The Bachelor star Grant Ellis has teased how he navigated emotionally charged fantasy suites with his final three ladies in an exclusive interview with Parade.
As fans of the reality show know, Grant chose Juliana Pasquarosa, Litia Garr, and Zoe McGrady to share the fantasy suites episode with him. Usually, that show before the grand finale can be make or break for the star and his contestants.
Grant and his women must decide whether to go behind closed doors for off-camera private time. Fantasy suites experiences vary and have included making love or merely having deep conversations with no one watching.
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This season, it’s clear that there will be controversy around fantasy suites. During the hometown episode, Litia, a Mormon, privately told her mother, “I’m not going to sleep with him.” She also said it would hurt her feelings if Grant slept with others.
Backstage at the taping of “The Women Tell All” special, Grant told Parade how he wrestled with the often difficult (and not always sweet) suites problem!
While keeping exact details close to his vest, Grant said, “I think that fantasy suites I handled very well. I think that looking back, you have to know that if you do end up with somebody, they are going to watch all that [back] and you never want to get into sticky situations. I feel like I handled it well and I really controlled myself.”
In an interview before Season 29 began, Ellis also had noted to Parade, “I think any time physical intimacy is involved, it can enhance feelings so I really tried to wait because I didn’t want to make a decision off of that and be confused.”
Related: Everything We Know About The Bachelor Grant Ellis and Season 29
Reflecting on how important last week’s hometown episode was, which seemed to wreck the chances of his final four lady Dina Lupancu, Grant said, “It definitely plays a factor in the decision. Because you’re meeting people’s families but with all the ladies. It was great all of them introduced me into their lives. It was perfect.”
The day trader, 31, also offered Parade his thoughts on the strengths of his final three women. He praised Black tech engineer/model Zoe, who was adopted into a white family. Zoe revealed on the hometowns episode that she was estranged from her parents.
“I saw something in Zoe that made me want to help build her, because she’d been through so much, and I am somebody who’s a giver,” Grant said. “And maybe the audience didn’t see that because they don’t think like me, or somebody might question it. But I saw somebody who had confidence but who went through certain things, and I wanted to be the one to help her. That’s something that explains why, without having a one-on-one with her [before hometowns], I saw potential. I saw strength in a woman of color who went through prejudice. Every group date, she won. She didn’t get the time she deserved, but always fought back and won. That’s why I brought Zoe to where she was, and I thought those are characteristics in a wife that’d be tremendous.”
(Disney)
Grant, a former basketball player, called Juliana “so real, so solid. She had qualities I saw. She was real, she wore her heart on her sleeve, she was a straight shooter and that’s something that you need as a man.”
Related: Will The Bachelor Star Grant Ellis Go Onto ‘Dancing with the Stars’? (Exclusive)
(Disney)
According to Grant, “Litia’s amazing. She’s so sweet and she’s so beautiful and she’s nurturing. Her family’s great.”
(Disney/Matt Sayles)
Grant teased of the grand finale episode, “I think fans are going to see a man that was really emotional and put his heart out there. That’s what happens when you put your heart out there. You know that you’re torn between your head and your heart and you have to figure out what’s going to be the best decision for you and also how to handle it to where it’s the best decision for the ladies that are involved in this.”
When asked if he’d made the right decision, Grant responded, “Of course. If I could do it again, I would do the same thing. I was looking for the best connection. I went in there, who do I feel the strongest with?”
For more on the events of the season and what’s coming up in Grant’s final episodes, watch “The Women Tell All” special tonight on ABC at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Related: The Real Reason Why Dina Lupancu’s Parents Refused to Do a Hometown Visit on ‘The Bachelor’ (Exclusive)
