The Bachelorette featured Tayshia Adams being introduced to four new bachelors, enjoying her first week of dates as the new Bachelorette, and saying goodbye to Jason Foster, who decided to quit the show over his lingering feelings for Clare Crawley during Tuesday night's Season 16 episode on ABC.
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The four new men were Spencer Robertson, a 30-year-old from La Jolla, CA; Montel Hill, a 30-year-old from Hingham, MA; Peter Giannikopoulos, a 32-year-old from Everett, MA; and Noah Erb, a 25-year-old from Tulsa, OK.
The Bachelorette broadcast began with 16 men, Clare's "leftovers," awaiting their new Bachelorette's arrival.
The 16 men included Bennett Jordan, a 36-year-old wealth management consultant from New York City, NY; Ben Smith, a 29-year-old Army Ranger veteran from Venice, CA; Blake Moynes, a 29-year-old wildlife manager from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Brendan Morais, a 30-year-old commercial roofer from Milford, MA; Chasen Nick, a 31-year-old IT account executive from San Diego, CA; and Demar Jackson, a 26-year-old spin cycling instructor from Scottsdale, AZ.
Ed Waisbrot, a 36-year-old health care salesman from Miami, FL; Ivan Hall, a 28-year-old aeronautical engineer from Dallas, TX; Jason Foster; Jay Smith, a 30-year-old fitness director from Fort Lauderdale, FL; and Joe Park, a 36-year-old anesthesiologist from New York City, NY, also stuck around.
And the rest of the bachelors were Jordan Chapman, a 26-year-old software account executive from New York, NY; Kenny Braasch, a 39-year-old boyband manager from Chicago, IL; Riley Christian, a 30-year-old attorney from Long Island City, NY; Uzoma "Eazy" Nwachukwu, a 29-year-old sports marketing agent from Newport Beach, CA; and Zac Clark, a 36-year-old addiction specialist from Haddonfield, NJ.
Blake noted how The Bachelorette host Chris Harrison and producers would probably choose someone strong and independent like Clare, someone with similarities, and Riley pointed out how he just wanted to meet a kind and genuine woman.
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Ivan said he was "more ready" than he's ever been to fall in love.
When Tayshia walked in the room and all of the remaining suitors saw her for the first time, she appeared to take Eazy's breath away, as he just muttered a loud, "My goodness!"
Tayshia walked in with a huge smile and all of the guys seemed excited and overjoyed. Ben said Tayshia looked "beautiful" and producers' pick couldn't have been better.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOWZac C. agreed all the men's jaws nearly dropped to the floor upon seeing Tayshia for the first time, and it quickly became clear they were going to have a great season.
Tayshia immediately expressed her gratitude to the guys for them choosing to stick around, and she promised them "a bomb summer" and also expressed a sincere desire to get to know each and every one of them.
Ivan picked up on Tayshia's confidence and energy, and he pulled her aside first for a chat. Ivan told Tayshia that she was "more [his] speed" than Clare and he was really looking forward to getting to know her better and hopefully falling in love.
Riley spoke to Tayshia next, and Tayshia revealed she travels quite a bit for work and pleasure. Tayshia said she's been working in the beauty and lifestyle space, and she seemed impressed by Riley's career as an attorney.
Jordan said he was happy about his decision to stay, and when he sat down with Tayshia, he admitted he was initially on the fence about leaving but her "big ass eyes" had drawn him in.
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Blake asked Tayshia to be patient with him because she'd eventually see his true colors and watch him open up, and he said in a confessional, "I am very relieved. This just feels so much more real in just one interaction with Tayshia than it was in four interactions with Clare."
Jason admitted to Tayshia he had real feelings for Clare and trusted her and so it was "hard" to have that taken away from her.
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Jason said Tayshia excited him because she's gorgeous and seemed willing to get to know every guy, and then Tayshia had a moment alone with Brendan, who was rocking a turtleneck under his suit.
Brendan shared how he and Clare never developed a deep connection and he was in "awe" of Tayshia.
Chris then pulled Tayshia aside and explained to her there was another limo full of men pulling up to date her. Tayshia couldn't believe it and was thrilled to meet more guys interested in pursuing her.
Tayshia was then introduced to Spencer, who said he had heard great things about her, and Tayshia called him "hot, hot, hot" when he walked away.
"So which one of you guys scared away Clare?" Spencer asked the men when he entered the house, which rubbed them the wrong way.
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Tayshia also met Montel, who said he was so excited to spend time with her; Peter, who complimented Tayshia's big smile; and Noah, who called Tayshia beautiful and let her listen to his heart with a stethoscope.
Kenny and Brendan were both pissed these four new men got introductions before Tayshia even got the chance to know the men who had been patiently waiting to talk to her.
Tayshia playfully acknowledged Noah was probably going to be "trouble," but she told the cameras, "I really couldn't have dreamed of a better Night 1. I am really lucky. These guys are so handsome. I could get used to this! What more could a girl ask for? Not much!"
After Tayshia announced she was going to continue with the evening, Spencer grabbed Tayshia away from several men, including Jordan and Ben, who called Tayshia "captivating."
Tayshia recognized Spencer was the type of guy she'd usually date, and they discussed their ages, where they live and some of their hobbies.
When the First Impression Rose was brought out, things got a little more serious and Zac got a chance to talk to Tayshia. He told Tayshia that she was a breath of fresh air and he was "pumped" to learn more about her.
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Noah shared with Tayshia how he is one of 10 siblings, including a twin brother, and Kenny and Tayshia appeared to bond over music. Ben danced with Tayshia outside and Chasen played a little game or cornhole with her
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOW: WHOM DID 'THE BACHELORETTE' STARS AND THEIR BACHELOR PICKS ULTIMATELY END UP WITH?! (PHOTOS).
Tayshia then gave her First Impression Rose to Spencer, saying he had stood out from the pack and she wanted to keep him around.
"When you first stepped out of the limo, my heart did kind of skip a beat. You're a person I want to keep around and someone I'm really interested in getting to know," Tayshia told Spencer, who gladly accepted the rose.
Tayshia and Spencer then shared a kiss, and Tayshia gushed about how attractive he is.
"He's the first person I was kind of like, 'Oh my gosh. I want to get to know him,'" Tayshia said.
After the cocktail party, Tayshia announced she wanted to skip the Rose Ceremony so she could continue her conversations with all of the guys. Tayshia said the love of her life was definitely in the room.
Tayshia was initially so scared the guys weren't going to be open with her or still had strong feelings invested in Clare, but she felt like her husband could be in the room and she had "a phenomenal start" to her journey.
After Chris had a sit-down conversation with Clare and Dale in which the couple revealed they felt love at first sight and are still madly in love, Chris met with Tayshia's 20 bachelors and announced everyone would be getting a date that week.
Chris dropped off the first Date Card, and it had the following names on it for a group date: Blake, Riley, Zac, Jordan, Noah, Peter, Kenny, Jay, Eazy, and Spencer.
The guys walked out to the pool and Tayshia stepped out of the water in a sexy red bikini. The men were blown away and called their Bachelorette "perfect" -- a woman straight out of Baywatch with her curves.
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Chris then announced the guys would be broken up into two teams to play a little "Splashball" in Speedos. Chris said the losing team would head home and the winning team would receive more time with Tayshia that afternoon.
Spencer got "uber aggressive" in the pool with Riley, according to Chris, and then Spencer accidentally got hit. Spencer had a bloody tooth, but Tayshia rushed to his side to make sure he was okay.
"Spencer needed a shot in the mouth. He's had a little attitude ever since he got in the house. It was fitting," Kenny told the cameras.
In the end, the Blue Team won that was comprised of Spencer, Zac, Eazy, Jay, and Noah. The winning team was about to enjoy a nice barbecue and drinks with Tayshia.
Spencer hoped for "more victories, more success," and maybe even the group-date rose, and Zac predicted things might get a little tense that night.
That night, Jason talked to Joe about how he wasn't sure if he could invest his time, energy and heart into Tayshia considering he still had lingering feelings for Clare. Jason said Tayshia deserved all of him and he was "fighting" for her, but he wasn't sure how much he had left to give.
Brendan then learned he'd be accompanying Tayshia on her first one-on-one date, and he called the validation "huge" and said he was on Cloud 9.
Following the barbecue, Tayshia enjoyed an afterparty that night with her entire cast of guys.
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Eazy said Tayshia made him smile and giddy and they seemed to bounce that energy off each other. Tayshia told Eazy he has "an infectious personality" and she was "digging it," and Eazy told her, "I feel like I might have just met my wife."
"Maybe this was all meant to be," Eazy gushed.
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Tayshia then asked Zac why he was still single, and he said it's because he hadn't found the right woman yet. Tayshia said she knew what she wanted and she lived around a bunch of "boys just chasing things."
Zac told Tayshia that he had a lot to offer and then he went in for a kiss, and Tayshia said she felt like she was kissing a real man and Zac was "a pleasant surprise."
Riley and Tayshia talked about having kids, and Riley said he'd ideally like to have two daughters whereas Tayshia would like to have a whopping five kids.
While the guys were sitting with each other, Riley said, "I owe you for my cracked ribs," and Spencer said, "If you need any more, let me know."
Kenny told Spencer that he was coming off "like a d-ck," and Zac agreed that Spencer seemed to enjoy stirring the pot. Spencer said he didn't come on the show to make enemies but Tayshia was his No. 1 priority.
"That man is a fried bologna sandwich with the mayonnaise all day," Riley complained of Spencer, before calling the new suitor "lunch meat" to his face.
Riley told Spencer, "If you want to f-ck with me, we can go!"
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Spencer called the group's reasoning for him being "a d-ck" weak, adding that there was clearly animosity against him because of the connection he was building with Tayshia.
Tayshia later brought Spencer some ice for his face, and he suggested there were "mixed feelings" from the guys because Tayshia had given him the First Impression Rose.
Spencer felt pretty confident in himself and told the cameras, "I've got this in the bag, and I love it!"
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However, Tayshia gave Eazy the group-date rose because he had really opened up to her during their conversation and had been honest and vulnerable. Eazy thought his carefree connection with Tayshia was "powerful" and he hoped to be living the greatest love story ever written.
At the next cocktail party, Jason was struggling about whether to stay or leave. Jason told his friends he had fallen in love with Clare and it was no longer respectful for him to stick around and try to date Tayshia.
Jason broke down into tears, and Zac complimented Jason on being a strong man.
"For some reason, in the back of my head, I still have feelings for Clare. It's crazy how impactful those moments we did spent together were. I put myself out there," Jason explained in a confessional.
"I became emotional, I became vulnerable and I trusted her, and now she's gone. I'm human and my feelings were hurt, so unfortunately, I can't flip a switch and say, 'Tayshia, here I am! Let me start this new journey with you.' I wanted to, but I can't."
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Jason therefore went to Tayshia's room to chat with her a little bit. Jason said it was so refreshing to meet her and he was happy she was there but he was feeling very conflicted.
"I let my walls down and I think I fell in love with Clare," Jason told Tayshia.
"Unfortunately, she chose someone else but my feelings for her were real. You deserve someone who's amazing and you deserve someone who's all in. Unfortunately, I can't do this anymore."
Tayshia thanked Jason for saying that but advised him not to shut down because he could be passing up something that could be great.
Jason said he just couldn't give Tayshia what she wanted, and this was one of Tayshia's fears coming to fruition.
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"They are here for you; they are not here for Clare. I promise you. You're going to end up with one of those guys. I'm sorry I can't be here for you. This sucks and is really hard."
Tayshia wished Jason the best and said she had just spoken to a man who was working through his emotions. Tayshia was bummed out she wouldn't be able to get to know Jason more, and she suddenly got a bit worried about where the rest of the guys stood.
Tayshia started second-guessing everything because she didn't want to fall for a man with reservations or feel like she's someone's "second choice." Tayshia hoped none of the other guys would make her feel that way again.
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The next day, Tayshia embarked on a one-on-one date with Brendan, who told Tayshia that she's more his "type and style" than Clare ever was. The pair went horseback riding around the empty resort, and Brendan said he couldn't wait to kiss Tayshia.
Chris hilariously kept popping up through Brendan's date by riding around on a scooter. Not only did Chris offer Tayshia and Brendan cold margaritas, but he also gave them coconuts.
Brendan and Tayshia then hopped in the pool, and Tayshia acknowledged she was "excited" about Brendan because he seemed "patient, kind and very humble."
Tayshia and Brendan kissed in the pool and Tayshia gushed, "Honestly, round me up, cowboy, because I am ready to go home with this man! I am telling you right now, Brendan is everything!"
That night, the couple enjoyed a romantic dinner, and Brendan said he was starting to develop real feelings for Tayshia.
Brendan, however, planned to break the news he had already been married and divorced before to The Bachelorette star.
"I do have a little baggage that has been a journey for me. I do have something to tell you. In my early twenties, I did get married, and it was a high school sweethearts situation," Brendan revealed.
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"We really fell out of love. I didn't know who I was without her, and she didn't really know who she was without me," Brendan explained. "We did counseling and it was definitely hard for me knowing that I failed to a certain extent."
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Brendan said divorcing seemingly over nothing was "ridiculous" for his family to comprehend. Brendan said he was willing to stick it out at first but then his wife determined children weren't in her future.
"Being a father is all I really want in life, and so we went our separate ways," Brendan shared.
In turn, Tayshia revealed how she's also been married before. Tayshia said she married a man she had met in college and lost herself in the marriage.
"My identity was him, but unfortunately there was infidelity and other issues, not on my part. And then we got divorced and I, too, felt like I failed. I, too, felt embarrassed and ashamed... So I know exactly what you mean," Tayshia said.
The pair related to each other on that level, and Brendan felt he could breathe a little bit easier. They had both gone through difficult things, and Brendan and Tayshia agreed they were exactly where they needed to be.
"My divorce was a big deal. I thought I was dying when I was going through it. So it was really therapeutic to hear him say all the words my heart has felt the last two years. I felt like I wasn't alone and we bonded on a different level," Tayshia told the cameras.
Tayshia assured Brendan that she'd love to have children, maybe even five, and Brendan noted that didn't scare him at all.
With that being said, Tayshia offered Brendan the date's rose, and she thanked him for letting her in.
Brendan told the cameras it was the best day of his life, adding, "I didn't even understand that I could feel this way. But after this one-on-on date, I can really start to see that this could be the first day of the rest of my life."
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"Kissing Brendan feels like I'm kissing my person. I feel really connected to him," Tayshia gushed.
"I don't know, I think I could marry him, which is so bizarre! I don't think I've felt this way ever. Today was just really magical... I finally feel like I'm the Bachelorette, and this is what I'm here for. I know I'm going to find the person I'm truly supposed to be with."
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
