Bachelorette finale LIVE – Michelle Young slammed for breaking Brandon Jones’ heart by picking Nayte Olukoya
THE Bachelorette Season 18 came to an end with Michelle Young picking her winner - and breaking hearts in the process.
On the Bachelorette finale, Michelle chose between Brandon and Nayte.
While Michelle's family adored Brandon Jones and gushed he was "already part of the family," they had reservations with Nayte Olukoya.
The episode aired on ABC at 8pm ET and ran for three hours.
It arrived after Season 18's highly-anticipated Men Tell All special last week saw host Tayshia Adams walk off the set in tears.
While discussing her "heartbreaking" breakup from former fiance Zac Clark, the host had to get up and leave the stage mid-segment to collect her emotions off-camera.
Read our Bachelorette live blog for the very latest news and updates...
Food is just for show?
Former Bachelor Sean Lowe shared in his book, For The Right Reasons, that the food seen on both the Bachelor and Bachelorette is not actually eaten by contestants.
Lowe claimed that before going on dates, producers sent them food to their hotel rooms, and they ate in their rooms.
“No one looks good eating, and microphones pick up all kinds of chomping,” he wrote.
Who will be the next Bachelor?
Clayton Echard was eliminated from this season of The Bachelorette, but this isn’t the end for the fan-favorite hunk.
Clayton was named the next Bachelor.
He played for the Missouri Tigers in 2012 prior to being drafted for the National Football League four years later.
In 2016 he was signed to the Seattle Seahawks.
It is unclear when he left the NFL but according to his Instagram bio, Clayton is now in orthopedic sales.
His journey to find love will air on ABC in early 2022.
No access to the outside
During the two months that the show films, contestants do not have access to their phones or internet.
Contestants must make arrangements to take care of their finances while they are gone.
How to join The Bachelorette, continued
The second way applicants can apply is via casting call.
Fans can find more information on when and where casting calls are held on .
In-person applicants are asked to fill out a more detailed form with questions about why their past relationships ended, why they want to find love on television, and what they find most attractive, physically and personality-wise, in a future spouse.
Former contestants have also revealed that some casting is done through social media and casting directors have reached out on Instagram.
It’s important to have an open account where producers can access potential candidates the platform.
How to join The Bachelorette
There are two ways to apply to be on The Bachelor or Bachelorette.
Firstly, there is an online application that can be completed at .
The questions on the form for each show are basic, asking for name, age, height, what your occupation is, and if you have been married before or have children.
There is also a question about why you want to be on The Bachelor or Bachelorette. It asks applicants to submit their social media handles and whether or not they know someone else who they think would be good for show.
Michelle felt a ‘connection’ from day one
Moments before accepting Nayte’s proposal, a smiling Michelle told him, “From the moment you stepped out of the limo, I felt there was a connection.
“It was a moment where I was feeling things I didn’t even know was possible to feel. Walking into this, my fear was that I would not be loved as much as I love the other person.
“Through our conversations, there were moments when I felt that fear creeping in. This has not been a smooth ride.
“But I’m also not willing to let that fear stop me from being with you. Because I love you with my whole heart and I don’t want to wake up with anyone besides you and I don’t want to do life with anyone but you.
“I want to be standing with my soulmate and he’s definitely standing right in front of me.”
Nayte’s heartfelt words to Michelle
As Michelle handed the final rose to Nayte, he addressed her, saying: “Through this journey, you’ve shared a lot of vulnerable stuff about your past.
“I know you’ve felt unseen at time but I want you to know that I am willing and ready to show you that you are chosen first, today, tomorrow and the rest of our lives.
“I love you Michelle.”
The Bachelorette recap, weeks 7 – 9
Week 7: This episode of the Bachelorette saw only one elimination. Rodney Mathews was sent home during the rose ceremony in a difficult decision for Michelle Young. He left the show confessing his love for her.
Week 8: And then there was two. The latest episode of the Bachelorette sent Joe home, leaving Nayte and Brandon left, still vying for Michelle’s love into the upcoming finale.
Week 9: Brandon was sent home. Michelle picks Nayte as her fiancée. The bachelorette told Brandon that her “heart is pushing [me] in a different direction from what I feel,” ultimately ending things with the contestant.
The Bachelorette recap, weeks 4 – 6
Week 4: At the rose ceremony at the end of week 4’s episode, Michelle Young chose three men to be eliminated. Chris G., Will and Romeo were sent home without roses. Fans were surprised to see Chris S. stay following the drama that enfolded this episode.
Week 5: At the end of week 5 rose ceremony, Casey and fan-fave Leroy were eliminated. Earlier in the episode, Chris S. was sent home after crashing Michelle and Nayte’s romantic one-on-one date.
Week 6: Clayton Echard was sent home following his one-on-one date with Michelle, although her students chose him as their favorite. Martin Gelbspan got the boot after Michelle heard he called her “immature”. Olumide and Rick were also sent home before the end of the episode.
The Bachelorette recap, weeks 1 – 3
Week 1: The first to get sent home on Michelle Young’s season was contestant Ryan after he was caught with a binder full of notes on how to ‘get a good edit on the show.’
Week 2: At the end of the second week’s episode, Pardeep Singh, Daniel Tully, PJ Henderson and Alec Thompson were eliminated when they failed to receive a rose from Michelle Young at the rose ceremony.
Week 3: Five men were sent home during week 3. Jamie was sent home before the rose ceremony even began after he was exposed for lying to Michelle about there being rumors about her. Peter, Spencer, LT and Mollique were all sent home during the rose ceremony.
Michelle finds her ‘soul-Nayte’
Nayte and Michelle got engaged at the end of the season’s final episode.
He got down on one knee and asked The Bachelorette if he would marry her.
“Yes,” she yelled as she looked down at the massive Neil Lane sparkler.
“We just got engaged,” Nayte said before screaming, “this is my fiancee!”
“And this, this is my soul-Nayte,” Michelle quipped.
Who was on The Bachelorette this season?
This season, 35 men competed for Michelle’s heart.
Those men include:
- Alec, 29, Forest, VA
- Brandon J, 26, Portland, OR
- Brandon K, 29, Sulphur, LA
- Brett, 29, Houston, TX
- Bryan, 30, Houlton, WI
- Casey, Parkland, FL
- Christopher G, 27, Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Chris S, 28, New Orleans, LA
- Clayton, 28, Eureka, MO
- Daniel, 26, Austin, TX
- Edward, 27, Brownsville, TX
- Eric, 25, Bridgewater, NJ
- Garrett, 33, Salt Lake City, UT
- Jack, 30, Greensborough, NC
- Jamie, 32, Tacoma, WA
- Joe Coleman, 28, Minneapolis, MN
- Joel, 31, Prescott, AZ
- Jomarri, 26, Portland, OR
- Leroy, 27, Durham, NC
- LT, 38, Bellevue, WA
- Martin 28, Cordoba, Argentina
- Michael, 30, Omaha, NE
- Mollique, 36, Jameshill, Jamaica
- Nayte, 27, Winnipeg, MB
- Olumide, 28, Woodland Park, NJ
- Pardeep, 30, Brooklyn, NY
- Peter, 26, Bellmore, NY
- PJ, 30, Austin, TX
- Rick, 32, Munroe Falls, OH
- Rodney, 29, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
- Romeo, 32, New York, NY
- Ryan, 30, Sanger, CA
- Spencer, 25, Cleveland, OH
- Trevor, 26, Rocklin, CA
- Will, 29, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Who is Nayte Olukoya?
Nayte Olukoya was one of the contestants from Michelle’s season, and proposed to the delighted Bachelorette in the season finale.
A Canadian native, according to his Instagram page, Nayte currently resides in Austin, Texas.
“I bought half my followers when I was 17,” his Instagram bio reads.
Nayte is a 2019 graduate of Eastern Washington University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and minor in Africana Studies.
According to his LinkedIn profile, he currently works as a Senior Account Executive at Indeed.com.
Prior to working with Indeed, he worked as a bartender in the Spokane, Washington area.
Source says Nayte watched season with Michelle
A source claimed that Michelle, 28, is still “happily” with the winner from her season and that they even watch the show together.
The insider explained: ”Michelle is still happily with Nayte and they’re watching the show together.
“He’s come to Minnesota to see her and Michelle is actually very impressed with how Nayte’s handling himself in the group.
“A lot of times the leads get turned off when they watch how their partner was when they weren’t around but for Nayte it’s the opposite.”
Success rate compared to the Bachelor
Despite having nine fewer seasons than the Bachelor, the Bachelorette has a higher success rate.
Five couples still remain (including Michelle and Nayte) of the Bachelorette’s 18 winning pairs.
Of the Bachelor’s 25 winning pairs, only two couples are still together.
When did Michelle’s season begin?
Michelle’s season of The Bachelorette premiered on October 19, 2021.
The show aired live Tuesdays at 8pm EST on ABC this past season.
Producers ‘cut out’ first kiss
One production insider exclusively told The Sun: “Producers have had to cut down so, so many of [Michelle and the winner’s] scenes because their connection is so strong, people would assume it’s inevitable they end up together.
“They cut out their first kiss and didn’t air a lot of scenes that showed their strong connection.
“And it’s really strong and really genuine, probably the most genuine connection a lead has had on this show.
“Even with their scenes scaled back, people can sense their chemistry. They seem like they’ll be a couple who makes it.”
How much do contestants get paid?
The contestants do not get paid to be on the show.
Despite contestants competing for free, many of them do receive social media sponsorships after their time on the show.
However, Reality Steve reported that the Bachelorette makes $100,000 for her time on the show.
Insider says Michelle’s family has hesitations
While an insider who spoke to The Sun admitted that Michelle’s parents trust her, they claimed that her family has also “had doubts” and “expressed their own concern.”
“Their close circle is trying to stay positive but they don’t see this continuing once they finally wake up from this dream.
“Michelle is a lot more mature than Nayte and that’s led to some issues already but it will most likely lead to much bigger issues in the future.
“They see red flags that Michelle refuses to see and she most likely won’t ever see it until they break up.
“Short term, they seem great but the long term is what everyone is concerned about,” the source concluded.
When was the finale?
The three-hour season finale of The Bachelorette aired on Tuesday, December 21.
Brandon and Nayte met Michelle’s family and Michelle chose one of them to accept their proposal.
How long is the show filmed?
The Bachelorette is reportedly filmed over just two months.
This means that contestants only have about eight weeks to not just find love, but to commit to an engagement.
Can couples keep the ring?
Winning couples who become engaged by the end of the Bachelorette season can keep the engagement ring for free… as long as they don’t break up.
Couples who call it quits within two years of becoming engaged on the show must return the ring.
Fans call for Brandon to be Bachelor
Bachelorette fans furious about Michelle’s decision took to social media to call for Brandon to be the next Bachelor.
“I am literally SOBBING justice for Brandon,” said one .
Others commended Brandon’s reaction to the rejection.
“Brandon wishing the best for Michelle and Nayte and saying he still loves her but not romantically is great. We love a healthy, mature contestant,” another Twitter user.
No stylists on the show
It has also been claimed that contestants are responsible for doing their own hair, makeup, and selecting their wardrobes.
The show only provides a stylist for the premiere episode and for the final two contestants for the finale.
The roses
Season 16 contestant Courtney Robertson confirmed that the roses used in the rose ceremonies are in fact, real.
However, the rest of the roses in the mansion and in the front gardens are reportedly fake.