Grant Ellis has officially handed out his final rose. After an emotional rollercoaster on the Monday, March 24, finale of The Bachelor, the 31-year-old made his decision, ending things with Litia before getting engaged to Juliana in a heartfelt proposal. However, the night wasn’t without its fair share of drama.
After struggling with his emotions all season, Grant Ellis faced his toughest decision yet: choosing between Juliana and Litia. On proposal day, he broke the news to Litia that he wouldn’t be choosing her, despite their strong connection.
“I love you very much. I want to give you everything you deserve, but I’m not your person,” Grant told Litia. “I’m sorry that it got to this point. My emotional connection is farther somewhere else.”
Clearly hurt by the decision, Litia demanded answers. “When did it change?” she asked. Grant insisted that it hadn’t changed but that he had ultimately fallen harder for someone else. “I hope you don’t look at me differently,” he added.
“Well, I do, for sure,” Litia fired back, expressing her frustration. She also hinted that Juliana should have questions about Grant’s sincerity, given how things had played out. As Grant walked her to the car, she let him know exactly how she felt: “The switch-up is crazy. I’m disappointed. … I just want to be so clear that I’m confused and I’m sad. And I’m mad.”
During the live portion of the show, Litia didn’t hold back. She revealed that Grant had told her on their dates that she was his “No. 1 emotional connection” and that he could have ended the show early because of how strong his feelings were.
Grant joined her on stage, where she shared even more shocking details, including that he had given her a journal to write in so they could read it together at the end of the show. She called him out for speaking too soon and for lacking transparency. “There was no transparency,” she said firmly. Grant apologized, admitting he may have spoken too confidently about his feelings.
Back in the Dominican Republic, Juliana arrived unaware of what had just transpired. She told Grant she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. In a heartfelt proposal, Grant expressed his love and commitment.
“Through this whole journey, you’ve been someone who has inspired me,” he told her. “I truly believe that you are somebody who is my best friend, and I’m so grateful for our journey. … I’ll be there for you as your man, as your friend, as your partner. Juliana, will you marry me?”
Juliana, through happy tears, said, “A million times yes.”
Throughout the episode, Grant struggled with his decision, having told both women that he loved them. His parents met both Juliana and Litia, and the Bachelor was left torn. “I went to bed last night thinking I knew what I wanted, but I woke up and realized I don’t,” he confessed.
His father stepped in to offer advice, reminding Grant to follow his heart. “I’m just scared that when I leave here, things will be different,” Grant admitted. His father reassured him that fear is normal, but it shouldn’t keep him from making a decision.
Grant’s indecision was a focal point all season, with host Jesse Palmer teasing that the final choice came down to the wire. In a previous interview, Grant shed light on the emotional weight of his role as The Bachelor.
“There were external factors that played into me being hesitant. You don’t wanna hurt people,” he explained. “You have a lot of weight in terms of being a lead of a different ethnic group. There’s a different level of pressure that comes with being a man of color in this role — and a different expectation. It leads to some added thinking that deserves a little extra time.”
Ultimately, Grant followed his heart, choosing Juliana for his future. And what does that future look like? He’s hoping for two kids—“preferably a boy and a girl, but if I have two girls or two boys, it doesn’t matter.” He also expressed a willingness to relocate for love. “If things play out the way they should, I’ll do whatever is gonna make us happy.”
As for whether he regrets how things unfolded, Grant stands by his choices. “I don’t live with regret. I’m very happy, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The Bachelor journey may be over, but the love story is just beginning. The season finale continues with “After the Final Rose” on ABC.
