Source: ABC [1]
It's no secret that The Bachelor's Juan Pablo stirred up controversy [2] this past season, and during Monday night's finale, past cast members weighed in on the buzzed-about final rose. In the season finale, viewers watched as Juan Pablo picked Nikki Ferrell [3] after sending a frustrated Clare Crawley home. When Clare walked away in St. Lucia, she said, "What you just made me go through, I would never want my kids to have a father like you," and the live studio audience actually cheered as she left. When Juan Pablo responded with "I'm glad I didn't pick her," there were gasps.
Later, as Chris Harrison spoke with Juan Pablo and Nikki, things got tense when the host repeatedly asked Juan Pablo if he was in love and Juan Pablo didn't say one way or the other. "It wasn't about getting Juan Pablo to say he loved Nikki. It was about getting him to really say anything of substance about a woman who had professed her love for him and had hoped for a proposal from him," Chris wrote on his Entertainment Weekly blog [4]. Juan Pablo also snapped at Chris for interrupting him, and if the live tweets are any indication, a lot of people weren't too happy about how the Bachelor handled those final moments.
Over the past couple of months, fans fell in and out of love with Juan Pablo [5], and it seems like Bachelor nation has mixed feelings about him too. Sean Lowe expressed his disbelief both on Twitter and on The Bachelor: After the Final Rose special, while his wife, Catherine, chimed in about the in-studio awkwardness. Meanwhile, past Bachelorettes like Ali Fedotowsky, Emily Maynard, and Jillian Harris also tweeted their two cents. As Juan Pablo and Nikki move their onscreen romance into real life, take a look at how the show's community reacted to the finale of The Bachelor.
Following some Twitter backlash, Juan Pablo's pick, Nikki, responded to the negativity.
Being in the public eye does NOT give you the right to say what you want to me. Your words hurt no matter what. Be ashamed of yourselves.
— Nikki Ferrell (@Nikki_Ferrell) March 11, 2014 [6]
Kelly Travis, another contestant who vied for Juan Pablo's affection, showed her support for Nikki.
I remain #teamnikki [7]. She is incredibly smart, funny, gorgeous, and an amazing friend. I trust her judgement to the fullest. @Nikki_Ferrell [8]
— Kelly Travis (@kellytravisty) March 11, 2014 [9]
More support came from Molly Mesnick, who married Jason Mesnick of The Bachelor after he sent her home.
@Nikki_Ferrell [10] Keep your head up lady. @jason_mesnick [11] & I went through ALL of this too. It will pass...just stay strong & focus on the good.
— Molly Mesnick (@MollyMesnick) March 11, 2014 [12]
Past Bachelor Sean Lowe was not too impressed with how things turned out.
"I love Juan Pablo but..." -Juan's cousin (terrible wingman)
— Sean Lowe (@SeanLowe09) March 11, 2014 [13]
This is painful to watch. #TheBachelor [14]
— Sean Lowe (@SeanLowe09) March 11, 2014 [15]
JP lives with his foot in his mouth. #TheBachelor [16]
— Sean Lowe (@SeanLowe09) March 11, 2014 [17]
There's only one rule on The Bachelor... Don't offend @chrisbharrison [18]
— Sean Lowe (@SeanLowe09) March 11, 2014 [19]
My take on last night: I commend JP on not proposing if he isn't ready. And he certainly shouldn't feel pressured to say "I love you".
— Sean Lowe (@SeanLowe09) March 11, 2014 [20]
Sean's wife, Catherine Lowe, wasn't very into this season, either.
The fact JP didn't propose is so far down on the list of why this season ended so horribly. #TheBachelor [21]
— Catherine Lowe (@clmgiudici) March 11, 2014 [22]
Arie Luyendyk Jr., a contestant from Emily Maynard's season of The Bachelorette, linked up with Clare while in the studio.
So impressed by @Clare_Crawley [23] and how she stood up for herself tonight! pic.twitter.com/xWDYvVFFFQ [24]
— Arie Luyendyk Jr. (@ariejr) March 11, 2014 [25]
Juan Pablo is even harder to understand in person #wrapyourheadaroundthat [26]
— Arie Luyendyk Jr. (@ariejr) March 11, 2014 [27]
Trista Sutter, the first leading lady on The Bachelorette, got candid about Juan Pablo.
And let me be clear...I am by no means confused that JP isn't in love. I am confused as 2 why being disrespectful & rude are called honest.
— Trista Sutter (@tristasutter) March 11, 2014 [28]
I'm confused by the lack of answers & the rationale behind dodging ?s. 1 thing I'm not confused by...@chrisbharrison [29] & how I like him a LOT!
— Trista Sutter (@tristasutter) March 11, 2014 [30]
Ali Fedotowsky, another star of The Bachelorette, didn't like how he handled things either.
"I'm glad I didn't pick her" WHAAAAT? Ok - I can't defend him. I wanted to but that was very low. I can't now.
— Ali Fedotowsky (@AliFedotowsky) March 11, 2014 [31]
I want to send lots of love to @Nikki_Ferrell [32] ❤️ Follow your heart girlie. Trust yourself and don't listen to what anyone else thinks.
— Ali Fedotowsky (@AliFedotowsky) March 11, 2014 [33]
Ditto for The Bachelorette's Jillian Harris.
Ugh. I don't even know what to think about that #bachelor [34] finale. My heart hurts a little for everyone on that season right now.
— Jillian Harris (@jillianharris) March 11, 2014 [35]