The Bachelor‘s “Women Tell All” special took an emotional turn when host Jesse Palmer welcomed Season 28 contestant Rachel Nance to the stage following her heartbreaking Fantasy Suite Week rose ceremony elimination.
In addition to reflecting on her devastating breakup with Joey Graziadei, the 27-year-old ICU nurse used the primetime ABC platform to open up about “hateful” and “racist” social media harassment she’s experienced since the Hometown Week episode aired and she received a rose over fan-favorite contestant Maria Georgas.
When asked how life since the show has been for Rachel, she revealed the past few days had been “an emotional roller coaster.”
“I’ve just been getting a lot of hateful messages as soon as the episode aired — a lot of racist comments towards me, and just calling me the N-word or calling me Jungle Asian — all because I got a rose,” she explained. “I’m sad because my parents really enjoyed the Hometown episode and then for them to just see people attacking our culture and attacking me…this is a whole new level. It’s just hundreds of people messaging me stuff. People made TikToks about them throwing up when we were kissing, and it’s just insane.”
Following her tearful reflection, Joey — who joined her on stage — said, “I want to tell you I know how hard that is to talk through, but by sharing that, you’re going to spread so much light on things that should be shed.”
Jesse took a moment to call on Rachel’s fellow Season 28 contestants and asked them raise their hands if they received a hateful message throughout the season. Nearly each of the 16 woman in attendance did, including Golden Bachelor attendees Kathy Swarts and Susan Noles.
“For all of the love that Joey and these women have received, there’s also sadly been a noticeable rise in hate on social media,” Jesse noted. “Here’s the thing, Bachelor Nation — we love your strong opinions. But I think it’s so important that we lift these women who are brave enough to be vulnerable and to share their stories with Joey and with all of us at home. These women they deserve our praise and not our hate.”
Earlier in the episode, Season 28 contestant Maria Georgas also issued a plea to viewers to stop harassing fellow contestants and in-show rivals Sydney Gordon and Lea Cayanan, saying, “I do want to say, Sydney, the hate that you have been getting on social media has crossed the line, and it is something I do not condone or respect at all. Lea, you as well. I don’t want you guys to get hate. That’s not what I wanted out of this, I wanted us to be good.”
After reuniting with all of his exes on stage, Joey echoed the call for peace, saying, “People need to remember how much courage it takes [for these women] to be able to do what they did — to come out and be who you are unapologetically and to try your best to do this. It should never be met with hate.’
In a final message to viewers before leaving the stage, Rachel said, “I just want to remind people that we’re not just faces on a screen. We’re not just women trying to find love. People are so quick to be little keyboard warriors and pop off because there’s no consequences, but we have to pay the consequences emotionally and mentally. Just be kind. Your words have weight to [them]. Things that you say really hits home sometimes. Just be kind.”
In the grand scheme of issues the Bachelor franchise has faced over the years, this swift “Women Tell All” shoutout may seem like a small step for Bachelor Nation, but using the massive platform and a united Season 28 cast to condemn online bullying will go down as a refreshing moment in reality TV history.
Tune in to The Bachelor Season 28 finale on Monday, March 25 to see how Joey Graziadei’s search for love ends.
