Bachelorette Rachel Recchia’s Drama With Tino Franco’s Family: What to Know

Credit: ABC/Craig Sjodin

Bachelorette Rachel Recchia’s Drama With Tino Franco’s Family: What to Know

Drama with the future in-laws? Rachel Recchia only has one suitor remaining ahead of part two of The Bachelorette finale, but it hasn’t been smooth sailing with the Franco family — on or off screen. After giving Tino Franco her first impression rose, the pilot, 26, was all in before meeting his parents at his hometown date. During the California visit, Rachel broke down in tears after declaring Joe and Sandi Franco “hated” her. Tino, for his part, tried to reassure the co-lead that his mom and dad were just struggling with the idea of the ABC show and would love her if they spent time together away from the cameras. Joe subsequently took to Facebook to react to the episode. “Because BachelorNation fans asked, here is my tell all: 1. I’m 5-6, and a gentlemen’s 5-6 at that. 2. No, I have NEVER dyed my hair (look closely you can see the grey) 3. NO, I do not have a comb-over (and it is not a rug either) 4. NO, I am not the same age as Tino, as a few tweets suggested,” he wrote. “5. We are Mexican, not Italian, though media keeps saying Italian. If he really is Italian, it’s news to me, and then I’d be asking really tough questions!” He went on to address Tino’s brother’s childhood battle with cancer — before clapping back at comments about their appearances again. “6. Tino is amazing. He supported our son’s cancer recovery, volunteers to the cause to this day and volunteers countless hours. 7. Sandi is spelled Sandi not Sandy 8. There are no vampires in our family 9. Sandi has more than one dress… seriously … and who notices that in a photo?” he continued. “And finally … 10. I am too young and too tall to be part of the Lollipop Guild in the Wizard of Oz. Nor have I ever been aboard the Starship Enterprise, (but I do share a Jewish heritage with Spock.)” While Rachel continued to struggle with the aftermath of the hometown date, Tino reiterated that he knows that his mom and dad “are going to come around” if he proposes. “I don’t feel like my dad gets me as much in the relationship sphere,” the general contractor explained on the September 7 episode. “It’s not, like, you. They’re really just skeptical of the situation. … But they know me, and they know, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t see you as the future.” Rachel said “I love you” to Tino during their fantasy suite. During part one of the finale on September 13, she said goodbye to Aven Jones after he hesitated about proposing, leaving Tino as the only remaining contestant. Joe, meanwhile, wasn’t thrilled about the finale being two parts. “BachelorNation will be sorry when they won’t have me to kick around any more 🙂. And so will Sam Rubin at KTLA Channel 5. Big Tony, you’ll have to wait your turn! 🙂,” he wrote via Facebook, referencing Rachel’s dad. “Watch the Bachelorette, tonight at 8 for the (yawn) most shocking finale ever (just part 1). So glad it’s almost over!!! #bachelornation.” Scroll through for more on the Franco family:

Credit: ABC/Craig Sjodin

Bachelorette Rachel Recchia’s Drama With Tino Franco’s Family: What to Know

Drama with the future in-laws? Rachel Recchia only has one suitor remaining ahead of part two of The Bachelorette finale, but it hasn’t been smooth sailing with the Franco family — on or off screen. After giving Tino Franco her first impression rose, the pilot, 26, was all in before meeting his parents at his hometown date. During the California visit, Rachel broke down in tears after declaring Joe and Sandi Franco “hated” her. Tino, for his part, tried to reassure the co-lead that his mom and dad were just struggling with the idea of the ABC show and would love her if they spent time together away from the cameras. Joe subsequently took to Facebook to react to the episode. “Because BachelorNation fans asked, here is my tell all: 1. I’m 5-6, and a gentlemen’s 5-6 at that. 2. No, I have NEVER dyed my hair (look closely you can see the grey) 3. NO, I do not have a comb-over (and it is not a rug either) 4. NO, I am not the same age as Tino, as a few tweets suggested,” he wrote. “5. We are Mexican, not Italian, though media keeps saying Italian. If he really is Italian, it’s news to me, and then I’d be asking really tough questions!” He went on to address Tino’s brother’s childhood battle with cancer — before clapping back at comments about their appearances again. “6. Tino is amazing. He supported our son’s cancer recovery, volunteers to the cause to this day and volunteers countless hours. 7. Sandi is spelled Sandi not Sandy 8. There are no vampires in our family 9. Sandi has more than one dress… seriously … and who notices that in a photo?” he continued. “And finally … 10. I am too young and too tall to be part of the Lollipop Guild in the Wizard of Oz. Nor have I ever been aboard the Starship Enterprise, (but I do share a Jewish heritage with Spock.)” While Rachel continued to struggle with the aftermath of the hometown date, Tino reiterated that he knows that his mom and dad “are going to come around” if he proposes. “I don’t feel like my dad gets me as much in the relationship sphere,” the general contractor explained on the September 7 episode. “It’s not, like, you. They’re really just skeptical of the situation. … But they know me, and they know, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t see you as the future.” Rachel said “I love you” to Tino during their fantasy suite. During part one of the finale on September 13, she said goodbye to Aven Jones after he hesitated about proposing, leaving Tino as the only remaining contestant. Joe, meanwhile, wasn’t thrilled about the finale being two parts. “BachelorNation will be sorry when they won’t have me to kick around any more 🙂. And so will Sam Rubin at KTLA Channel 5. Big Tony, you’ll have to wait your turn! 🙂,” he wrote via Facebook, referencing Rachel’s dad. “Watch the Bachelorette, tonight at 8 for the (yawn) most shocking finale ever (just part 1). So glad it’s almost over!!! #bachelornation.” Scroll through for more on the Franco family:

Credit: Courtesy of Joe Franco/Facebook

Tino’s Dad

Joe has been vocal on Facebook throughout the season.

“Our oldest son is on the Bachelorette, and got the ‘first impression rose’ whatever that is. Never have seen the show,” he wrote on July 11, shading KTLA 5’s Sam Rubin for his remarks about the cast. “Not sure how we feel about the idea of finding your soul mate on TV and Sam’s right, it’s a bit cheesy, but nothing wrong with a little fun — It’s not 60 Minutes. Let’s hope Tino doesn’t bring shame on the name, and above all, he may not be welcomed back home if he cries on the show! But we love him anyway.”

After week two, Joe called the Instagram account @BachelorData a “nerd” for calculating the screen time on the series, writing, “Looks like a piece of luggage received more screen time than Tino!”

Another remark that raised eyebrows was a response from Joe.

“First rule from longtime Bachelor franchise watcher … don’t sleep with the Bachelorette during taping of the show. Best of luck!” his pal commented on Joe’s page, to which Tino’s dad allegedly responded, “We told him the same thing when he left for the show!”

Credit: Courtesy of Joe Franco/Facebook

Tino’s Mom

In September, Sandi “liked” a Facebook comment telling her and Joe to “hang in there” while the two-part finale airs.

Credit: Courtesy of Tino Franco/Instagram

Tino’s Brothers

Tino’s younger brothers, Tony and Mateo, haven’t weighed in as much about Rachel or The Bachelorette. According to his ABC bio, however, Tino is "extremely family-oriented" and is close to his “really tight-knit family."

Over the years, Tino has supported Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times as a way to honor Mateo’s past battle with cancer. 

“Feels like a couple lifetimes ago but here we are over a decade later. 14 years ago this tall, brilliant legend was diagnosed with leukemia,” he wrote about his sibling in September 2019. “While the doctors at Kaiser did an incredible job treating the cancerous cells in his blood, the volunteers and donors of camp treated 3 kids who felt lost in the world and brought them home 🏠 . That’s why camp is forever branded in my heart (and leg) and why all our donations, large or small, mean the world to me and so many other people.”