Where is Sam McKinney now? ‘The Bachelorette’ star reflects on past mistakes after elimination from ABC show
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON: In the latest episode of 'The Bachelorette' Season 21, Jenn Tran eliminated three contestants: Sam McKinney, Grant Ellis, and Spencer Conley.
During the episode, Jenn wanted to get clarity about her relationship with Sam after he unexpectedly told her he loved her. Despite his declaration, Jenn was concerned by how sudden and insincere it seemed.
“Nothing sounds genuine to me. I’m nervous that he’s saying things to make me happy, and I just don’t believe him when he says it," Jenn shared in a confessional.
Jenn was disappointed after pushing Sam to discuss his emotions, leading her to send him home early and express regret for investing so much in their relationship. Sam, on the other hand, felt irritated by the conversation and described Jenn's energy as "dull" in his final interview.
After being eliminated from the ABC dating show, Sam posted a video on his Instagram where he talked about his mistakes on the show and expressed gratitude to Jenn Tran for handling his emotions effectively.
"As tough as this was to watch, I’m thankful. Jenn’s fearlessness in all aspects of this process showed me that it was possible for me to open myself back up after my past. Her ability to feel and respond to all of my emotions in every situation was something that I’ve never had. It’s something that gives me hope for the future," he wrote in the caption of the post.
Sam went on to say, "I’m not perfect. And I don’t claim to be. But I do know where my heart is and the love I have inside of me. And I’m looking forward to the day I get to share that with someone.
Thank You ❤️."
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'The Bachelorette' star Sam McKinney slams producers for painting him in negative light
'The Bachelorette' Season 21 contestant Sam McKinney has expressed dissatisfaction with how he was portrayed on the ABC dating show and he believes the editing may have played a role. After a TikTok video surfaced discussing his behavior on the show, Sam commented on the video, hinting that there was more to the story than what was shown.
“Most felt like that and rightfully so. I even felt like that. It was incredibly disheartening to be portrayed in that fashion,” he shared.
Along with this, Sam also mentioned that he was legally restricted from speaking further on the matter.
Jenn responded to Sam's comments during an episode of the 'Love to See It' podcast. “Listen, nobody can put words in your mouth,” she said.
“You are the person that is saying those things, and so ... sometimes, you just gotta take responsibility for the things that are coming out of your mouth," Jenn further added.
'The Bachelorette' star Sam McKinney's family speaks out on bad edit controversy
In July 2024, following revelations about Sam Mckinney's behavior on the show, his mother, Susan McKinney, expressed on Facebook her belief that Sam was unfairly portrayed by producers and that he is a good person regardless of his portrayal.
"Sam is a good guy regardless of how he is portrayed," she wrote in a now-deleted Facebook post.
Sam's father Jeff McKinney shared his thoughts on his personal Facebook page regarding the portrayal of his son on 'The Bachelorette' Season 21. After the initial episodes aired and Sam was labeled as a "villain" and "bully" by some viewers, Jeff believed that his son was misrepresented in order to justify Jenn's eventual decision on the show.
"I choose my words wisely, I have sat idly by this week watching my son a complete wreck on how he was portrayed. Sam has (mostly) been the favorite with the first impression rose, etc. The spoiler was revealed and (in my opinion) the network had to paint Sam as this horrendous guy in order for Jenn not to look like a complete idiot," he penned in a lengthy post.
Who does Jenn Tran end up with on 'The Bachelorette' Season 21?
According to the speculation spreading across social media platforms, it is rumored that Jenn Tran will be engaged to Devin Strader in the upcoming season finale of 'The Bachelorette' Season 21. Marcus Shoberg is rumored to be one of the final two contestants vying for Jenn's heart, but ultimately, she is rumored to have chosen Devin as her future fiancé. The anticipation and excitement for this potential engagement have fans eagerly awaiting the conclusion of the season.
New episodes of 'The Bachelorette' Season 21 air on Mondays at 8 pm ET on ABC, and are available on Hulu the following day