Furious 'The Bachelorette' fans call Sam McKinney a 'jerk' for his comments after Matt Rossi's exit
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND: 'The Bachelorette's Jenn Tran admired ex Matt Rossi's sweet gesture in an attempt to get her back, but eventually let him go. However, they believe things would have gone much more smoothly if Sam McKinney had been courteous to Matt when he arrived to say his goodbyes.
'The Bachelorette's' remaining suitors weren't happy to learn that Jenn's ex had flown to New Zealand to compete for her love during the show's Monday, August 5 broadcast. After surprising Jenn in the previous week's episode, Matt got ready and went to the cocktail party.
If she allowed Matt to stay, a number of her suitors—including one of her front-runners, Devin Strader—threatened to leave the show. Following their conversation, Matt informed the men that he was leaving the concert because Jenn had advised him to go home.
“I just wanted to take a second to let you guys know I did come here completely on my own volition, but she let me know her future’s in this room,” he stated.
“She feels confident that you guys can offer something I can’t, and I’m just here to apologize, I’m not here to take anything away from your experience. I wish you all the best. I wish her the best.”
However, Sam M tried to let some steam out before Matt's exit which sure rubbed Bachelor Nation the wrong way. On X, fans noted, "Matt really brought Sam M and Devin together… all it takes is mutual hatred loll." Others argued, "Sam M. really could’ve just stayed quiet but he just had to be a jerk. Matt was respectful enough to apologize and wish y’all the best."
Matt really brought Sam M and Devin together… all it takes is mutual hatred loll #TheBachelorette
— medha (@dontblamemedha) August 6, 2024
Sam M. really could’ve just stayed quiet but he just had to be a jerk. Matt was respectful enough to apologize and wish y’all the best. #TheBachelorette
— 𝑨𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒂 ᥫ᭡ (@aaliciabb) August 6, 2024
One user tweeted, "Sam unnecessarily piping up to respectful sweet Matt had me wanting to jump through the tv screen and just-" A fourth viewer asked, "1. Matt didn’t need to go talk to the guys. 2. Why is Sam talking? Shut up!"
Sam unnecessarily piping up to respectful sweet Matt had me wanting to jump through the tv screen and just-#TheBachelorette pic.twitter.com/Mh2NDFtqPV
— parks (@ParkerRhiannonn) August 6, 2024
1. Matt didn’t need to go talk to the guys. 2. Why is Sam talking? Shut up! #TheBachelorette
— Jess ♑️ (@Jemag106) August 6, 2024
One user sighed, "Matt flew alllllllll the way to new zealand for a failed situationship just to be turned away and sassed by effing SAM." Another person slammed Sam writing, "Sam went and ruined it, Matt was being pretty stand up."
matt flew alllllllll the way to new zealand for a failed situationship just to be turned away and sassed by effing SAM #TheBachelorette pic.twitter.com/bMqhdzmqDm
— bach thoughts 😶🌫️🌹 (@scoobydoesnt) August 6, 2024
Sam went and ruined it, Matt was being pretty stand up #TheBachelorette
— R Weaver (@kingoflakemoor) August 6, 2024
Matt Rossi tries to woo 'The Bachelorette' Season 21 lead Jenn Tran
Jenn questioned Matt about why he decided to reenter her life during their conversation.
“I mean, it’s severely now or never,” he answered. “You’re leaving this thing engaged. There’s no flexibility there.”
Matt explained how he came to feel that way about her when Jenn said she didn't realize he "felt that way" about her.
“I would say it did happen all at once, but over time, finding us coming back together, I just saw things in you that just made things so deep,” he stated.
“[When] we first really tried things out, we were much different people. We were not the adults that we are today. And I just feel like, as we’ve grown into more adults over time, we’ve just found this bond growing stronger, and I hope that you can see how much that you mean to me. I’m just not ready to let it go.”
Jenn responded, “This is hard for me, because you know how much I care about you.”
Jenn Tran feels torn about letting Matt Rossi join 'The Bachelorette' Season 21
In retrospect, Jenn said of her relationship with Matt that they "had a lot of great times together" and are "just compatible in a lot of different ways."
“At the same time, I’ve been dating these 11 guys, I feel torn,” she stated in a confessional. “I’m fighting between this past versus this newness. I don’t want to hurt anyone, but I have to make a decision.”
Why did 'The Bachelorette's Jenn Tran and Matt Rossi break up?
Jenn discussed her connection with Matt in a TikTok video from 2023, referring to him as "Wiener Boy" because he posts about his wiener dog on social media.
She began dating Matt three years ago, when she relocated to Boston straight out of college in 2020.
Jenn expressed that she was "completely head over heels in love with him." However, Jenn's ex abandoned her after only three months.
She was upset by the separation, but the unexpected split motivated her to attend a physician's assistant school in Miami. When Matt arrived in New Zealand, Jenn stated that they had just "reconnected" as friends following their split.
'The Bachelorette' Season 21 airs on ABC on Mondays at 8 pm ET.