‘Bachelorette’ finale unveils Jenn Tran’s final decision — and the unexpected twists
Is Jenn Tran engaged? Or has she returned to single life?
The finale of “The Bachelorette” provided fans with shocking revelations about Jenn’s quest for love, sharing details nearly two months after her season began, and things turned out to be messier than anyone in Bachelor Nation could have predicted.
Viewers were curious why Jenn, the franchise’s first Asian American lead, told one of her prospective partners, “I can’t let you propose to me.” Interestingly, that wasn’t even the most intense moment from the episode.
A few months earlier in Hawaii, the 26-year-old aspiring physician assistant decided to end her relationship with Marcus Shoberg, 32, because he was hesitant to express his feelings, stating that he “didn’t give her what she needed.”
This paved the way for Jenn to potentially end up with 28-year-old Devin Strader, and she was actually thinking of proposing to him, a freight company owner from Houston.
Then everything changed.
During a live segment of the show, host Jesse Palmer shocked the audience by announcing that what came next would not lead to a fairytale conclusion.
To clarify the situation, a tearful Jenn bravely took the stage to share that although she did get engaged to her final partner in Hawaii, they were no longer together.
Jenn reveals Devin called off their engagement during a brief phone call
Jenn disclosed that Devin ended their engagement during a 15-minute phone call in August while the season was airing.
“He said he didn’t love me anymore and didn’t feel the same way,” she remarked, noting that he “denied feeling in love.” As her mother cried in the audience, Jenn shared that Devin declined the idea of couples’ counseling and “didn’t want to fight for the relationship anymore.”
Next, as applause and boos echoed, Devin joined Jenn and Jesse on stage to share his perspective: “I failed you, but my feelings were genuine.” He expressed having “a lot of doubts” during their two-month engagement and claimed he had been upfront about these uncertainties.
When Jenn challenged his honesty, he acknowledged, “I regret not telling you sooner. You are absolutely correct.”
Devin admits to following ‘Bachelor’ alum Maria Georgas post-breakup
One of Jenn’s claims was that Devin started following Maria Georgas on Instagram the day after their breakup (Georgas was also a contender for the “Bachelorette” title).
“I can’t justify that Instagram follow; I know it hurt you,” Devin admitted. “Clearly, I let you down, and I can only own that.”
At this point, 2022 “Bachelorette” co-star Rachel Recchia, whose own season ended in heartbreak, was seen wiping away tears in the audience.
Jenn also accused Devin of partying with fourth-place contestant Jeremy Simon in New York soon after their split. Devin defended himself, explaining he was in the city for a client meeting and retorted, “Am I not allowed to have a life?”
Jenn further claimed Devin seemed indifferent about their breakup, stating he “(knows) how painful this is.” She expressed, “You’re out here promoting the show on Instagram, sharing memes about Sam (McKinney) and all this stuff. It feels like you don’t even care. Every Monday, my heart gets shattered again as I watch your lies play out on TV.”
Devin insisted he attended “After the Final Rose” to check on Jenn’s well-being and accepted responsibility for her unhappiness off-camera.
“I have watched you grow into an incredible woman on your own. None of us contributed to that transformation. I found it inspiring to see,” he said. “But I struggled to meet the expectations you needed and deserved.”
Jenn breaks down watching her ‘Bachelorette’ proposal replay
To transition into showing the footage of Jenn and Devin’s engagement in Hawaii, Jesse praised her for being a “strong, powerful woman.”
When Jesse asked Jenn if she was ready to reveal her engagement moment to Bachelor Nation, she sobbed, responding, “Do I really have a choice?”
While the studio audience viewed the video, ABC displayed live images of Jenn crying in a corner of the screen before finally taking away the voyeuristic box.
During the proposal, which was recorded earlier this summer, Devin once again expressed his love, only for Jenn to catch him by surprise.
“I love you so much, Devin. But I can’t allow you to propose to me. I’ve chosen to prioritize myself on this journey, and the best version of myself is when I’m with you,” she explained. “I am strong independently. However, I understand that we are stronger together.”
She revealed a silver ring from a shell-like case and placed it on Devin’s finger, and he reciprocated by giving her an engagement ring for her left hand.
Fast forward to now, Jesse gently spoke to Jenn, who was still sobbing as Devin sat beside her on the sofa.
“I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to watch that and experience it all over again,” Jesse said. “But Jenn, my greatest hope is that when you view that moment again, a part of you feels empowered. You truly did things in your own way.”
After regaining her composure, Jenn confirmed, “I do know what I deserve.”
What Occurred Prior to the Jenn vs. Devin Discussion
Over the course of ten episodes, Jenn narrowed down her selection of 25 men (which included an ex who unexpectedly re-entered during the season) to just two: Marcus and Devin.
The conclusion of Jenn’s reality TV journey was disclosed after both men met her family, who expressed concerns for her well-being. Jenn’s mother, Trinh, along with her aunt Lylan and brother James, interrogated Marcus and Devin about their feelings towards Jenn, with Trinh voicing doubts about her daughter’s ability to fall in love and get engaged in such a short time.
James was “not too pleased,” he mentioned to Jesse during the live show, hinting to fans that Jenn’s story did not conclude with a fairy-tale ending. Finalists Jeremy and Jonathon Johnson Soliz were also present in the studio audience to “support” Jenn as well as their friends Marcus and Devin, contributing to a tense atmosphere.
Fans of Bachelor Nation eager for a new bachelorette’s journey won’t have to wait long; Joan Vassos’s inaugural “Golden Bachelorette” season kicks off on September 18. Grant Ellis, whom Jenn sent home in Episode 6, is set to start filming his upcoming “Bachelor” season in the next few months.