Why Did Marcus Leave The Bachelorette? Here’s A Finale Recap

Heading into Jenn Tran’s Bachelorette finale, viewers knew that the Season 21 lead would have a difficult choice to make between Marcus Shoberg and Devin Strader, and by the end of the Sept. 3 episode, she’d made her decision. But that’s when the drama really started.

Here’s a Bachelorette finale recap, from why Marcus left the show to Jenn’s relationship status today.

Jenn’s Family Met Devin & Marcus

Devin was the first to meet Jenn’s family during the three-hour finale. He opened up about bonding with Jenn over their similar childhoods, and said if he weren’t her final pick, it would “kill” him. “I don’t see this world without Jenn in my life,” he said.

In a private conversation with her mom, Trinh, Jenn said she appreciated how she could talk about her feelings with Devin, adding that he wanted to understand her and her culture. However, Trinh wasn’t totally convinced. “I think you need more time to understand each other, before you can move forward,” she said.

Jenn’s brother, James, wasn’t sure about Devin either, but he said that the way Jenn talked about him showed her personal growth. He added that they might be a “great match.” He also told Devin that while he wouldn’t give him his blessing before speaking to Marcus, he appreciated being asked for it.

At the end, Devin said the date “screwed with [his] head.”

Marcus then met Jenn’s loved ones. He shared his backstory, but James wanted to hear more about their connection. Marcus also mentioned that his time in the military left him with a “heart of stone,” which worried James, who was concerned about his emotionally availability. “Is that her falling back into her pattern with toxic relationships?” he wondered about his sister.

Finally, Jenn asked Marcus how he envisioned their time on the show ending. He said meeting her family was “progress,” but he still lacked clarity.

A Final Date Looked To The Future

For Jenn and Devin’s final date, they participated in a traditional Hawaiian ceremony, which focused on embracing the future and leaving fear behind. Jenn, specifically, said farewell to her fear of abandonment.

Later, Devin told Jenn that she was the “most important thing in [his] life,” and presented her with a special stone from their first date in New Zealand. She was moved by the gesture and left the date feeling confident in their connection.

Before her date with Marcus, Jenn wanted similar confidence. She went to his room and told him he was “running out of time.” He regretted “not diving deeper” and reiterated that it was scary for him to envision their future together.

Eventually, Marcus told Jenn he loved her. “I want to give it a try,” he said. “I don’t want to give up on us.”

Instead of being relieved by the declaration, Jenn was frustrated, telling the camera that her certainty was “dwindling down.” After taking a minute away, she ultimately said goodbye to Marcus, saying she was “done waiting around for somebody to get there.” He responded, “I’m afraid I’m not going to find someone like you.”

Jenn and Marcus briefly reunited at After the Final Rose, where Jenn admitted that she’d known “deep down” that something was amiss for a while.

The Finale’s Shocking Twist

Back in Hawaii, Devin picked out an engagement ring with Neil Lane, and Jenn told host Jesse Palmer that she intended to propose to Devin. And she did — but first, ABC had a surprising update. Jesse brought Jenn on stage to deliver the news: Devin had ended their engagement after the show.

Jenn said that he’d begun “pulling away” after leaving Hawaii, and ultimately broke up with her over the phone. “He basically said that he didn’t love me anymore, and didn’t feel the same way. ... He regretted getting engaged,” Jenn said, adding that he began following Maria Georgas on Instagram the next day.

In an incredibly intense stretch, Devin then joined Jenn on stage. He said he’d had doubts about an engagement, but was “regretfully late” to share those hesitations. Jenn, who was crying, seemed incredulous to many of his claims.

After their on-stage confrontation, The Bachelorette shared footage of their proposal from happier times.

“You’re everything that I ever dreamed of but didn’t know that I could have,” Jenn told Devin as part of her proposal. “I want to wake up and choose you every day for the rest of my life. Today and every day. Baby, I want to grow old with you! So, Devin Strader, will you please make me the happiest girl in the world and marry me?”

Devin responded with his own proposal. Jenn watched the footage in tears from the After the Final Rose stage, but said she didn’t regret proposing. “I’m still that same woman I am — the woman that stood there, was ready to fight for love, was ready to give everything into a person, was ready to start a family, was ready to love and understood what it meant to fully love somebody,” she said.