'The Bachelorette' Season 21 viewers call out Thomas Nguyen for his disruptive behavior with ABC co-stars
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND: Thomas Nguyen, a 31-year-old retirement consultant from Tucker, Georgia, is more consumed by the drama involving others than by his relationship with Jenn Tran.
More of the same unfolded in 'The Bachelorette' Season 21, Episode 4 when Thomas and Sam Nejad got into another argument. During the episode, Thomas pulled Sam aside for a tense conversation.
!['The Bachelorette' Season 21 contestant Thomas Nguyen is a retirement advisor (ABC/John Fleenor)](https://d6ehjqrqtzoun.cloudfront.net/431bbac8-d234-4d93-b56e-98fd1e61ba63.jpg)
To be honest, Thomas could barely get out more than "Listen, bro," before Sam N immediately began lecturing him on how he should be focusing on talking to Jenn instead. Thomas dismissed the advice, quoting his idol, Sam McKinney, saying, "I’m gonna keep the main thing the main thing. I know what Jenn wants, and she wants that ferocious love."
Although there was an early connection between Thomas and Jenn, it seems unlikely that he will be able to build a lasting relationship with her that leads to an engagement.
On X, one angry fan wrote, "Thomas repeating all of Sam M's catch phrases." Another fan added, "Did Thomas just say "let's keep the main thing the main thing"? it's a VIRUS."
Thomas repeating all of Sam M's catch phrases #TheBachelorette pic.twitter.com/s6Rnl9t7yB
— Emily Haswell (@myemtv) July 30, 2024
did thomas just say "let's keep the main thing the main thing"? it's a VIRUS #TheBachelorettepic.twitter.com/eu4H6HeURG
— kate kush 🍃 (@thotcheetoes) July 30, 2024
One fan wrote, "NOT THOMAS SAYING “GOTTA KEEP THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING” AND “FEROCIOUS LOVE” I JUST GOT MAJOR ICK." Another fan added quipped, "Lmao who nominated Thomas to do this season’s confrontations? He gets ate up every time it’s so funny."
NOT THOMAS SAYING “GOTTA KEEP THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING” AND “FEROCIOUS LOVE” I JUST GOT MAJOR ICK #TheBachelorette
— ATEEZ PCD ♡ (@JustMeGinaxo) July 30, 2024
Lmao who nominated Thomas to do this season’s confrontations? He gets ate up every time it’s so funny #TheBachelorette
— Aussie (@aussieg23) July 30, 2024
One critic added, "AND THOMAS N........ THE FACT THAT YOU ARE THE ONLY ASIAN MALE REPRESENTATIVE THIS SEASON.......... BUT YOUR SHOWING ASS OFF, AND ACTING SO IMMATURELY........" Another added, "Thomas N is weird as hell for inserting himself again. AND THEN HE THROWS ON THE GREY SWEATER???"
AND THOMAS N........
— KaMorian (Sparkling Alien 💫) (@ka_morian0121) July 30, 2024
THE FACT THAT YOU ARE THE ONLY ASIAN MALE REPRESENTATIVE THIS SEASON..........
BUT YOUR SHOWING ASS OFF, AND ACTING SO IMMATURELY........ 😐😐😐#TheBachelorette #BachelorNation pic.twitter.com/hf1GKY0Rgs
Thomas N is weird as hell for inserting himself again. AND THEN HE THROWS ON THE GREY SWEATER???#TheBachelorette
— your favorite pagan (@ashbazile) July 30, 2024
Thomas Nguyen became 'The Bachelorette' Season 21 villain
Though Thomas's argument with Devin Strader in episode two overshadowed their bond, they initially connected during 'The Bachelorette' Season 21 premiere through their shared Vietnamese heritage and the sacrifices made by their immigrant parents. Thomas was furious because he felt that the guys who hadn't yet had a chance to spend time with Jenn deserved the opportunity before Devin took her away.
Instead of spending time with Jenn, Thomas confronted Devin and argued with him in front of her. Jenn warned Thomas that he was undermining her autonomy by making decisions for her. In episode three, when Thomas and Sam M mocked Sam N for confessing his love to Jenn, Thomas’s behavior cast him in a more negative light.
!['The Bachelorette' contestant Thomas Nguyen wastes time arguing with Devin Strader instead of Jenn Tran (ABC)](https://d6ehjqrqtzoun.cloudfront.net/969444f3-7697-4181-a130-bb1240441e76.png)
Who is Thomas Nguyen in 'The Bachelorette' Season 21?
Thomas represented Vietnam as a professional swimmer until he retired from the pool. Thomas revealed that he had aimed to compete in the 2016 Olympics but had to withdraw due to a rotator cuff tear.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Thomas currently works as an insurance agent and retirement specialist. At their first meeting, he made a strong impression on Jenn with a joke and a bracelet featuring his surname.
!['The Bachelorette' Season 21 star Thomas Nguyen (Instagram/the_thomaswin)](https://d6ehjqrqtzoun.cloudfront.net/c02188aa-d9bf-41e6-9210-a2b2a0a994e5.jpg)
'The Bachelorette' Jenn Tran and 'Thomas Nguyen connected over their immigrant parents
During their initial conversations, Thomas and Jenn bonded over their shared experiences as children of immigrants.
"My mum dropped out of pharmaceutical school to take on another job to sponsor her whole family over from Vietnam," Thomas said. "I’ve watched my parents fight for each other, and I want a marriage like that," he later revealed to the cameras.
"Before I put a ring on it," he stated. "I want to put a bracelet on it with my last name so, by the end of the journey, we can turn us into a ‘Nguyen-Nguyen’ situation."
"It’s not every day that you get to bond with somebody on your immigrant parents, and you get to connect with somebody on that level because not everybody can understand that," Jenn said in an interview with Glamour about how significant her first discussion with Thomas was to her.
"That was a really special conversation for me because he really understood where I was coming from, and my family means everything to me,” she continued.
![Jenn Tran applauds 'The Bachelorette' Season 21 star Thomas Nguyen (Instagram/jenntranx/the_thomaswin)](https://d6ehjqrqtzoun.cloudfront.net/09361278-c735-428b-bb3d-9962ece6d347.png)
New episodes of 'The Bachelorette' Season 21 air on Mondays at 8 pm ET on ABC, and are available on Hulu the following day.