Decisions are never easy—just ask The Bachelor’s Grant Ellis. Throughout the finale, host Jesse Palmer repeatedly emphasized that there had never been a Bachelor more torn than Ellis.
He teased an ending that would be both historic and emotional as Ellis and his two finalists, Litia Garr and Juliana Pasquarosa, spent their final days in Punta Cana, preparing for family introductions.
Litia Garr Wins Over Ellis’ Family
During her introduction to Ellis’ family, Garr received an immediate vote of confidence.
“I’ve liked you since day one,” Ellis’ sister told Garr, setting the tone for a successful meeting. The family made it very clear they believed she was the perfect match for him. By the end of their time together, Garr professed her love for Ellis.
“Grant makes me feel special and lucky. I just love him,” she said, adding that she was confident an engagement was on the horizon. But was this positive momentum or an unfortunate case of foreshadowing?
Juliana Pasquarosa Faces Tough Questions
Ellis’ mother approached Pasquarosa’s introduction with a more cautious tone, directly asking her: “Do you love my son?”
The question tripped up the 28-year-old, but she reassured Ellis’ mother that love and engagement are forever and that while she hadn’t said ‘I love you’ yet, it didn’t mean she wouldn’t get there.
Ellis’ mother made her feelings clear: if Pasquarosa couldn’t say she loved him, her son should walk away.
Later, when Ellis confessed his love to Pasquarosa, she reciprocated, leaving Ellis even more confused than before.
During the live After the Final Rose special, past Bachelor contestants who had faced similar dilemmas were brought back to offer insight on Ellis’ predicament.
Final Dates: A Love Story on Horseback, A Promise at Sea
Ellis’ final dates with his two finalists played out like a movie.
- With Pasquarosa, the two set sail for a romantic boat date. When Ellis asked if she would break his heart, she reassured him:
“I will do my best to handle your heart with care.” - With Garr, the pair rode on horseback in the pouring rain—a moment Ellis described as “beautiful.” However, their evening took a more serious turn.
Garr opened up about her deep desire to be a mother and how her family shared that dream for her. Ellis then asked how she would react if he later told her he wasn’t ready.
“I want to make you happy and I want you to feel ready. I want both of us to feel excited and ready at that time,” she responded.
Then, through nervous giggles, she added: “Pick me.”
Despite these heartfelt moments, Ellis ended his dates still filled with indecision.
A Shocking Rejection at the Proposal Spot
As Ellis’ final day as The Bachelor arrived, he seemed more lost than ever. His father even stayed behind to help him make his final decision.
Ellis chose a ring, but when it was time to head to the proposal, he still hadn’t chosen a fiancée.
“I could see Litia being my wife, and I could see Juliana being my wife. It really is having two hearts in the palm of my hand,” he admitted.
Then, the first SUV arrived—and to the audible surprise of the live audience, Garr stepped out first, unknowingly walking into a breakup.
Grant EllisShe gave a beautiful and heartfelt speech about building a future with Ellis, only to be met with heartbreak.
“I love you very much. I want to give you everything you deserve, but I’m not your person,” Ellis told her. “I’m sorry to have gotten to this point. My emotional connection is stronger with someone else.”
Garr did not hold back. “This is not about me,” Ellis attempted to say. “It’s all about you,” she snapped back, calling him out for the promises he made.
Back in the SUV, Garr reflected:
“What a surprise. How disappointing. I felt like he loved me, and then he picked someone else he loved more. I hope that I can find someone that will love me like that forever—not today though.”
While The Bachelor franchise is skipping its expected summer 2025 season, Garr’s emotional exit practically set her up to be the next Bachelorette.
A Proposal and a New Beginning
Back at the proposal spot, Pasquarosa arrived, full of hope.
She gave a tearful, heartfelt speech, expressing her love for Ellis, before he dropped to one knee and proposed.
“A million times yes!” she excitedly replied.
Later, during his final interview with Palmer, Ellis got emotional, reflecting on his Bachelor journey.
Pasquarosa, beaming beside him, shared that she couldn’t wait to go to dinner with her new fiancé. The couple revealed they are moving to Boston, where Pasquarosa is from, and are taking an Italian vacation, courtesy of The Bachelor.
Ellis had previously told at the beginning of his season:
“I’m very happy with the way things turned out. Any time you have to let go of someone you care about, it’s hard, and there’s going to be emotions there. I think we just have to see how things play out.”
Behind-the-Scenes Shakeups at ‘The Bachelor’
Ellis’ dramatic ending comes amid major changes within The Bachelor franchise.
Earlier this month, showrunners Claire Freeland and Bennett Graebner departed the show following allegations of overseeing a “toxic” and “hostile” workplace—claims they have denied.
Two co-executive producers, Michael Margolis and Keely Booth, also resigned. Warner Bros. and ABC have yet to announce who will take over the franchise, which next turns its focus to Bachelor in Paradise.
A Historic Twist for ‘Bachelor in Paradise’
At the very end of After the Final Rose, the franchise dropped a major twist: for the first time ever, contestants from The Golden Bachelor and Golden Bachelorette will be featured in Bachelor in Paradise.
Fan favorites Leslie Fhima (The Golden Bachelor) and Gary Levingston (Golden Bachelorette) were announced as the first senior cast members, with more to be revealed soon.
So far, Paradise season 10 will feature:
- Zoe McGrady (The Bachelor season 29)
- Hakeem Moulton (The Bachelorette season 21)
- Jonathon Johnson (The Bachelorette season 21)
Wells Adams, a longtime staple of Paradise, previously teased the idea of an all-Golden Bachelor Paradise spin-off, joking:
“I’ve got the whole thing planned out. It needs to happen in Florida at Del Boca Vista [from Seinfeld]. Everyone needs to drive around in golf carts, dates at shuffleboard courts. I need to be making drinks but also have Mylanta on the side.”
With a historic ending, a shocking rejection, and a major shakeup for Paradise, The Bachelor continues to keep fans on their toes.