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'The Bachelorette' Season 21: Jenn Tran opens up about her ‘toxic’ ex and 'emotional abuse'

Both Jenn Tran and Jonathon Johnson opened up about their tumultuous past relationships during the one-on-one date in 'The Bachelorette' Season 21

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND: Jenn Tran took Jonathon Johnson on a helicopter ride for her first one-on-one date of the week. During the flight, the creative director and Season 21 lead of 'The Bachelorette' opened up about their past relationships, leaving Bachelor Nation stunned by their revelations.

After Jenn proposed a toast at dinner to"getting to know each other a lot deeper," Jonathan expressed his difficulty in trusting her due to a past relationship. He mentioned that in that previous relationship, she tended to "self-medicate and abuse alcohol."

Jenn understood Jonathan's concerns. “I can relate to you more than you know,” she told Jonathan. Having experienced emotional abuse herself, Jenn shared that she understands the weight of carrying such burdens longer than one would wish.

Jenn said, “I did have a toxic ex-boyfriend in the same way, gaslit me all the time and was manipulative. I think when you’re in an emotionally abusive relationship, it really takes a toll on you.”

Shocked viewers took to X, expressing their disbelief, "Jenn's ex gaslit her and tried to tell her racism isn't real????? wtf." Another person chimed in, "Someone saying “racism is fake” is so insane…"

One fan asked, "Who is Jenn's toxic ex lmao racism isn't real and all these other things aren't real????" Another fan noted, "Whichever ex-boyfriend of Jenn told her racism was fake and she wasn’t experiencing it I stg."

One fan wrote, "Ugh I suspect that some of Jenn's top-choice men (particularly from things floating around on social media) are NOT going to respect her perspectives on racism & sexism, please test these men in fantasy suites girl." Another added, "Jenn talking about her experiences with racism and sexism……. Jenn sending her so much love."

Does Jonathon Johnson and Jenn Tran get engaged in 'The Bachelorette' Season 21?

Reality Steve claims that during Week 8 of 'The Bachelorette' Season 21, Jenn sent Jonathon home after Fantasy Suites and did not choose him as her final pick. Instead, Jenn selected Devin Strader, a 28-year-old freight company owner from Rosenberg, Texas, as her winner. Marcus Shoberg, a 31-year-old Cloquet, Minnesota, resident and former Army Ranger, came in second place.

Who is Jonathon Johnson in 'The Bachelorette' Season 21?

Jonathon, a 27-year-old Creative Director from Kansas City, Missouri, is one of the 25 contestants vying for Jenn's affection on 'The Bachelorette' Season 21. He made a memorable entrance on Night One by arriving in a medical gown, with a bandage around his face and his bare buttocks exposed, setting himself apart from the other contenders.

Later that night, Jonathon revealed his face to Jenn, and the Bachelorette complimented him on his looks. According to his LinkedIn profile, Jonathan started working at TheLag, a creative firm, in 2023, where he holds the roles of Creative Director and Producer. He also mentions working for TikTok as a UGC content creator and strategist.

In addition to his roles as a Creative Director and TikTok content creator, Jonathan worked as a recruiter at Alpine Solutions Group from 2021 to 2023. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, and Graphic Design from Chapman University, earned in 2018. In 2020, he received a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Advertising from Grand Canyon University.

Who is 'The Bachelorette' Season 21 lead Jenn Tran's ex?

On 'The Bachelorette', Jenn shared that she reconnected with her ex-boyfriend, Matt Rossi, following their three-year breakup. She clarified that he was not among the "toxic" ex-partners she had previously mentioned on the show.

Matt, who is 28 years old, hails from Boston, Massachusetts. Like Jenn, whose parents immigrated from Vietnam, Matt's parents are immigrants from Italy. His mother runs a hair salon, while his father operates an Italian restaurant in New Hampshire.

Despite being introduced on 'The Bachelorette' with a chyron, Matt—also known as Matty—has a diverse background and is gaining popularity on social media. In addition to his other pursuits, he works as an 'insurance executive.'

Matt was featured in a March 2024 YouTube podcast, where he was described as an accomplished brand marketer with a strong track record in the food and beverage industry. For the past four years, he has worked at the Boston Beer Company, most recently as the brand manager for Truly Hard Seltzer.

For the past year, he has developed a devoted social media following thanks to his imaginative and lighthearted lifestyle material, which frequently includes his hilarious and adorable [dog], Kirkland.

'The Bachelorette' Season 21 airs on Mondays on ABC at 8 pm ET