One of Joey Graziadei’s Contestants Engages in What She Calls the ‘Dumbest Fight’ in ‘Bachelor History’

Joey Graziadei started his first week Bachelor Monday dates, good timing with the wedding and, of course, some drama.

Rachel, Taylor, Kelsey T., Lexi, Evalin, Erika, Maria, Lauren and Jess went on their first group date of the season. After receiving the news that it would be the wedding date, the ladies ran to another room to Bachelor Villa for choosing wedding dresses.

When they showed up for the date, host Jesse Palmer informed the women that he would be attending their wedding to Joey and participating in challenges inspired by the wedding reception. At the end of the date, only one woman could have the first dance with Joey.

Bachelor Joey Graziadei Says Lea Fired Mystery ‘Mercy’ Card (Exclusive)

“It’s going to be fun trying to imagine if I can see myself walking down the aisle with them,” Joey, 28, said in an on-camera interview.

First, the women played musical chairs to determine who would sit next to Joey at the love table. When the music stopped, Evalin, 29, jumped over the table in an attempt to get a seat next to The Bachelor.

Joey Graziadei on his first ‘Bachelor’ group date.

John Fleenor/Disney

“I could talk about Evalin’s athleticism all day,” Joey said on camera. “Jump over the table and onto Lauren? Evalin, A+ for effort.”

Alas, Lauren, 28, and Maria, 29, ended up snagging seats. But Lauren couldn’t get into the date because it only reminded her of how her father, who had died seven months ago, wouldn’t be there on her wedding day.

“I’m just salty, I think, right now,” the registered nurse told Maria.

Meanwhile, guests clinked glasses to encourage Joey and Jess, 24, to kiss, and Rachel, 26, gave a touching speech.

“She blew me away with her toast,” Joey said in an on-camera interview.

Joey Graziadei with the ladies on his first group date.

John Fleenor/Disney

In fact, Joey felt so smitten that he gave Rachel the first dance to Michael Bolton’s “When a Man Loves a Woman,” performed live by the 70-year-old Grammy winner.

At the after party, Maria pulled Joey away first and told him she was “already” attracted to him. She then stepped back to “wear something more comfortable” than her white corset dress. The executive assistant returned in a black lace bra top and matching skirt.

“I’m not trying to seduce you, but if it works, I’ll take it,” Maria told Joey.

Joey told Maria that he wanted to “find out more about who Maria is” but “since you’re wearing this, all I can think about is…” he said, trailing off and leaning in for a kiss.

From there, Joey spoke to Jess, who went outside to cuddle under a fuzzy white blanket because she felt she had a “fail day” with the tennis coach.

“I felt a connection, a spark, immediately and to have people say, ‘Well yeah, you should relax,’ that’s bullshit. It really is,” the executive assistant told Joey.

‘The Bachelor’ season 28 contestant Jess.

Richard Middlesworth/Disney

Jess explained how she had “spent the last two years picking myself up from a really low position” after a relationship that involved infidelity on the part of her partner.

“I can see it triggering something from the past,” Joey replied.

Joey felt like he could relate, sharing that, in a past relationship, “I felt like I was changing a lot to make them happy.”

Lauren also told Joey why she felt distant during the meeting part of the wedding reception. “I think it really hit me that my dad wasn’t going to be there for my wedding,” Lauren told Joey, adding that she wanted to push through the discomfort to continue getting to know Joey.

“I appreciate not only that you opened up, but that you’re only here because I’m interested,” Joey replied.

Joey ended up choosing Jess to receive the date rose.

ONE ON ONE DATE

Daisy got her first one-on-one of the season, which turned out to be a classic franchise helicopter date. Joey and Daisy, 25, traveled to the BeachLife Ranch music festival armed with passes for everyone. Joey told Daisy that he chose her as his date because he knew she liked music.

Daisy had planned to tell him about her health journey, but the real moment didn’t come until after the festival – during which they danced on stage during the Bahamas set. Over drinks, Daisy told Joey, “Life with me is probably going to look a little different than with any other girl in the house.”

Daisy, a contestant on season 28 of ‘The Bachelor’.

Richard Middlesworth/Disney

The Minnesota native went on to tell Joey about how he got seriously ill as a child and was treated for Lyme disease in Germany.

“I lost a ton of my hair, I lost about 15 pounds in five days,” Daisy said. “It was pretty wild. But after that treatment I felt much better and I was really healthy and that’s the most important thing. But my hearing was getting worse. So the reason I can communicate is because I have a cochlear implant.”

Bachelor Joey Graziadei Calls Getting Recognized ‘Weird’ And Says It’s ‘Never Going To Be Normal’ (Exclusive)

Daisy showed Joey the implant and explained how it worked.

“I find that extremely inspiring,” Joey replied. “And this just made you more interesting, more impressive to me.”

Joey handed the rose to Daisy and she told the cameras: “I can definitely see myself falling for him.”

DATE OF THE SECOND GROUP

For the date of the second group of the week, Bachelor students Demi Burnett and Jubliee Sharpe set up a bootcamp to test which woman has what it takes to hook up with Joey. They divided 10 women into Blue and Pink teams for Paint Battle Royale, a mash-up of paintball and Capture the Flag, during which the teams had to retrieve a large pink heart. The winning team earned extra time with Joey.

Jubilee Sharpe (left) and Demi Burnett.

John Fleenor/Disney

The Blue Team ended up winning, only to find out that only one of the team members would be leaving to spend more time with Joey. After cleaning up the villa, Lea announced that the MVP of the game, Edwina, would be the one to go to the after party.

During her extra time with Joey, Edwina, 25, spoke about how growing up in an African household, as a woman, she had the responsibilities of being “the mother of the house at a young age”.

Edwina, contestant of season 28 of ‘The Bachelor’.

Richard Middlesworth/Disney

Joey told Edwina that her parents must be “extremely proud of you every day.”

“I want to keep learning more and I’m really excited about everything that’s coming,” Joey said, offering Edwina a rose at the end of the date.

COCKTAIL PARTY AND ROSE CEREMONY

In the house, Madina expressed concern about being the oldest woman in the cast. However, Maria told another contestant that Madina, 31, should not worry and that since she is one of the older ladies herself, she feels safe. Sydney, 28, overheard this conversation and reported it to Madina because the antique shop owner found it “very condescending”.

Maria confronted Madina at the cocktail party and asked Madina why she was upset. “I felt like you didn’t think that was a valid reason to be upset,” the mental health therapist told Maria.

Madina didn’t want to continue the conversation because she was waiting for time with Joey, and Maria tried to defend herself in front of the group. “I don’t think I’m old,” Maria said.

Sydney believed that Maria was “downplaying” Madina’s feelings by doing so.

After all, Maria didn’t think Joey would count on Madina because of her age. “Because her age is an issue, it hurt, I feel for her because I want her to own it,” Maria said.

She asked the other women to drop the subject. “It’s crazy that this is a conversation,” Maria said. “Can’t we all agree that this is a little crazy?”

In an on-camera interview, Maria stated: “That was probably the stupidest fight ever Bachelor history.”

Lauren, a contestant on season 28 of ‘The Bachelor’.

Richard Middlesworth/Disney

Lauren bided her time with Joey, during which she planned to repeat the wedding date that broke her up earlier this week. But her patience ran out and by the time it was her turn, Lauren decided she wanted to leave the show.

“I don’t even want to talk to you right now because I’m just in a bad mood to do it now because everyone and their mother is already gone,” Lauren told Joey after informing him of her upcoming date.

Joey told Lauren that he felt “terrible” about the situation. “I wish I could say or do something,” Lauren said, “but I can tell you’re at a point where you’re over it.”

Joey Graziadei Says Handing Out Roses as a Bachelor Is Bullshit: ‘It’s Not Fun Being That Guy’ (Exclusive)

Lauren’s choice to forgo the wedding date was not communicated to production in time, so the usher did bring what she expected to be a red velvet wedding cake. Lauren cut into the cake only to find it wasn’t red velvet, so she took a handful and smashed it on the ground.

Lauren’s sister Allison cried on camera about her departure, but Allison received a rose at the rose ceremony so it will be a while before she reunites with Lauren. At the rose ceremony, Joey also presented roses to Rachel, Lexy, Kelsey A., Kelsey T., Jen, Evalin, Autumn, Madina, Leia, Katelyn, Chrissa, Maria, Starr and Sydney.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

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

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education