The 29th season of The Bachelor came to a dramatic close, and it’s safe to say not all viewers are celebrating. Grant Ellis, a 31-year-old day trader and former professional basketball player, made his final pick between the two remaining contestants: Juliana Pasquarosa and Litia Garr.
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Despite weeks of intimate moments and emotional declarations, Grant’s ultimate choice has left many fans outraged. The finale may have delivered the drama viewers expect, but the backlash has been swift — with social media ablaze and many questioning the sincerity of his intentions. Was it love, indecision, or simply a poorly timed switch?
Grant’s last-minute decision has fans in an uproar
After narrowing down 25 women to just two, Grant had viewers guessing right up until the final moments of The Bachelor finale. With the Dominican Republic as the backdrop, the episode followed his final dates with Juliana and Litia. However, his growing indecision became clear as the finale progressed.
When asked to choose who would be brought in first, Grant sent in Litia. What followed was a tearful breakup that viewers are calling 'brutal.' Despite kissing her moments before, Grant told Litia:
I'm not your person.
Litia, visibly blindsided, asked him when things changed for them and added:
The things you've said to me all along the way make this decision that you've made so much more devastating. For me, the switchup is crazy.
Grant denied that he changed his mind last-minute, saying but also admitted that it came down to the ‘final day and I had to make a decision.’
Fans were quick to rally behind Litia. Social media exploded with commentary. One user wrote:
Grant is the worst bachelor in history.
Another posted:
litia I WILL AVENGE YOU
Others expressed disbelief that even after seeing everything that went down between Litia and Grant, Juliana is still with him. One said:
The shade that Litia throw tonight regarding Grant’s indecisiveness prior to proposal, and the way she called Grant out on everything he said to her, I’m shocked Julianna is still with Grant!
However the divisive reaction to the finale, and the major backlash Grant has received, hasn't impact his relationship with Juliana. The two are still engaged, according to MailOnline.
Now that this season of the Bachelor has come to an end, a rather controversial one at that, here's a look at who Grant Ellis was before his stint on the popular show and who he has dated before landing the woman of his dreams, and his now fiancée.
Who is Grant Ellis? From pro athlete to reality TV star
Born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, Grant Ellis later relocated to Houston, Texas. At 6-foot-4, Ellis played basketball at multiple universities and eventually went pro in the Dominican Republic. His career was cut short by injury, according to Forbes.
Now working as a day trader, Ellis has often spoken about resilience. He said on The Viall Files podcast:
S&P 500 ... that's the only instrument I trade. I studied and went all in.
The first three years, I lost everything that I had in the market, but I stuck at it. It's a process that tests who you are. It tests your resilience and your ability to weather the storm.
His journey to reality TV began unexpectedly as his mother signed him up for The Bachelorette. Reportedly, he had just come out of a seven-year relationship and was taking time to focus on himself. He shared on Live with Kelly and Mark:
And then my mom, she saw The Golden Bachelor, and she signed me up.
That’s when I was like, I’m going to do it. Might find my person, might not, but that’s how it happened.
He was a fan favourite on Jenn Tran’s season of The Bachelorette, even though he was eliminated in week 6.
Despite not making it to hometowns, Ellis said:
I want to be happy. I want a wife. I want to be in love.
I want to give everything to somebody, and I want them to give everything to me in return. I don't know what else to say.
Not much is known about his family, but his only sibling, Taylor Ellis, is also in the public eye. Known professionally as Loreal Ellis, she is a model signed with Ford Models, having appeared in Marie Claire and InStyle Mexico. Grant briefly mentioned their relationship on The Viall Files, noting:
For a long time, me and my sister weren’t super tight.
A look into his past relationships
Grant Ellis has had his fair share of relationship ups and downs. Before entering The Bachelor spotlight, he was in a long-term relationship that lasted seven years. On The Viall Files, he reflected:
We were pretty strong, but people ultimately grow apart.
The trajectory of what I was trying to do and where I was trying to go with my life and my goals and visions just ended up creating a rift in the relationship, and then we agreed to separate.
The breakup, while painful, taught him a lot. He said:
It was a lesson in my life, and although it was painful, a lot of times the most painful experiences you grow from.
The end of that relationship led him to focus on personal growth, particularly emotional intelligence. That theme continued during his brief romance with Jenn Tran on The Bachelorette. Ellis opened up about falling for her, only to be sent home just before the pivotal hometown dates. He confessed after his elimination:
It just sucks knowing that you feel some way about somebody, and they don’t feel the same about you.
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Sources used:
MailOnline: ‘Worst Bachelor ever' Grant Ellis under fire over his cruel act during finale
Forbes: Who Is The Bachelor Grant Ellis? Here’s Everything To Know
Daily Express US: Grant Ellis admits seven-year relationship with ex was ‘most painful experience’
The Sun: Who is Grant Ellis’ ex-girlfriend Jenn Tran and how long did she date The Bachelor?
