Hometowns are always illuminating, are they not? Matt James dwindled his group to just four women, and on Monday night’s episode of The Bachelor, he met their families.
Controversy surrounding one contestant, Rachael, and host Chris Harrison continues to play out off-screen — and Matt just issued a statement.
In a post on Instagram on Monday, Matt called the information that has surfaced in recent weeks “troubling,” and said he’ll share more of his thoughts “in the end.”
“The reality is that I’m learning about these situations in real time, and it has been devastating and heartbreaking to put it bluntly,” he wrote. “Chris’s failure to receive and understand the emotional labor that my friend Rachel Lindsay was taking on by graciously and patiently explaining the racist of the Antebellum South, a painful that every American should understand immediately, was troubling and painful to watch. As Black people and allies immediately knew and understood, it was a clear reflection of a much larger issue that The Bachelor franchise has fallen short on addressing adequately for years.”
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On screen, ABC promised there would be plenty of “tough” conversations this week. Rachael, Bri, Michelle and Serena P. were in the running for Matt’s heart, with each of them hoping their hometown date would take things to the next level.
It did for three of them, while Serena P. realized Matt wasn’t her “person” — and told him. That shocker put everything into perspective for Matt, who emotionally revealed his insecurities that another woman would leave him heartbroken.
ET was live blogging Monday night’s episode. Scroll down for a play-by-play of what went down.
Damn, Mom!
6:57 PM: That excitement quickly turns to fear, as it clicks there’s still three women.
Then — the Women Tell All. TBH, none of this seems that exciting anymore. But we’ll see how we feel next week.
Then, in two weeks, Matt gets steamy with his final three — and his mom tells him, “Love is not the end all, be all.” Damn, Mom!
Matt’s crying, he’s not OK and we are looking forward to the end of this journey. Now he’s SOBBING and we’re really looking forward to it.
3 Roses for 3 Ladiez
6:55 PM: Michelle accepts her rose “without hesitation.” Rachael is next, and then Bri obviously.
A big sigh from Matt.
“Thank you all for being patient, and I’m extremely excited about our next two weeks together,” Matt says.
Bri, Michelle and Rachael express their excitement for what’s ahead.
Surprise!
6:54 PM: Matt finally greets the women at the rose ceremony, and confirms Serena’s not coming.
“I want you all to think long and hard about that commitment before you accept the rose tonight,” he tells Michelle, Bri and Rachael.
Us Too
6:51 PM: Michelle, Bri and Rachael stand there waiting for Matt, but then they notice Serena’s not there.
Before the rose ceremony, Matt expresses his fear that there’s another woman who’s not fully into him.
“We’re so close to the end, I can smell it,” he says. Us too.
Matt’s Crying
6:46 PM: Serena WALKS MATT OUT and we get a limo shot of him departing. Way to turn the tables, girl.
He cries, recalling how he wanted to run. “That’s what I’ve always done… run from difficult conversations, but nothing gets resolved,” he says. “I’m scared.”
Matt is scared of leaving this show with a broken heart. More tears.
Stinks
6:44 PM: There is silence as Matt tries to process being broken up with by yet another woman. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work.
“I don’t know. It sucks to hear that, but I felt it after I left that conversation with your family,” he says. “It just stinks.”
“It sucks to hear that, because I just want what’s best for you, and if that’s not going to be me… that stinks,” he continues.
Serena says she’s just not there.
“You don’t have to say or do any more,” Matt tells her, asking her to walk him downstairs.
Not Her Person
6:43 PM: Matt tells Serena it’s “intentional” that he’s spent the most time with her of the other women. He really sees a future with her.
She doesn’t seem convinced it’s for the best. “I think when I first became aware of those feelings was when I talked to my mom. I was able to sit there and say, ‘Matt has everything I would want in a husband, and he makes me feel so special and valued’… but when it came to being able to share my feelings for you, I really struggled,” she explains.
Serena says she was scared. “I think if I’m being honest with myself, it’s more than that. And I think it just comes down to the fact that I don’t think that you’re my person,” she says.
Matt Visits Serena
6:40 PM: The women get ready for the rose ceremony — but Matt can’t get started without checking in with Serena.
He goes to visit her in her room, where she does not look like she even bothered to get ready for the rose ceremony.
“I’ve been thinking about you a lot,” Matt tells her. “I’ve known how I felt about you for a long time… seeing that you struggled through some of this, I tried to make you had enough time to process.”
Not Quite There
6:32 PM: Matt tries to reassure Serena before they say goodbye — but we’re not sure it worked.
“I am falling for Matt. We have an amazing connection, but thinking about getting engaged to him in a few weeks does scare me, because I’m not there yet,” she tells the camera. “I wanted my hometown to be there.”
“Tonight I have just, doubt and fear,” she adds.
No Shame in Being You
6:30 PM: Serena’s mom tells her that her last relationship really messed with her head.
“I think I’m just struggling to trust my feelings,” Serena cries. “I just want to be out of my brain for like, five minutes.”
“I do have this pit in my stomach sometimes with Matt,” she explains. “I don’t know how I’m feeling.”
We think this is the beginning of the end of Serena and Matt — but we will say we really liked her hometown date and we really like her. No shame in being you, girl!!!
Doubts
6:29 PM: Serena’s sister tells her she doesn’t seem smitten — and Serena is internally freaking out.
“The thing I’m most nervous about is she could be talking herself into it,” her sister tells the camera.
During a sitdown with her dad, Serena tells her dad that getting engaged is not “off the table.” He reminds her it’s a strong commitment — and now she’s not sure.
“Suddenly I have a lot of doubts,” she tells the camera.
Prooooooocess
6:26 PM: Serena’s mom is the first to grill Matt. “This whole process is fast,” she says with her cute little Canadian accent. “We’re just worried about her getting hurt.”
“There’s definitely something there, but I don’t know that Serena will be ready to get engaged this quickly,” Serena’s mom tells the camera.
Serena’s sister asks her if she’s in love with him, and Serena admits she’s catching up to Matt’s feelings.
