HOME / ENTERTAINMENT / REALITY TV

'The Bachelorette' Season 21 producers face backlash for making suitors strip on national TV

Fans cringed at Jenn Tran's group date as suitors stripped down on 'The Bachelorette' Season 21

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA: On Tuesday, July 23 episode of 'The Bachelorette', Devin Strader, Dylan Buckor, Grant Ellis, John Mitchell, Jonathon Johnson, Marcus Shoberg, Sam McKinney, Sam Nejad, Thomas Nguyen, and Tomas Azzano were chosen for the first group date of Week 3. If a competition arose, Sam McKinney was ready to go head-to-head with Devin.

The boys learned routines from male strippers and were required to perform a striptease for the date. Jenn Tran was impressed by the "sexual tension" she felt with Sam McKinney, while Sam Nejad was initially hesitant and ended up injuring his thumb during the exercise.

The boys discovered they would have to perform live after the daytime portion of the date. Jenn encouraged them to "show [their] personalities" rather than stress about being the best stripper.

Uncomfortable viewers took to X with one writing, "All jokes aside the male stripper group date is absolutely absurd. Can you imagine if they made a group of women do this like it’s just insane that’s all I have to say."

Another added, "Here me out Bachelor Producers, you don’t need to sexualize men on a group date to make them ‘get out of their comfort zones.’ 

One user said, "What’s the point of this group date?? Lmao So cringy.." Anoother wrote , "This is the ickiest group of men that has ever been cast on."

One critic noted, "Okay Bachelor producers. The Thunder from Down Under guys are hot, yes. But I’d love for dates where you force contestants to strip against their will to stop being a thing." Another said, "I’ve said it before but I am not a fan of these types of group dates where contestants have to strip down and put themselves out there in a way they might not want to."

Jonathon Johnson wins contest in 'The Bachelorette' Season 21 Week 3

Jenn was thrilled to see Marcus's "spicy" side following their previous one-on-one date. While Sam N was uneasy throughout the evening, no one was prepared for the statement he made on stage. Sam M, on the other hand, was more confident than ever during the performances, and Devin delivered an impressive show.

He responded, "I see myself getting on one knee for you." "Jenn, I’m already falling in love with you." Sam N earlier made the startling statement that he had never experienced love. "I feel like a fool right now. I feel pathetic. But Jenn is the girl I’m starting to fall in love with," Sam N remarked. Even with that admission, Jonathan emerged victorious in the competition.

Devin Strader opens up about his body issues in 'The Bachelorette' Season 21

Subsequently, Devin confided in Jenn about his past struggles with weight and why he felt it was important to participate in the striptease date. Sam Nejad admitted that there were probably better ways he could have expressed his thoughts, but Jenn encouraged him to be honest and open.

Jenn acknowledged that it was "kind of early" to be falling in love, but she found it comforting to hear Devin’s honest expression. While Devin supported Sam Nejad, Sam McKinney, and Thomas Nguyen were highly critical of his comment.

Who won the group date rose in 'The Bachelorette' Season 21 Week 3?

Sam Nejad said that he wasn't "in love" yet but felt "pathetic" after making that admission. He described it as his way of addressing "the elephant in the room" with the other guys.

After standing up for Sam Nejad, Devin confronted Thomas Nguyen and Sam McKinney once again. Despite the tensions, Devin received the group date rose at the end of the evening.

New episodes of 'The Bachelorette' Season 21 air on Mondays at 8 pm ET on ABC, and are available on Hulu the following day