The Bachelorette star Kaitlyn Bristowe eliminated Clint Arlis and allowed Nick Viall to join her group of guys during the eleventh season's fifth broadcast on ABC.
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The show star later accepted Nick's request to join the cast of the men. Nick, a 34-year-old software sales executive from Waukesha, WI, communicated via social media and text with Kaitlyn after her stint on The Bachelor. She felt such chemistry with Nick that she decided to let him fight for her heart at the expense of her other suitors feeling frustrated and disrespected.
The Bachelorette's episode began at the cocktail party where last week's broadcast had left off. All the guys -- except for JJ Lane, a 32-year-old former investment banker from Denver, CO -- weren't getting along with Clint and didn't believe he was really there for Kaitlyn. Everyone thought he just wanted to stay in the house to further pursue his bromance with JJ.
Although Kaitlyn liked Clint and thought he had "killed it" on their one-on-one date, there were too many red flags since 13 of the 15 guys were feeling the same way about him. Kaitlyn determined Clint wasn't the guy she wanted to marry, especially because they were constantly back-pedaling in the process.
Kaitlyn then confronted Clint, who did everything in his power to convince Kaitlyn to keep him around. Clint insisted he never said one bad thing about a guy in the house and he had been nothing but kind to everyone and honest with her.
Clint asked Kaitlyn how he could overcome her struggle with him because he was already having trouble overcoming himself in this process. Kaitlyn was upset because she "really really" liked him, but she was done and considered him "a smooth talker."
On Clint's way out, JJ announced to the group in front of Kaitlyn that Clint needed to say sorry to everyone for taking time and emotions out of everyone's night. Clint appeared shocked his best friend had backstabbed him, so he just said to JJ, "thanks for that," and shook hands with him.
Tanner Tolbert, a 28-year-old auto finance manager from Kansas City, MO, noted he had even less respect for JJ after that incident due to the fact he was already a "dick" but then became "an unloyal dick" after throwing his best bud under the bus. JJ tried to apologize to Clint privately for getting overwhelmed, but Clint wasn't having it and was just furious. Clint repeatedly called JJ "a piece of sh-t."
Not one part of Kaitlyn felt she had made the wrong decision in sending Clint home because it was a big deal that JJ called Clint out for his behavior in front of everyone. JJ went off and cried but strangely slapped himself in the face, saying he had to "suck it up." Ian, a 28-year-old executive recruiter from Los Angeles, CA, found JJ's actions "despicable."
When it became time for the Rose Ceremony, Kaitlyn decided the night was already dramatic and emotional enough. She therefore asked host Chris Harrison if they could cancel it so she could get more time with the guys she felt really good about. Chris Harrison obliged, and the men were pleased yet disappointed at the same time because they wanted to see JJ go home.
The next day, Kaitlyn and her remaining bachelors traveled to New York City for the week's round of dates. JJ told the cameras he was there for Kaitlyn and looking for love, not male friends. He wasn't looking back at all on prior events.
The men who embarked on the week's first group date were Tanner; JJ; Shawn Booth, a 28-year-old personal trainer from Windsor Locks, CT; Jonathan, a 33-year-old automotive spokesman, Detroit, MI; Corey, a 30-year-old investment banker from New York, NY; Ben Zorn, a 26-year-old fitness coach from San Jose, CA; Ryan B., a 32-year-old realtor from Wellington, FL; and Justin, a 28-year-old fitness trainer from Naperville, IL.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOWFor the date, the guys met rapper Doug E. Fresh, who explained they were required to participate in "an authentic rap battle" during which they must insult and diss their opponent. Shawn B. was worried because he liked country music, but Ryan B. and Jonathan were pretty excited.
The cameras spotted Nick in the audience as well as Ashley Iaconetti from Chris Soules' season. Corey faced JJ, Shawn went up against Justin, Ben Z. rapped against Tanner, and Jonathan faced off against Ryan.
After the show, Kaitlyn saw Nick and seemed flattered and surprised. She explained in a confessional she had been in contact with Nick prior to appearing on the show but it never escalated to anything more than a friendship. In fact, they had never even met in person. Kaitlyn said Nick had complimented her after her stint on The Bachelor, saying she had carried herself well.
Nick talked to Kaitlyn and told her that it would've bugged him if he never met her and she fell in love on the show. Even though he had a negative experience on Andi Dorfman's season of The Bachelorette, he'd be willing to go through it all again for a chance at love with Kaitlyn.
Taken aback by Nick's seemingly-sincere motive, Kaitlyn said she really had to think about whether to invite him onto the show when putting her other suitors' feelings in perspective. Kaitlyn told the cameras she had great conversation with Nick and was sad when she went on the show and knew they couldn't talk anymore.
That night, Kaitlyn addressed the guys about Nick's visit. She didn't want to be rude or disrespect anybody, but she was really conflicted because she didn't want to rob herself of potentially falling in love. She wanted to keep an open mind and heart, taking full advantage of everything the show has to offer her.
Kaitlyn told the men she took the process very seriously and wanted to give another guy a chance. The guys didn't look happy about it -- especially when Kaitlyn revealed the man was Nick, whom some of the guys knew had outed Andi on After the Final Rose about having sex with him in the fantasy suite when he had finished as the runner-up behind Josh Murray.
Shawn asked Kaitlyn if she was not confident about what was already there for her. He was wondering whether she was looking for more or someone different. Kaitlyn assured him that the guys remaining were enough for her, but they weren't really buying it due to her initial hesitation and lack of enthusiasm in her voice.
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Kaitlyn saw Nick again that night, who told the Bachelorette she needed to do things her way for her own sake. He then kissed her and said he felt great about why he was going on the show to begin with. He claimed his intentions were authentic and genuine.
Kaitlyn didn't want to lie or deny herself the feelings she had for Nick, especially because she felt immediate chemistry with him and enjoyed their kiss. However, she wasn't stoked about upsetting the other guys.
Kaitlyn told Nick she wanted to sleep on it. Because she was having such a hard time with the choice, Nick received some validation that he wasn't on the show for no reason.
On the group date, Justin told Kaitlyn he didn't view one more guy developing a relationship with her as a threat. He actually said "the more the merrier" to the cameras. He thought it was mandatory for her to explore all possible options to feel great about her decision at the end of this journey. Justin's outlook on the situation won him a rose.
The following day, Kaitlyn got her hair done at a salon by former The Bachelor bachelorette Ashley Salter from Chris' season. Kaitlyn found Ashley S. crazy but very intelligent. They had girl talk, and Kaitlyn explained it would be a ballsy move to allow Nick to return yet she felt a strong connection with him in only two seconds. Ashley S. told Kaitlyn that was just lust.
Kaitlyn met with Nick again in NYC, and he insisted he wasn't there to waste her time or become a villain. He just wanted to meet her and get to know her better. Kaitlyn said the feelings behind their kiss was undeniable and she needed to be selfish when looking for a man to spend the rest of her life with. Kaitlyn worried she'd regret letting Nick go, so she let him stay.
Nick snagged another kiss from Kaitlyn and hoped the guys would respect why he's there -- even though they probably wouldn't like him or the idea of his return.
The next day, Jared, a 26-year-old restaurant manager from Warwick, RI, got a one-on-one date with Kaitlyn. He wore a tuxedo and met Kaitlyn at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. She was wearing a beautiful black gown, and Jared said he felt like "the luckiest guy alive."
The pair enjoyed dinner inside the museum, and although Kaitlyn found him attractive and great, she couldn't focus. Kaitlyn couldn't get her mind off the Nick situation, so she asked Jared about it, who basically gave his blessing. Kaitlyn appreciated the fact Jared wouldn't be angry at her for letting Nick come back.
Meanwhile, Ben H., a 26-year-old software salesman from Denver, CO, told his buddies at the NYC hotel he didn't care about Nick nor did he feel threatened by him. Jonathan, a 33-year-old automotive spokesman from Sylvan Lake, MI, on the other hand, said he believed Kaitlyn when she had claimed her husband was in the room weeks ago, which he found disappointing.
When the next group-date card arrived, the following names were on it: Ian; Ben H.; Chris, a 28-year-old dentist from Nashville, TN; Joe Bailey, a 28-year-old insurance agent from Glasgow, KY; and Joshua, a 31-year-old industrial welder from Kuna, ID.
Back on Kaitlyn's date with Jared, her feelings were confirmed for him. He also read her a cute poem and she loved it, calling the gesture "game over."
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Jared noted in a confessional he felt passion and could see himself falling in love with Kaitlyn and marrying her. Jared told the cameras that 40 to 50 years from now, he could look back at this and say, "That was the night I fell in love with Kaitlyn." She connected with him as well and called it "the best date ever."
Kaitlyn, who had so many amazing connections developing already, admitted, "Maybe I don't need Nick."
The next day, Kaitlyn stepped into the guys' hotel room and disclosed her decision about Nick. She said she was going to let him move in -- but would not give him a date that week. Kaitlyn confessed she needed to explore that relationship with Nick a little more but it didn't take away from anything she had with the other men.
Joshua found it to be a tough pill to swallow, while Ryan B. called it "silly" among "a ton more adjectives." Kaitlyn wasn't 100% confident in her decision yet felt she was following her heart.
Kaitlyn then embarked on another group date. Since she loves dancing and musical theater, the group of guys was required to audition for a role in Aladdin on Broadway at the Amsterdam Theater. The men had to dance, sing and act in attempt to land a role as Kaitlyn's "love interest" in a performance that very night in front of 1,800 people.
Chris felt sheer "terror," and Joshua was nervous because he admitted to being absolutely terrible at singing and dancing. Ian, however, thought he was a good singer -- and he was proven correct, as Ben H. confessed he was impressed by his skills. When Chris took the stage, he was very animated. Joshua said if he acted like Chris, he'd get beat up back at home.
Chris ended up winning the walk-on role with Kaitlyn in the show that night, while the others had to go back to the hotel. Joshua said it sucked to leave.
Back at the hotel, the guys were gossiping about Nick coming back to the show. They assumed his motives were for self-promotion and the limelight. Tanner thought he might be antagonistic once Nick moved into the house.
On Kaitlyn's date, Chris got a kiss before the show and after. He really wanted to be Kaitlyn's prince. Kaitlyn truly enjoyed the date and loved sharing that moment onstage with Chris. That night, the pair got to see the Times Square New Year's Eve ball up close and personal. Kaitlyn said she'd never forget that day with Chris and gave him a rose.
The episode concluded with a cliffhanger in which Nick moved into the men's hotel room. The broadcast did not show the guys' reaction or what happened next. Nick was prepared for the men to hate him, but he wanted his shot with Kaitlyn.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
