The Bachelor Season 25, Episode 5 recap: Goodbye to the mean girls
THE BACHELOR - Ò2504Ó Ð Still reeling from SarahÕs sudden departure, Matt fights his tendency to put up walls as his journey continues with the 18 remaining women vying for his heart. Emotions in the house continue to run high, leading to a trash-talking face-off between Victoria and Katie, and even former Bachelor Ben Higgins and Bachelor Nation favorite Wells Adams canÕt diffuse the drama as things get physical on two group dates. Chelsea takes the opportunity to get real with Matt about her journey to self-love, and Chris Harrison drops a bombshell that will change the course of the season on ÒThe Bachelor,Ó airing MONDAY, JAN. 25 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EST), on ABC. (ABC/Craig Sjodin) BRITTANY, MATT JAMES
Last night’s episode of The Bachelor Season 25 started during the cocktail party before the evening’s rose ceremony. Matt James addressed the bullying and pulled Brittany away first. While Matt and Brittany chatted, the women tried to figure out who told Matt about the bullying.
Matt sent Anna home fairly quickly. He was disappointed in her rumor about Brittany being an escort. Then during the rose ceremony, he sent home Victoria, Lauren, Mari, and Catalina. Victoria dramatically proclaimed that she was never dating another Matt again. A big weight seemed to lift off from the remaining women.
The new week started with Rachael receiving a date card. He spoiled her with a shopping trip with celebrity stylist Ty Hunter. One of her gifts included a pair of Louboutin heels. Rachael brought her new wardrobe back to the hotel before getting ready for her evening portion of the date. She told Matt that she was falling in love with him, and Matt said he felt the same way. Matt took her home in a horse-drawn carriage.
The Bachelor Season 25 heads to a farm
The group date was on a farm, and most of the women had a fun time. But it was a bit awkward at times, like when Matt decided to make out with Pieper during her video confessional not very far from the other ladies.
Abigail shared her struggles with Matt. She was afraid that Matt would not like that her future children may be deaf like her. Abigail’s father walked out on her family, and Matt shared his experience with an absent father too. They grew closer together, and Abigail didn’t feel as concerned anymore. She received the group date rose later that night too.
HECK YEAH ABIGAIL YOU GET THAT ROSE #TheBachelor pic.twitter.com/eoOjPmjPHY — Brett S. Vergara (@BrettSVergara) February 2, 2021
MJ didn’t appreciate when Matt said that she was called an antagonist in the house. She confronted the ladies, and Jessenia confessed to telling Matt what MJ was like when he wasn’t in the room.
Kit had the last date of the week. The couple had a romantic and fun time making a dessert together in the kitchen. Matt wanted to know what life with Kit would be like after the show. She said it would be like that date, and they felt more connected.
MJ and Jessenia received a card from Matt asking them to meet him before the cocktail party. Matt wanted to know the truth. MJ blew up on Jessenia as she was mad that Jessenia questioned her character. There was quite a bit of back and forth; then the episode ended with Matt arriving to meet them.
The next episode of The Bachelor Season 25 is Monday, Feb. 8th, on ABC at 8 PM EST!
Who do you think Matt will send home next week? Let us know in the comments!
The Bachelor: Matt James eliminates Anna Redman and Victoria Larson during purge of ‘mean girls’
Matt James finally got rid of his show’s ‘mean girls’ on Monday’s episode of The Bachelor.
In a move that relieved many in the cast, the 29-year-old star decided to eliminate Anna Redman, 24, and Victoria Larson, 28.
He realized after hearing from others that they were persecuting women unnecessarily, and decided it was time for them to go.
Reign over: Self-declared ‘queen’ Victoria Larson was sent home on Monday’s episode of The Bachelor during a purge by Matt James of mean girls
‘I owe it to these women to create a safe space for them, and that’s what I’m going to do,’ Matt emphasized as he bade Anna goodbye.
Anna, a copywriter from Chicago, had recently spread a rumor that model Brittany Galvin, 23, was an escort in that city.
Matt had also heard that Victoria, a self-described ‘queen’ from Los Angeles, was being nasty to contestants.
He eliminated her at the rose ceremony itself, along with three other women.
Sent home: Anna Redman, 24, also was sent home after spreading a nasty rumor
In her usual fashion, Victoria did not go quietly, telling Matt, ‘I honestly feel so sorry for you that you would listen to hearsay and not all the facts behind a situation.’
To the cameras, she snapped, ‘You think I’m gonna go hug him goodbye? No. And he just stared at me. How dare you? He is not my king, and I am still a queen.’
‘The whole house is gonna feel like s*** that I’m gone,’ Victoria vowed. ‘I brought so many people joy.’
Dramatic exit: In her usual fashion, Victoria did not go quietly, telling Matt, ‘I honestly feel so sorry for you that you would listen to hearsay and not all the facts behind a situation’
She promised never to date another Matt ‘as long as I live. I hate that name now.’
Drama had been swirling for days at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, Pennsylvania, where 20 original contestants and four new girls were staying.
Some of the originals savaged the more recent arrivals, calling them ‘newbies’ to their ‘OGs’.
Over him: Victoria promised never to date another Matt ‘as long as I live. I hate that name now’
Katie Thurston, 29, a bank marketing manager from Renton, Washington, told Matt that the house was getting ‘toxic.’
‘If you’re going to be a mean girl, I’m going to call you out,’ she said to the cameras.
Matt then confronted the issue at the rose ceremony, laying it out for the women.
Safe space: Matt then confronted the issue at the rose ceremony, laying it out for the women that he wanted a safe space for everyone
‘I want to address something that was brought to my attention last night, about the environment in the house,’ he said. ‘How toxic it is, how there’s a mob mentality with the new women, the old women, this ‘‘us vs. them,’’ a culture of bullying.’
‘I also want to address some rumors floating around that could potentially ruin someone’s life,’ he went on, as Anna’s expression soured. ‘If you have to belittle someone else for you to shine, then those aren’t the qualities I’m looking for in my wife.’
Matt took Brittany aside to see how she was doing, and she affirmed that Anna had called her an escort, before denying it.
Troubling remarks: ‘I also want to address some rumors floating around that could potentially ruin someone’s life,’ Matt went on, as Anna’s expression soured
Escort rumor:Matt took Brittany Galvin aside to see how she was doing, and she affirmed that Anna had called her an escort, before denying it
‘That’s not true, and everyone back at home knows that it’s not true,’ Brittany said, weeping. ‘It sucks because this is national TV—my mom watches this show, and this could ruin my entire life. I didn’t sign up to be bullied and harassed; I signed up to find love, and to meet you finally.’
Matt then spoke to Anna, who confessed that she’d been ‘a shallow person in the worst moment ever,’ and claimed she was ‘so sad and upset’ with herself for spreading rumors.
‘I feel so horrible,’ she shared. ‘I’m breaking out in a rash because I’m so sad.’
So sad: ‘I feel so horrible,’ Anna shared. ‘I’m breaking out in a rash because I’m so sad’
‘Listen, you’re not a horrible person,’ Matt replied. ‘But I have a responsibility to the women that are here, to Brittany, to myself, to follow my heart. And unfortunately, I can’t see you being part of that journey anymore.’
He walked Anna to a waiting limo as the worried OGs apologized to the newbies.
‘I can’t even explain the kiss-a**ery that is going on,’ said Serena Chew, 24, a flight attendant from San Francisco, laughing as she watched.
Journey over: ‘Listen, you’re not a horrible person,’ Matt replied. ‘But I have a responsibility to the women that are here, to Brittany, to myself, to follow my heart. And unfortunately, I can’t see you being part of that journey anymore’
Limo ride: Anna admitted that she only had herself to blame during the limo ride out
Victoria first attempted to make things right with Catalina Morales, 29, a former beauty queen from Caguas, Puerto Rico, whose crown she had ripped off on night one.
She was more miffed when she heard that Ryan Claytor, 26, a dancer from Brooklyn, had told Matt she called her a ‘ho.’
‘Lit-er-ally, everything is going amazing,’ Victoria moaned afterward. ‘Li-ter-ally. I am the perfect person to be his wife, but then these losers create these problems when everything is fine.’
Getting emotional: Ryan Claytor, 26, a dancer from Brooklyn, got emotional as she told Matt that Victoria called her a ‘ho’
She loudly denounced Ryan’s ‘shadiness’ and insisted she was the only contestant with a ‘working brain in this room.’
Matt admitted that he’d always thought Victoria had ‘a big heart,’ but he no longer supported her actions.
When he handed out roses that evening, Victoria didn’t get one, nor did Catalina, Lauren Maddox, 29, or Mari Pepin, 24.
Rose ceremony: When Matt handed out roses that evening, Victoria didn’t get one, nor did Catalina, Lauren Maddox, 29, or Mari Pepin, 24
The next day, he took Rachael Kirkconnell, 24, a graphic designer from Cumming, Georgia, on a one-on-one fantasy date.
She got a fashion makeover from celebrity stylist Ty Hunter, 49, and was gifted expensive clothes and Louboutin heels.
Matt slid them on her feet as she marveled, ‘I’ve never had a pair of shoes that cost more than $40.’
The frontrunner: Rachael Kirkconnell, 24, a graphic designer from Cumming, Georgia, went on a one-on-one fantasy date with Matt
Red soles: The brunette beauty got a fashion makeover from celebrity stylist Ty Hunter, 49, and was gifted expensive clothes and Louboutin heels
He also sent Rachael a blue gown for their dinner that night, making the other girls jealous.
As they ate, Rachael told Matt that she had felt ‘undeserving’ of her good fortune that day, laughing as she said he was ‘out of my league’ and that she’d often felt ‘scared’ to open up.
Nervously, she added that she was falling in love with him and could see their future together, and Matt agreed, beaming at her.
Falling hard: Rachael added that she was falling in love with him and could see their future together, and Matt agreed, beaming at her
‘It is scary to say, but when I’m with you, it just feels right,’ he told Rachael, giving her a date rose before taking her on a horse-drawn carriage ride.
Matt’s weekly group date involved a day working on a farm.
MJ Snyder, 23, a hairstylist from Hudson, Ohio, flirted with Matt aggressively, but he ended up making out with Pieper James, 23, a student from Happy Valley, Oregon, in front of her.
Date rose: Matt handed Rachael a date rose after their one-on-one date
Farm date: The weekly group date involved a day working on a farm
At the cocktail party, he also lavished attention on runway model Chelsea Vaughn, 28, from Brooklyn.
He then had a big moment with Abigail Heringer, 25, a financial manager from Beaverton, Oregon, who is deaf.
Abigail told Matt she worried that if they had kids, they could very possibly be deaf.
Deaf contestant: Abigail Heringer told Matt she worried that if they had kids, they could very possibly be deaf
She revealed that her ‘birth father’ had left her family after she and her sister got cochlear implants.
Matt had been raised by a single mom and told Abigail that the things she saw as ‘roadblocks’ to their love were among the things he admired about her most.
To her delight, he ended up giving her the group date rose.
Outdoors fun: The group date helped showcase Matt’s country roots
Matt had less admiration for MJ, telling her that he’d lately heard she was an ‘antagonist’ who caused ‘divisiveness’ in the house.
When MJ asked the girls who’d said it, Jessenia Cruz, 28, a social media marketer from San Antonio, Texas, said she’d told Matt that MJ had described women as ‘varsity’ or ‘JV.’
‘I lead by example,’ MJ insisted, and Jessenia retorted, ‘You made it uncomfortable for these girls. That’s what you did.’
Speaking up: Jessenia Cruz, 28, a social media marketer from San Antonio, Texas, admitted that she’d told Matt that MJ had described women as ‘varsity’ or ‘JV’
Matt’s final one-on-one was with Kit Keenan, 21, a fashion entrepreneur from New York City and the daughter of famed designer Cynthia Rowley.
Kit’s socialite life featured ‘gold Bentleys and red carpets,’ but she told Matt that she usually had her guard up, and said he had helped her get in touch with her emotions.
After the two of them cooked dinner together, Kit told Matt she was falling in love with him, and he gave her a date rose.
Fashion entrepreneur: Matt’s final one-on-one was with Kit Keenan, 21, a fashion entrepreneur from New York City and the daughter of famed designer Cynthia Rowley
The next day, as the women waited for another rose ceremony, the bachelor sent out a missive.
‘MJ and Jessenia, I need to know the truth,’ he wrote. ‘Meet me before the cocktail party.’
The pair got dressed and arrived at the main hall together, where they ceaselessly sniped at each other until Matt arrived.
He sat down on the couch and they fell silent, waiting for what he’d do next.
The Bachelor will return next week on ABC.
Date rose: After the two of them cooked dinner together, Kit told Matt she was falling in love with him, and he gave her a date rose
Red-carpet shoes are having a serious moment. Here’s why
The right shoes are essential on the red carpet. “Shoes complement the look and bring it all together,” stylist Apuje Kalu says. But they are often overshadowed — literally — by dresses and other clothing. “Ninety-five-plus percent of [the time], women are wearing long dresses, and the shoes are hidden,” stylist Madison Guest says. “You feel so bad, because there’s these amazing shoes under those gowns.”
Red-carpet fashion is changing, hastened by virtual and semivirtual awards shows during the pandemic. Traditional red-carpet images have been replaced, temporarily, with pictures via at-home photo shoots and outfits that range from full-on gowns to sweats and pajamas.
These shifts are a big opportunity for footwear, stylists say.
Take the 2020 Emmys, for example. Tracee Ellis Ross showed off her glam look on a DIY red carpet in her backyard — her gold Jimmy Choo heels making a statement alongside an Alexandre Vauthier gown. Samira Wiley paired Olivia von Halle pajamas with Sophia Webster shoes, taking the look from comfy to chic.
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Are virtual awards shows allowing celebrities, stylists and designers to be even more creative in their footwear choices? “A million percent; there’s no doubt about it,” stylist Andrew Gelwicks says.
Case in point: Gelwicks styled Catherine O’Hara for the 2020 Emmys, and instead of pairing her tea-length Valentino dress with heels, Gelwicks and O’Hara opted for combat boots. “It was this edgy, chic, kind of unexpected moment, which is what fashion is all about,” Gelwicks explains. “I don’t think we really would get away with doing combat boots on a regular Emmys carpet.”
Stylist Andrew Gelwicks styled Catherine O’Hara for the 2020 Emmys, and instead of pairing her tea-length Valentino dress with heels, Gelwicks and O’Hara opted for combat boots. (Ana Sorys)
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Kalu points to the curated nature of at-home photo shoots as part of the reason shoes are enjoying some extra time in the sun this awards season. He styled Yvonne Orji for a virtual appearance at last year’s Emmys, pairing an Azzi & Osta gown and Christian Louboutin heels.
On Instagram, the details of the shoes were on full display — more than they otherwise would have been on the red carpet. “Sometimes you may not get that detail on the carpet of the shoe, like you may not have seen that little bow,” Kalu explains. “By [the awards show] being virtual, it allowed us to really curate more of the experience and tell the fashion story from head to toe.”
Shoe designer Ruthie Davis has felt the sea change, too. She’s been leaning into bright colors to add a jolt of positivity in an otherwise bleak time. “If I can put a smile on a woman’s face because she has a pretty blue shoe for spring that makes her happy, that’s my job,” Davis says. “So, when I planned my spring ’21 collection, I decided to make color really important.”
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This trend will probably be seen on the red carpet, Davis says. “Historically, at award shows the shoes are not colorful; they’re usually very muted tones. And I think this year you’re going to see a lot of colorful pops of color in the shoe.”
Laverne Cox’s stylist has shown particular interest in Davis’ “blue atoll”-colored shoes, Davis says, and may let the shoes determine the rest of Cox’s look, rather than the other way around. “I showed the color to [Cox’s] stylist. And she was like, hold the front door … all of a sudden, she’s gonna find a dress that works with my shoes.”
In addition to bright colors, “you’re going to see some people really letting loose,” Davis predicts. “You’re gonna see chunky sneakers with a gown, you know? It’s actually going to be a great season for footwear.”
Ruthie Davis Trophy Deluxe silver platforms worn by Lady Gaga. (Michael Keel)
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And, even if we move away from the pajama photo shoots of the summer, comfort will probably remain a priority in red carpet footwear. “People are not into frivolous things,” Davis says. “Whether it’s something very avant-garde or something more casual, it’s going to be comfortable and functional.”
Guest agrees, predicting we’ll see chunky heels and lug soles this awards season. “If we have any form of a traditional red carpet, I think you’re going to see shoes that look a bit more comfortable and less ‘beauty is pain,’” she explains.
An emphasis on comfort — without sacrificing style — makes sense, given the past year. And it dovetails Davis’ philosophy. “My shoes give height, they fit well, they feel like you’re held in tight.”
With pride in her voice, Davis remembers a time Lady Gaga wore her shoes: “Look at how she’s walking, so proud, so tall and so comfortable. And that’s because she’s got my shoes.”