- Contestant Jess Edwards caused drama on the season 28 premiere of “The Bachelor” by repeatedly talking to lead Joey Graziadei.
- Jess violated an unspoken rule of the show by stealing the lead for multiple one-on-one chats, causing tension.
- Both Jess and another contestant, Taylor Wiens, received a rose during the first rose ceremony, indicating continued drama throughout the season.
Additional Coverage:
- What to know about Jess Edwards, the southern belle stirring up drama on ‘The Bachelor’ premiere (businessinsider.com)
During the season 28 premiere of “The Bachelor,” contestant Jess Edwards caused drama by talking to lead Joey Graziadei multiple times. The episode aired Monday on ABC. Jess violated an unspoken rule of the show by stealing the lead for a one-on-one chat more than once, especially on the first night and especially if there was already a connection. She is one of 32 contestants vying for Joey’s heart this season.
Most of the women at the cocktail party were focused on securing time with Joey to establish a romantic connection. However, Jess seemed to have gotten off on the wrong foot. She told everyone that she and Joey kissed during their initial conversation, which is frowned upon. Later, she interrupted Taylor Wiens during her conversation with Joey, asking for more time. Taylor was not happy about it and coldly walked past Jess after finishing her conversation.
Both Jess and Taylor received a rose during the first rose ceremony, indicating that the drama surrounding Jess may continue throughout the season. Jess is a 24-year-old from Tennessee who now lives in San Diego. She works as an executive assistant and describes her personal aesthetic as “country glamour.” The local newspaper from her hometown reports that she went to East Tennessee State University and was involved in Greek life there. Jess has been a fan of “The Bachelor” franchise since high school.
Joey, the star of season 28, responded diplomatically when asked about Jess’ behavior on the first night. He acknowledged that he had already talked to her and was talking to her again, but on the first night, he was focused on making connections and figuring out potential pursuits. He emphasized that house dynamics are not something he focuses on initially but tries to pay attention to major drama as it’s brought up.
Joey believes that the dynamics between the women in the house are important, but acknowledges the difficulty of navigating through the experience and not seeing everything. He stated that he handles situations the best he can and that it’s challenging to navigate the role.
New episodes of season 28 of “The Bachelor” premiere on Mondays.