With the end of Matt James’ season almost here, fans want to know everything they can about The Bachelor finale 2021 spoilers to know who Matt’s winner is and if he’s engaged. We’ll talk about everything later, but let’s just say that Matt doesn’t have a traditional Bachelor finale.

Matt, a 29-year-old real estate agent from Raleigh, North Carolina, was announced as the season 25 Bachelor in June 2020. In the Bachelor franchise’s 18-plus-year history, Matt is the first Black Bachelor and the third Black lead overall after season 13 Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay and season 16 Bachelorette Tayshia Adams. Also unlike previous Bachelor seasons, Matt’s season wasn’t filmed at the Bachelor Mansion and instead at the Nemacolin Resort in Farmington, Pennsylvania.

Prior to the premiere of Matt’s season, Reality Steve revealed The Bachelor 2021 winner. (Read on to find out who the winner is.) A source told OK magazine at the time that Bachelor producers are “livid” that the end was spoiled. “Everyone on the show has been reminded that they signed non-disclosure-agreements,” the source said. “The show’s PR department strategically leaks information and teases each season to get publicity and viewers excited. However, the number of unauthorized leaks has gotten out of control. To have the winner leaked before the first episode even airs is terrible. Producers are livid,” the source adds.

Of course, as fans know, Matt’s Bachelor season had drama both in front of and behind the camera. (Queen Victoria, MJ vs. Jessenia and Sarah’s pre-Bachelor boyfriend are just few storylines to come out of this season.) Ahead, are all The Bachelor finale 2021 spoilers we know about Matt’s winner and if he’s engaged. Read on for the most explosive Bachelor 2021 spoilers about Matt’s twist-filled ending.

Matt’s Estranged Dad Will Surprise Him

During the finale, Matt will have an explosive moment when The Bachelor brings out his estranged father, Manny, who divorced his mom when he was young, according to Reality Steve. As viewers know, Matt doesn’t talk about his dad a lot and the two don’t have the best relationship. The trailer shows a scene where Chris Harrison asks Matt, who is seen sitting on a curb, if he’s OK, to which Matt says, “No, I’m not.” Reality Steve reports that this conversation was about Matt’s father. Despite the surprise, Reality Steve also notes that the moment will be positive for Matt and his dad.

Bri Is Eliminated in 3rd Place

Bri, a 25-year-old communications manager from San Francisco, California, was eliminated in third place after Fantasy Suites, according to Reality Steve. As Bachelor Nation members may remember, Bri told Matt on the February 19 episode that she quit her job to stay on his season. Bri didn’t name where she worked, but Chris Harrison revealed in an ABC YouTube video before Matt’s season that Bri was a communications manager for a well-known “tech company.” Though Bri quit her job for Matt, it doesn’t seem like their relationship ended on good terms, as Bri took to her Instagram after the February 19 to shade her ex. “Me on the phone trying to get my job back,” she captioned a photo of her on the phone.

Rachael & Michelle Meet Matt’s Mom

As Matt’s final two, Rachael and Michelle meet Matt’s mother, Patty, according to Reality Steve. Their meeting comes after Matt’s estranged father, Manny, surprises Matt on his season. According to Reality Steve, Rachael and Michelle only meet Matt’s mom and not his dad.

Michelle Is the Runner-Up

Michelle, a 27-year-old fifth grade teacher from Edina, Minnesota, is Matt’s runner-up, according to Reality Steve. Michelle was one of four women who came on Matt’s season after the second rose ceremony. She was also the first of the new women to have a one-on-one date with Matt and the only newbie to make it to the finale.

As for how Michelle is eliminated, Reality Steve reports that Michelle gave him a matching jersey with her on their last-one-on-one date before the Final Rose Ceremony. However, at their date that night, Matt decides to break up with her. According to Reality Steve, he tells Michelle that he loves her but he’s not in love with her. When Michelle suspects that Matt is breaking up with her because of his feelings for Rachael, he confirms this to her.

Michelle Is Eliminated Before the Final Rose Ceremony

Though Michelle is Matt’s runner-up, she isn’t eliminated at the Final Rose Ceremony. According to Reality Steve, Matt sends Michelle home before the Final Rose Ceremony, which means that only one contestant is there for the last rose ceremony of the season. Unlike The Bachelorette, where the lead often eliminates the runner-up before the Final Rose Ceremony (for such as with Tayshia and Ben), The Bachelor doesn’t have the same track record, which means that Matt is somewhat breaking tradition. The most recent Bachelor to eliminate his runner-up before the Final Rose Ceremony was season 23’s Colton Underwood, who went home Tayshia and Hannah G.

Rachael Is the Winner

Rachael, a 24-year-old graphic designer from Cumming, Georgia, is the winner of Matt’s Bachelor season. Matt gives Rachael his last rose at the Final Rose Ceremony and she accepts. Matt’s pick of Rachael, however, won’t be without controversy. In February 2021, Rachael came under fire after a former classmate accused her of bullying her in high school for dating Black men. The classmate, who made the accusations on TikTok, then posted another TikTok video of other women coming forward about Rachael bullying them for similar reasons. Another TikTok user then dug into Rachael’s social media behavior and found that she’s liked photos of her friends in offensive costumes and with Confederate flags.

Fans also found that Rachael attended a plantation-themed fraternity party while she was a student at Georgia College in 2018. This led Rachael to apologize for her behavior in an Instagram post. “I am sorry to the communities and individuals that my actions harmed and offended,” she wrote. “I am ashamed about my lack of education, but it is no one’s responsibility to educate me. I am learning and will continue to learn how to be antiracist, because it’s important to speak up in the moment and not after you’re called out. If you are a person who doesn’t understand the offense in question, I urge you to learn from my mistakes and encourage you to use them as a teachable moment.”

Rachael’s Last Date With Matt Is Cancelled

Because Matt eliminated Michelle before his last one-on-one date with Rachael, he cancels their final date. According to Reality Steve, his breakup with Michelle and his dad’s surprise appearance on the show takes an emotional toll on Matt, which is why he cancels his date. However, to Rachael, she thinks it’s because of his torn feelings between her and Michelle. Reality Steve reports that Chris Harrison knocks on Rachael’s door to tell her that her date with Matt is cancelled because he’s “confused and hurting.” The Bachelor then makes the viewer think that Matt won’t pick anyone. But the day after Matt and Rachael’s cancelled date, Rachael receives a letter under her door from Matt apologizing for the cancellation. The letter tells her to meet him by the lake where they had their Fantasy Suite date. The area is set up like the Final rose Ceremony.

Matt & Rachael Aren’t Engaged

Unlike many of the Bachelors before him, Matt did not propose to Rachael at the Final Rose Ceremony, which means that he and Rachael are not engaged, according to Reality Steve. The twist shouldn’t come as a surprise to viewers, however, as Matt revealed to many women on his season that he’s never been in love before.

At the Final rose Ceremony, Rachael tells Matt how much he hurt her but she’s not going to leave him because she’s in love with him and she’s not going to run away from love when it gets difficult. Matt then tells Rachael that he can’t propose to her, but he does love her and he can’t picture his life without her. She accepts his final rose and the two leave as a couple.

Matt & Rachael Are Not Still Together

Reality Steve confirmed in February 2021 that Matt and Rachael are not still together. “Not that Matt’s statement wasn’t pretty clear itself, but I can confirm that Matt and Rachael have broken up,” he tweeted at the time, referencing Matt’s statement about Rachael’s racism scandal. According to Reality Steve, Rachael and Matt broke up after Valentine’s Day weekend in February 2021.

Reality Steve’s report came after several anonymous sources also told @DeuxMoi, a celebrity gossip Instagram account, that Rachael and Matt are no longer together and that they split due to her controversy. In a statement in February 2021 on his Instagram, Matt condemned Rachael’s racism scandal and called out the Bachelor franchise for their mistakes.

“The past few weeks have been some of the most challenging of my life, and while there are several episodes left of the season, it is important that I take the time to address the troubling information that has come to light since we wrapped filming,” he wrote.

He continued, “The reality is that I’m learning about these situations in real time, and it has been devastating and heartbreaking to put it bluntly…Chris’s failure to receive and understand the emotional labor that my friend Rachel Lindsay was taking on by graciously and patiently explaining the racist history of the Antebellum South, a painful history that every American should understand intimately, was troubling and painful to watch,” James continued. “As Black people and allies immediately knew and understood, it was a clear reflection of a much larger issue that ‘The Bachelor’ franchise has fallen short on addressing adequately for years.”

Katie Is the Next Bachelorette

Reality Steve and Variety both reported in February 2021 that Katie Thurston, a 30-year-old bank marketing manager from Renton, Washington, was chosen as the season 17 Bachelorette. However, due to Rachael’s racism scandal, Reality Steve reported that Katie was put on pause as the next Bachelorette. That changed, however, at the “After the Final Rose” special, where Katie was officially announced as the season 17 Bachelorette.

As for the next season, Reality Steve reports that The Bachelorette will film at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa 20 minutes outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Filming is set to begin in the third week of March. For more spoilers about The Bachelorette season 17, click here.

Matt May Get Back Together With Bri or Michelle

According to Reality Steve, Matt may try to get back together with Bri or Michelle after his breakup with Rachael, which is why Katie was put on pause as the Bachelorette. He reported at the time that the season 16 Bachelorette likely won’t be decided until the “After the Final Rose” special in case Matt tries to spark things up again with one of his runner-ups. Of course, we now know that Katie was officially announced as the next Bachelorette at “AFR,” but that doesn’t rule out a reunion between Matt and one of his runners-up.

The “After the Final Rose” Special Won’t Be Live

Matt’s “After the Final Rose” special filmed on March 1. For the first time in almost 10 years, this season’s “After the Final Rose” special won’t be live.

Chris Harrison Won’t Host the “After the Final Rose” Special

After the backlash he received for his Extra interview about Rachael’s racism scandal, Chris Harrison announced in February 2021 that he decided not to host Matt’s “After the Final Rose” special. “This historic season of The Bachelor should not be marred or overshadowed by my mistakes or diminished by my actions. To that end, I have consulted with Warner Bros. and ABC and will be stepping aside for a period of time and will not join for the After the Final Rose special,” he wrote on his Instagram at the time. “I am dedicated to getting educated on a more profound and productive level than ever before. I want to ensure our cast and crew members, to my friends colleagues and our fans: this is not just a moment, but a commitment to much greater understanding that I will actively make every day.”

Emmanuel Acho Will Replace Chris as the “After the Final Rose” Host

https://twitter.com/EmmanuelAcho/status/1365805943049449475?s=20

Emmanuel Acho, a Fox Sports 1 host and the author of Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, announced in February 2021 that he will replace Chris Harrison as the “After the Final Rose” host. Acho is also a former NFL linebacker who played for the Philadelphia Eagles.

“IT’S OFFICIAL: I’ve accepted the Rose & am honored to be hosting the @bachelorabc After the Final Rose this year. It’s been a pivotal season & this episode will be one of the most storied shows in its history. Empathy is needed and change is coming. See y’all then!” he tweeted at the time.

The Bachelor airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC. Here’s how to watch it for free.

Bachelor Nation by Amy Kaufman

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To get more of an inside scoop, check out Los Angeles Times writer Amy Kaufman’s book, Bachelor Nation: Inside the World of America’s Favorite Guilty Pleasure, for a deep dive into the Bachelor franchise. The book uncovers the secrets of Bachelor Nation, from how much the Bachelor and the Bachelorette are paid to the rules contestants have to follow, that producers don’t want fans to know. It’s a must-read for any Bachelor Nation member.

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