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'The Bachelor' Season 28 star Maria Georgas receives internet wrath over 'manipulative' move to secure rose from Joey Graziadei

'The Bachelor' Season 28 star Joey Graziadei sparks doubt about Maria Georgas after contestant's dramatic meltdown

JASPER, CANADA: 'The Bachelor' Season 28 contestant Maria Georgas played her best move to win Joey Graziadei's rose and she apparently succeded in the game. During the episode, Maria and Joey enjoyed a group date with other ABC show contestants, Jenn Trann, Kelsey Toussant, and Rachel Nance.

The women participated in a relay-style competition featuring log rolling, running, and chugging elk milk. After the competition, Jenn and Joey shared a kiss leaving Maria questioning the whole 'The Bachelor' process. Maria told Joey that she wasn't sure if she could be with him anymore after he continued to develop romance with other women in the villa.

Joey was 'shocked' by Maria's confession and responded, "It's not my job to pull that out of you or to force it... If I'm being honest my heart understands, but my brain doesn't get it." He was worried that Maria would leave him in the middle of the show and asked, "Is your mind made up?" Maria tearfully responded, "I think it is," and left the coach. She cried in the corner and tried to decide her future.

Maria returned to the couch and told Joey, "Sorry, I just had a moment." She admitted that she overreacted to the situation and apologized to Joey, claiming she wanted to stay. However, the viewers left furious with Maria's drama and called her out over her 'manipulative' move. A social media user tweeted, "She tried to manipulate him into picking her girl gtfo!!! She just hoed herself!!"

Another X user wrote, "Maria thought she could throw that little hissy fit to manipulate Joey, but it backfired. What did she expect him to do; get rid of all the other women? She's horrible." Another person added, "Maria pissed me off with that young immature move she polled tonight with Joey now that little girl game she played should just send her packing. We were rooting for you girl!! You blew it."

Another critic said, "Seems like Maria wanted Joey to shut down any possibility of leaving but when he didn’t that she had to retract & rethink of a new approach." Another viewer shared, "Unpopular but Maria is manipulating. Her second time faking leaving. Her eye roll when Jenn was upset about not getting a solo date. Her smiling bc no one got a rose because she put her two cents in. Maria is low key villain."

Joey Graziadei sparks doubt after Maria Georgas' drama

After her dramatic meltdown, Joey Graziadei gave a second thought about the future with Maria Georgas. Joey reassured Maria that they had a strong connection but later admitted in the confessional, "I'm feeling conflicted." He explained that he wasn't confident that Maria could invest in their future.

Despite Maria's apology, Joey was unsure about their future and questioned, "Am I just being an idiot?" He added, "Am I investing in these women that maybe don’t see it with me?" Maria's drama affected other contestants as Joey asked for 'more time' to give the group date rose. Additionally, he cancelled the cocktail event and ditched more separate times with the remaining women in the villa.

Did Maria Georgas receive Joey Graziadei's rose?

'The Bachelor' Season 28 contestant Maria Georgas received Joey Graziadei's rose despite the drama. Before the rose ceremony, Joey pulled out Maria for a chat and told her, "Last time I left you, you were on your way out, and I don’t want to be sitting here and begging you to stay." He added, "I want to feel confident that you want to be here."

However, Maria assured Joey that she would not back off and claimed, "I like you a lot, to the point where I don’t like seeing you with any of these girls, you know?" She explained, "My insecurities got the best of me and that’s where that stemmed from. But I’m here and I want to be here."

'The Bachelor' Season 28 airs episodes every Monday at 8 pm ET on ABC, and is available for streaming on Hulu the following day.