As far as Gabby and Erich go, I did appreciate the fact that they didn’t try to discredit Amanda and her text messages. I mean, it would’ve been foolish of them to because it did happen, but I was really expecting them to discredit her to be honest. Say like she’s crazy, or it wasn’t that big of deal, or she’s lying – something to where it made her look bad. So that was good that Erich acknowledged what he did. Here were some of the things I wrote down. Phrases that Erich threw out there during his time on stage about the Amanda ex-girlfriend text message situation:
“Handled it poorly.”
“Led her on.”
“Took easy way out.”
“Don’t hold anything against her.”
“Mistake on my part.”
“Not mad at her.”
“Taking cowardly way out.”
“Didn’t see a future.”
“Didn’t see it long term.”
So one of those phrases sticks out to me the most and that’s “led her on.” Erich admitted that last night. And while it’s a noble thing to admit it, I just question why that’s kinda being easily dismissed here? He admitted on live TV last night that he led Amanda on because he didn’t see a future with her and basically instead of telling her the truth, kept something going he wasn’t into. Ok great. So why are we supposed to believe he’s not leading Gabby on? Because he tells us he isn’t? Because he shows PDA on a live show? It’s Gabby’s life, her choices, and she can do whatever she wants. Clearly she is. I’m just offering my opinion on what I saw last night and, if I were her, that would bother me more than she’s seemingly letting on.
Also, having spoken to Amanda again last night to get her thoughts on what she saw, she still says he downplayed the relationship last night. And he did. He’s spent more time in his life with Amanda than Gabby at this point, so you can’t say she’s speaking out of turn. And it’s very easy 6 months after the fact for Erich to sit on stage and say, “Well yeah, I should’ve told her I wasn’t into it and been honest.” Very easy to say that after the fact. But while he WAS in the relationship with Amanda, he’s telling her all these things about wanting a future together, about wanting to see her as much as he can, and about some very personal things about himself. Now six months later he’s like, “Yeah, that was me just leading her on. Didn’t mean it. Didn’t see a future.” Huh? What? Way too convenient for me. So yeah, he did still downplay the relationship with Amanda last night and I think makes it worse he was so easy to dismiss someone that he was VERY into less than 6 months ago. But whatever. If that’s the way he feels, I think that should kinda been given more attention to.
In the long run though, I don’t think for a second Gabby and Erich are gonna make it. I think Gabby’s star is on the rise, she’s gaining popularity, she’s gonna be on DWTS for at least another two months for sure, and Erich is just there. I think she will eventually see the light so it’s not like I’m holding out hope that these two will be buying china sets together anytime soon. Hell, I even thought last night Gabby’s mind set seemed more like, “Yeah, lets wait until DWTS is over and then when we can have a normal public relationship we’ll see how this goes?” Did anyone else get that vibe or just me? It could just be because Gabby always seems to be joking, but that was the feel I got. I don’t think SHE even knows how serious they are, even though they’re engaged, if that makes any sense. I mean, the People magazine cover story is of Rachel & Gabby together, not even Gabby and Erich. Kinda weird.
And to anyone that’s the least bit surprised the show dropped the ball completely on not addressing Erich’s blackface issue, I mean, what did you expect from this show? Like they’ll ever take a race topic seriously. How embarrassing and disgraceful for them that they focused on the Amanda texts and not even bring up the Erich blackface issue once. It’s one thing for him to address it on social media with a statement. That’s a start – at least. But wouldn’t it have been more meaningful and we could’ve maybe seen how he truly felt about it all to hear him speak on it, what he’s learned, what’s he doing going forward, etc? Was that too much to ask? Oh wait, don’t answer that. Because when it comes to this show, yes, it IS too much to ask to handle any sort of race issue correctly. Giant fail on their part, yet again. How embarrassing. They need to be called out for that.
One last thing regarding Gabby and Erich these last four months. Everyone who studies social media, and Happy Couple weekends, who thought they had all the answers, and continuously would email me with, “Well it can’t be Erich because this weekend Gabby was here and Erich was here,” and “Erich’s spending time with all the guys from his season,” and every other thing you came up with – WRONG. Did you see both Gabby and Erich’s hard launch last night on IG? Clearly they spent numerous times together over the past 4 months, but, because you couldn’t figure out when, you just dismissed it as they weren’t together. WRONG. Just admit you were wrong and lets move on. There are people so caught up in thinking they know when all Happy Couple weekends happen, they can’t accept that maybe, just maybe, they don’t know something. Here’s a little hint: the show purposely throws you off and tells contestants to do so as well. So I’m sure when next season comes around, and people are trying to figure out when Zach and his pick are having a Happy Couple weekend, I’ll be told I’m wrong again, and I’ll just keep bringing you back to these past four months. Do I know the exact dates Gabby and Erich met up? No. Do I ever? Eh, very rarely. But clearly they did. Yet, I was told it was impossible they were together because the ”sleuthers” had figured out their timeline never matched. Might wanna go back to Sleuthing 101 since you couldn’t have been more dead wrong for the last 4 months. Bahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Too funny.
jlal
September 21, 2022 at 7:47 AM
I totally agree with RS that both Rachel and Tino came off bad. That being said, I was saying run Tino run to my screen. Sorry for the Rachel fans, but she seems a tad emotionally high maintenance. I think he is lucky to get away.
When she told Tino she would take off her ring if they went back to dating, it was obvious that Tino heard she was taking it off. That is why he kept saying she said that, because that is what he heard. Also, based on his questions you could tell he thought she might be playing him all along. I felt bad for him, before the disgusting Aven stunt. That made me sick. Nobody should be treated that way, no matter what. They could have had Tino leave the stage and then brought him out, but to do it the way they did was low, cruel, un-necessary, and even abusive.
I wish Gabby and Erich well. The whole Amanda thing is overblown. They dated only two months, never said the L word, and he figured out she wasn’t the one. We have all handled break ups or partings badly before. Or, at least I know I have done things I regret. A ton of relationships go hot and heavy at first, but don’t last past the 3 month mark. The 3 month mark has always been my barometer. Don’t get too invested or say the L word until you are well past the 3 month mark. Most dating relationship either fall apart by then or move to the next level.
harryhodag1
September 21, 2022 at 8:18 AM
I have to take issue with the whole “Rachel is a saint and Tino is a sinner” story line.
I also have an issue with the show forcing cast members to be tortured during the Fantasy Suites.
Rachel was nailed in season 18 by Clayton and again by Aven in season 19(‘the full package’). Tino also presumably was also involved. She could have said no at any point. The show forces the finalists to sit by counting stars while the person they are falling for is going through the Fantasy Suites orgasma-tron. Then the cast member is forced to act like nothing happened. Better to pick the last finalist, then share one Fantasy Suite night, and then the final rose if all works as planned. To me, this is torture for real people.
Tino’s transgression, to me, was fairly minor. But regardless of what Rachel(or Tino) both say, I think they both felt something was off. We will never know what. If she loved him, she would have forgiven him after a butt-chewing. He wouldn’t have done it in the first place if all was right. So it wasn’t meant to be. Rachel is not a saint, nor should she be condemned, ditto with Tino.
jlal
September 21, 2022 at 8:20 AM
To address RS’s comment about if Erich is leading Gabby on. Most of us have dated someone that we knew wasn’t “the one”, but just the one right now. Or, at least I have dated people that I knew I wouldn’t end up marrying and for whatever reason held on past the expiration date. Also, many guys and women (not me I have always been pretty blunt), have dumped someone in a poor way or taken the easy way out and ghosted someone. I know of a bunch of guys and women over the years that have done that. Doesn’t mean they will when they find “the one”. Doesn’t say much for them, but doesn’t make them the devil incarnate either.
ctrealitygirl
September 21, 2022 at 8:32 AM
OMG, jlal, you expressed EXACTLY how I felt last night watching the show. How could anyone NOT feel badly for Tino the way he was “skewered” on stage? Rachel came off a real bitch; she wouldn’t even listen to one word he said. I, too, feel that she’s very high maintenance, which is probably why they were having problems post-show. And she proved on the show that she’s very insecure, demanding a proposal. The whole Aven thing sickens me. I agree with Steve, that she knew she wanted Tino so she let Aven go using the excuse that he wasn’t ready to propose. Erich did the same to Gabby, but she loved him and gave him a chance. Rachel is a hot mess, definitely not cut out to be Bachelorette. In my opinion she deserves to end up alone. She needs therapy before she enters into another relationship. Shame on the producers who left Tino out to dry. I feel he should have been named the Bachelor. Zach is not a good choice.
Nahu
September 21, 2022 at 8:47 AM
Why are you simping so hard for Amanda, the scorned ex?
He’s not gonna f-ck you, Steve, if that’s what you want.
ctrealitygirl
September 21, 2022 at 8:49 AM
PS…I meant to add my two cents about Tino’s “cheating.” If he did just kiss a girl once, and he and Rachel were on the outs, then I don’t see that it’s so bad. I’m not saying what he did was okay, but I can see how it possibly happened. And I agree with jlal that if Rachel truly loved him, she’d at least hear him out and think about forgiving him one indiscretion. I’m guessing papa Tony fueled her with the hatred we saw her spewing last night. And, give the guy credit for coming clean rather than keep it from her. Rachel showed her true colors last night.
wisewords
September 21, 2022 at 8:52 AM
Good one, @harryhodag1. I most heartily agree!
irisvioletgrey4
September 21, 2022 at 9:41 AM
Thank you for stating everything I also thought!
irisvioletgrey4
September 21, 2022 at 9:52 AM
Same, same. I’m usually pretty blunt, too, figuring it’s so obvious that the guy and I are not compatible that there’s no problem with one of us saying it out loud. But there have been those occasions when it’s not clear to the guy that I’m just not invested, and that’s when I’ve erred on the side of being too vague and have taken too long to be over and out. So I just tapdance through that whole departure, and it gets super weird as a result. Bluntness seems to work the best. It’s short, clear and clean and leaves both parties available to start moving on right away.
dogmomma
September 21, 2022 at 11:14 AM
I’d have to agree with most of the above comments. Rachel doesn’t seem ready for a relationship and was too focused on getting engaged the whole season. Doesn’t surprise me how it turned out for her.
I liked Gabby so much more on this season that what I saw on Clayton’s season. She seems to be very much in love with Erich and time will tell as always.
I thought that Amanda was trying too hard to get her name out there even though she said she wasn’t doing it for the publicity. She sounds like an ex that is milking this for everything she can in hopes of getting something out of it in Bachelor Nation.
MY BIGGEST COMPLAINT: Why the hell do people want to crucify Erich for something he did in HIGH SCHOOL???? This whole movement of educating ourselves and not being racist has gone too far. The guy was in high school, and he was a kid. And that was long before the woke-movement started. When all the BS started about Rachel Kirkconnell and her “racist college days”, I thought that it was being taken too far. Nobody has a flawless past. Why not judge people on where they are in present time. We all make bad choices, and it doesn’t always mean we are bad people.
Rant over, I feel better now.
ctrealitygirl
September 21, 2022 at 11:25 AM
I’m with you dogmomma! Why the heck is Steve making such a big issue what Erich did in high school, chastising ABC for not making Erich own up to it. I’m sure ABC felt like we did…that something you do in HS is a non-issue. I, too, felt Gabby was way more likeable this season, and I can’t help but wonder if Rachel felt she couldn’t compare to her co-Bachelorette. Rachel’s stylist made her look downright dowdy all season, while Gabby’s stylist made her look gorgeous and sexy. When they stood next to each other the contrast was remarkable. And she was just such a downer the whole season. How the heck did she expect someone to propose when she kept cancelling cocktail parties nd dates? How well did she even know her final guys?? The results are very telling
ncfan
September 21, 2022 at 2:03 PM
The only winner was Tito . He was honest, apologetic and humble . He was treated like crap by “Needs Therapy narcissist ,drama queen” Rachel. Lost respect for her and the producers. I hope Tito finds a good girl who treats him like a king. This finale left me wondering if I will ever watch this show again.
dogmomma
September 21, 2022 at 2:27 PM
ctrealitygirl I couldn’t believe Steve has gotten on board with this “Erich needs to apologize for being racist and try to do better” crap. So many of the comments on social media say the same thing. Our past shouldn’t define us, and nobody should have the power to tell us to repent for things we did many years ago.
I agree with you on Rachel’s whole demeanor. Her clothes were so frumpy, and she was always so upset and dramatical. It’s no surprise she ended up alone.
The other thing that bugged me was how she kept bringing up how awful Clayton treated them on his season by falling in love with 3 girls and sleeping with 2 of them. She did the exact same thing. I don’t think it’s necessary for people to bash someone from another season. The producers are ruining this show by creating so much hate. I’ve lost interest in the show and now I just start watching when they are down to the final 3 or 4.
shenanigans
September 21, 2022 at 5:43 PM
I appreciate the spoilers that Steve gets for us. I really do. However, he patted himself on the back so much in today’s column that I had the urge to smack him. Is it just me? His ego just seems so large……
kiwigirljacks
September 21, 2022 at 9:08 PM
Right?! It was almost unbearable! I sometimes even wonder why he does this job at all because he obviously hates the shows and dislikes most of the people on them. It’s a bit strange..
rob22
September 23, 2022 at 11:31 AM
I did try to get in Tino’s head a bit. Let’s say he was over it, which it seems like he was. Option 1 is to be honest and break up. But, then you realize that this is going to be on TV & it might look better to pretend to be together and break up after the show is over. So, Option 2 is to fake it. And while faking it, gee, what’s the harm in using my new found fame to troll the bars? What a dummy. What did he think was going to happen? My general rule is that “you’re never wrong doing the right thing”. There might be some short term downsides. But it’s really hard to argue when someone is being straight up and trying to do the right thing. Tino got what he got because he did the wrong thing. That said, I do think he dodged a bullet. I wasn’t a fan of Rachel and she did herself no favors on the ATFR.
jstfyd
September 24, 2022 at 2:55 PM
I couldn’t even finish the finale. Rachel is ridiculous and extremely emotionally immature. Not that I was a Tino fan either but she just wouldn’t stfu.
lisainaz
September 24, 2022 at 9:59 PM
I have watched every season of The Bachelor/Bachelorette since day one up until Chris Harrison was fired. I’m sorry, but as corny as Harrison was, he was the glue that kept the show together. These other hosts can’t hold a candle to him. If Fleiss was smart, he would have hired David Spade to host who at least is super funny and sarcastic. This season I only watched the two-part finale and that was plenty enough. Rachel was absolutely insufferable arguing with Tito. I could barely stand another second of her evil stares and horrible baby voice. She came off way worse that Tito did. And Gabby and Erich won’t make it two days after she gets cut from DWTS – maybe even less since DWTS is now on subscription-based Disney+.