The emotional finale of “The Bachelorette” featuring Jenn Tran has left fans in shock and stirred a wave of criticism against NEWS. In an unexpected twist, Tran, who made history as the first-ever Asian lead of the show, ended her journey by proposing to Devin Strader — only for him to end their engagement shortly after.
During the finale, it seemed like a fairy tale ending for the 26-year-old Jenn as she shared her plan to propose to Devin, 28, in a surprising move that broke tradition. “I’m not gonna let Devin propose to me today. I’m gonna propose to Devin,” she announced on the Tuesday, September 3rd episode. However, on the “After the Final Rose” special, Jenn opened up about the dramatic change that occurred immediately after their engagement in Hawai’i.
Jenn revealed, “As soon as we had left Hawai’i, things were just different.” She sensed Devin pulling away from the promises he made, like moving in together and planning their future. Communication dwindled, and Jenn felt “confused” and abandoned. Then, in a shocking turn of events, she received a call from Devin where he confessed, “I don’t love you anymore and don’t feel the same way,” expressing regret over the engagement.
The devastating phone call, which took place in August while the season was still airing, marked the end of their engagement. Jenn shared her hurt and frustration, saying, “We were full-blown engaged and in love, and now you’re ignoring my texts like I mean nothing to you.” On the live stage, she accused Devin of moving on too quickly, pointing to his actions of “clubbing” and following new girls on Instagram, including former Bachelor contestant Maria Georgas.
The drama continued as Maria Georgas, who had reportedly declined the leading role on “The Bachelorette” before it was offered to Jenn, was mentioned, adding another layer of tension to the story. Jenn expressed feeling betrayed, stating, “It completely invalidated our entire relationship.”
Devin admitted his doubts about their relationship and acknowledged he was “not able to live up” to Jenn’s expectations, though he didn’t elaborate further. The emotional tension peaked when host Jesse Palmer asked Jenn if she was ready to re-watch the proposal. Her reluctant response, “Do I have a choice?” set the tone for what followed.
As the proposal footage aired, cameras captured Jenn’s raw emotion as she cried beside Devin. Fans criticized the show’s producers for forcing her to relive the painful moment on live TV, calling it insensitive and exploitative. The finale marked a bittersweet end to Jenn Tran’s journey on “The Bachelorette,” leaving viewers with a mix of emotions and unanswered questions.
