s important to me. But I’m scared of making the wrong decision.
The next scene shows host Jesse Palmer at the last rose ceremony, asking Grant if he feels like he knows what he wants to do.Grant responds,“The truth is … I don’t know.“Jesse then tells Grant that they have both women on stand-by, and he has to know which one to send first. The promo ends with Grant looking distressed.
This promo was created before Gerry announced that he has cancer, but now I’m worried that it’s a sign that the producers will work even harder to make Grant their next villain.It’s shocking to me that Grant, who was always so sure of what he wanted, had trouble making a decision at the end of his season. It seems fake and forced. It makes Grant look like a heartbreaker who’ll devastate his runner-up by leading her on, or who’ll leave the show alone.The Bachelorsets the leads up to fail with its ridiculous format, and I don’t want to see Grant’s reputation ruined because of it.
Past Bachelor Villains' Lives Have Been Ruined
Many Never Recovered From How They Were Portrayed
In addition to Gerry,many otherBachelorleads have had their lives ruined after appearing on the show. They can’t live up to the high expectations that come with being the Bachelor, so they end up disappointing their fans. Of course, some have exhibited some bad behavior, but the never-ending backlash that came after the show was excessive.
The firstBachelorvillainwas arguablyJason Mesnick, who broke up with his final choice, Melissa Rycroft, for his runner-up, Molly Malaney, who’s now his wife. Jason has since restored his reputation, but it was a shocking moment forThe Bachelor.The next bad guy wasBrad Womack, who shockedBachelorNation when he didn’t choose either of his final two women, and left the show alone. His reputation was damaged further when he returned for a second season, but he and his winner, Emily Maynard, broke up while it aired. Although they eventually got back together, they ultimately broke up for good shortly after the finale.
I’ve Changed My Mind After Gerry Turner’s Cancer Diagnosis, Bachelor Producers Should Apologize (He Didn’t Deserve The Villain Role)
The Golden Bachelor producers owe Gerry Turner an apology for turning him into the villain of his season, especially after his cancer diagnosis.
OtherBachelorvillains includeJake PavelkaandJuan Pablo Galavis, who were both known for their harsh personalities. Although he’s now beloved,Ben Higginswas also portrayed somewhat as a villain when he told both his winner, Lauren Bushnell, and runner-up JoJo Fletcher, that he loved them, which was a first for the show. This has now become the norm for mostBachelorleads, but I don’t like it.
Arie Luyendyk Jr.followed in Jason’s footsteps and dumped winner Becca Kufrin for runner-up Lauren Burnham, to whom he’s now married.Colton Underwoodwas heavily criticized for coming out as gay after his season because some people thought that he deceived his contestants.Clayton Echardwas vilified for telling Gabby Windey, Rachel Recchia, and Susie Evans that he loved them, and revealing that he was intimate with Gabby and Rachel in their Fantasy Suites. In addition,Zach Shallcrossrevealed the details of his Fantasy Suite with Gabi Elnicki, which many fans, including me, thought was very disrespectful.
After seeing howThe Bachelordestroyed the reputations of these men,I’m worried for Grant. The producers are going to need a new villain now that they’re backing off of Gerry, and he already seems to be their target. If Grant takes even one step out of line,the producers will jump at the chance to cast him as the bad guy. It’s so unfair to Grant to make him look indecisive, especially if the producers are only manipulating what happened in order to make a dramatic promo. This will influence people’s opinions of him before hisBachelorseason even premieres.
After Joey’s perfect season, I think that theBachelorproducers are going to be looking for something more controversial for the show, and Grant could be their next victim. With Zach and Joey’s seasons ending with successful engagements, the producers might want something more outrageous to happen in order to create buzz for the show. I don’t trust that they’ll protect Grant.I hope that Grant’sBachelorseason is a success, and that he finds the love of his life, but I feel that the producers are focusing on the wrong things because, as usual, they only have their own interests at heart.
The Bachelorseason 29 starring Grant Ellis premieres on Monday, July 15, 2025, at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.
The Bachelor
Cast
The series centers on a single bachelor selecting a romantic partner from a group of contestants, with episodes featuring various challenges and eliminations.
