After stealing the show (and the Bachelor himself) repeatedly, Carolina Quixano was left rose-less on episode 5 of The Bachelor.
To recap: In episode 2, “thinking of you”-gate began when star Grant Ellis told Rose Sombke he’d been “thinking” of her during a group date on which Carolina got special one-on-one time — and Rose repeated the remark to Carolina, who felt slighted.
“I think it was an error, but I don’t want to bash her,” Grant says of Rose going to Carolina. “If she’s ever in a similar situation, she probably won’t do that again because it’s not something that’s gonna benefit you.”
For Grant — Us Weekly’s cover star — having his character called into question was his “worst nightmare.”
Bachelor Grant Accuses 1 Woman of Lying — Let’s Look at the Receipts
“That was my biggest fear. I tried to be really concise. When you’re in the role as a Bachelor, you have to find a line between giving reassurance and not saying things to lead people on,” Grant tells Us. “In the bubble that we’re in, things are definitely heightened.”
He reiterates to Us that his comment to Rose was a “general statement because you have to give reassurance” as the lead.
“I would not say that I was thinking about somebody else because that’s demeaning to the other person,” he adds. “People might hear things you didn’t say or take [it] the other way.”
Misunderstanding or not, the damage was done as Rose self-eliminated during episode 4.
“I was hurt,” Ellis admits of her decision. “But there’s such a short amount of time to get to know somebody, and when there’s a wrench thrown like that, it’s hard to come back. There’s also multiple other relationships and the trust there was broken. I understand why she did it. I just wished her the best.”
Sorry, Grant! Rose Quits ‘The Bachelor’ After Drama With Carolina
Carolina, however, remained — and later got into drama with more women on the show, including Dina, who previously had her back.
“I don’t know what that was about. Everybody is different, she is just more outgoing if that is the word for it,” Grant says, “She was second-guessing the relationship and then whatever projection she had, it went throughout the house and it was a downhill spiral after that.”
“When you’re on The Bachelor or The Bachelorette, you have to focus on your relationship regardless of anything that happens outside,” he continues. “When you’ve seen the show you know what you signed up for, but I understand because seeing the show / watching it as a viewer and then being in it, you never know what you’re gonna do. I don’t blame her — probably came in there and said, ‘I’m not gonna get jealous.’ Then it happens and then you test your character a little bit.”
Grant — who will meet his final four contestant’s families on the next episode — concludes that he has no animosity toward any of the women.
The Bachelor airs on ABC Mondays at 8 p.m. ET.
