Bachelor Ben Flajnik sure is a hit with the older set!
The 29-year-old Sonoma, Calif., winemaker met the 25 new bachelorettes fighting for his affection this season on The Bachelor's Monday night premiere, but the woman who won his heart wasn't exactly eligible.
"My name is Sheryl and I watched your show all last season and I fell in love with you," an enamored 72-year-old woman on crutches told Flajnik outside the Los Angeles Bachelor mansion. Just as viewers finished scratching their heads, Sheryl told Flajnik the real reason she stepped out of the limousine to meet him.
"I know you're a family person and so am I. In that limo is my granddaughter and I'd love for her to meet you," she says, as her 26-year-old granddaughter, Brittney, came out to greet Flajnik.
Flajnik was clearly impressed with the way Denver, Colo.-based medical sales rep Brittney made a first impression. "That's too cute — I love grandmas," the man of the hour gushed.
Once Brittney (and grandma Sheryl!) entered the Bachelor mansion, though, the other girls quickly started hating on her "cheap" ploy for attention.
"A grandma? Are you kidding me?! She's just playing the cute card, going straight for the heart and I just think it's a cheap shot," fumed phD student Emily, 27. "What a way to make yourself look better — put yourself next to someone old and wrinkly."
Brittney wasn't the only bachelorette to put Flajnik on notice during Monday's premiere.
Seattle's Lindzi C., 27, also brought along a friend for moral support when it came time to meet her man — a horse named Levi!
Flajnik appeared impressed with the gesture, but inside, Lindzi's costars were fuming.
"Screw you and the horse you rode in on!" sniped one especially angry bachelorette.
In the end, Flajnik had to make the tough decision to send seven of his 25 bachelorettes packing: Amber T., Amber B., Dianna, Lyndsie J., Anna, Shira and Holly.
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