Joey Graziadei Sets Love Ablaze When 1 Suitor Burns Her Date Card in The Bachelor Premiere

Joey Graziadei Bachelor the season started by teasing how it ends.

In a flash forward to his finale, Joey, 28, stood alone in tears on his engagement day and walked off solo with his final rose still on the podium.

But first, Joey had to meet the lady who would seemingly break his heart, as well as the 31 other women who made it to Night 1.

Host Jesse Palmer informed Joey as they stood outside Bachelor A mansion before the arrival of the limousine where the tennis pro had more potential suitors than any ex-bachelor.

LIMOUSINE ARRIVALS

Lexi, a 30-year-old digital strategist from Atlanta, was the first to step out of the limo, followed by Rachel, a 26-year-old critical care nurse from Hawaii who gave Joey the lei.

Maria, a 29-year-old executive assistant from Ontario, got out of the limo waving a Canadian flag. Joey stated, “That was great.”

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When Autumn, 26, asked Joey what his favorite season was, he said spring or summer because he likes the heat, much to her disappointment. Junior project manager Kelsey A., 25, invoked her New Orleans roots by gifting Joey with a voodoo doll, and esthetician Talyah, 23, brought him a save the date for their wedding.

Sisters Allison, 26, and Lauren, 28, from Philadelphia, made separate entrances, with Lauren challenging Joey to shoot a beer – a challenge she won.

‘The Bachelor’ season 28 contestants Allison (left) and Lauren.

Richard Middlesworth/Disney

Jenn, a 25-year-old physician’s assistant, stopped in the go-kart because she had to “rush here so fast from Miami” when she found out Joey was a bachelor.

Then Jess, 24, appeared in the boat. “Hey Captain, I heard you’re looking for a new relationship,” the executive assistant told Joey.

Professional football cheerleader Samantha, 25, threw some dough at Joey and told him: “I’m the one you’re kneading,” while Taylor, 23, offered Joey a giant bra because “I’m here for the massive support.”

Artist Zoe, 24, brought out a tray of bananas in four different sizes and asked Joey which one he liked. He modestly chose the second largest banana. “That’s bold, I like it,” Joey said.

Arrivals wouldn’t be complete without some tennis references. Counselor Kayla, 27, practiced her tennis grunt in the limo, therapist Madina, 31, was showered with tennis balls from the limo when she opened the door, and Evalin, a 29-year-old nanny from San Antonio, tumbled into the judge’s chair.

Daisy, 25, drove up in a red truck hauling a Christmas tree as a nod to growing up on a Minnesota Christmas tree farm. In a pre-recorded video, the host shared that she started losing her hearing at age 17 and received a cochlear implant in her left ear last year.

Lea, who Joey met on Charity Lawson’s After the Final Rose special, showed up with her mysterious card and worried about how much power she might have. “I’m holding onto this card to death,” the account manager, 23, said in an on-camera interview.

COCKTAIL PARTY AND ROSE CEREMONY

Inside, Joey set the tone for his first cocktail party.

“I found love and I also found heartbreak,” Joey told the women of his day Bachelor. “But I got the ending I needed and I truly believe my future fiancee and wife are here tonight. When I think of a relationship, I think of grandparents. They just had this love that was so contagious. I wouldn’t be standing here today if it wasn’t for that. And I honestly feel more confident than ever that I’m ready to find my person.”

Joey then toasted to “finding my next doubles partner.”

Afterwards, Joey spoke to Autumn, then Erika and Jess, who called him a “walking green flag”. He and Jess kissed – and she let everyone know.

“I got some smoochi-poo,” Jess announced to the group.

Of course, it made some women unhappy to hear that.

“I feel like it was very disrespectful when 32 women were trying to talk to him,” Taylor said on camera. “It was awkward, it was awkward, it was weird. I didn’t like it.”

‘The Bachelor’ season 28 contestants Jess (left) and Taylor.

Richard Middlesworth/Disney

Taylor also didn’t like it when Jess interrupted her conversation with Joey to spend more time with him. When Taylor confronted her about it, Jess told the recruit, “You’re trying to make him look like something he’s not.”

“You have to respect people,” pleaded Taylor.

Sisters Allison and Lauren decided to tell the other women about their relationship, and then, after Allison stole Joey away from Lauren and kissed him, they told Joey too.

“I kind of put it together,” Joey said. “They were too similar stories.”

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Meanwhile, Lea opened her mystery card and discovered that it gave her the power to steal a one-on-one date from another woman anywhere before their hometowns. She had mixed feelings about power.

“It will have to come at someone else’s expense,” Lea was worried. “And all the girls there are so wonderful. But honestly, I feel so bad.”

Lea expressed her concern to Joey.

“I want to give you a lot of autonomy in your path and the intentions you set, and I also want to give a lot of love and respect to the women who put their lives on hold,” she said. “And it’s almost like you’re playing God in this and interfering with your journey.”

Bachelor Joey Graziadei and Lea.

John Fleenor/Disney

Joey respected Lea’s thought process to the advantage. “Just what you say says a lot about your character,” he said.

In the end, Lea realized that the map would not change her and Joey’s trajectory.

“If I’m not Joey’s person at the end of this, then I’m not,” Lea told Joey. “And if I am, I am and it won’t matter if I get a little card.”

Lea tearfully told the other women about the benefits the card had given her before she decided to throw it into the fire. She explained to the cameras that she felt it “in her heart” that I set him on fire.

“That was really sweet,” Jess said. “I’d take that!”

As a result of her selfless actions, Joey gave Lea a first impression rose.

Bachelor Joey Graziadei.

John Fleenor/Disney

“Your interpretation and thoughts on the card you were given spoke volumes to me, just about your character and who you are,” said Joey Lei. “So Lea, I know you know this is a first impression rose, but it means a lot to me.”

Lea accepted the rose, and they sealed it with a kiss.

When it came time to hand out more roses at the rose ceremony, Joey started with Allison.

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“You didn’t get your first rose,” Allison’s older sister Lauren told her. “Fuck yourself.”

Joey proceeded to give roses to Daisy, Kelsey T., Lexi, Jess, Jen, Autumn, Chrissi, Kelsey A., Katelyn, Rachel, and Erika. Madina, Sydney, Starr, Marlena, Maria, Taylor, Evalin and Lauren also received roses.

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Bachelor airs Mondays at 8:00 PM ET on ABC.

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Source: HIS Education