Most Disastrous Hometown Dates in ‘Bachelor’ History

Credit: ABC/CRAIG SJODIN

Most Disastrous Hometown Dates in ‘Bachelor’ History

After weeks in the Bachelor bubble, contestants are always forced to return to reality during the now-infamous hometown dates every season. While some parents welcome the lead into their home with open arms, hoping to help their son or daughter secure the final rose, other families make it clear that they aren’t giving their blessing if there are still three more men or women in the running for the ring. And while it’s rare, sometimes, the families refuse to participate at all. “[Mine are] the only parents in history that didn't do the hometown,” Bachelor season 13 winner Melissa Rycroft recalled on Us Weekly’s “Here for the Right Reasons” podcast in 2020. “I remember my dad telling me, ‘You know, my coworkers are going to be watching this.’ … Back then it was harder to explain to them why I was going. They're like, ‘This is a stupid reality show, you're not gonna find your person.’ [Back then], you didn't get fame out of it. That's not why you were going on the show. They were terrified I was going to embarrass them with the hot tub scenes … They really did not want me in a hot tub.” [jwplayer prUCrnUn-l3ahXupL] While Bachelor Jason Mesnick only spent time with Melissa’s friends during the 2009 season, he still proposed to the Dallas Cowboys cheerleader during the finale. Their romance didn’t last, however, with Jason dumping Melissa to reunite with runner-up (and now-wife) Molly Malaney. “I think if they could've picked, they wouldn't want their daughter being dumped on TV. I think it was just as hard for them to have to relive,” Melissa told Us. “Not relive — they didn't live it the first time — but to live, you know, through that and see me actually [going through it].” During traditional seasons of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, the lead travels to see his or her top four contestants with their families in their respective hometown. During season 16 of The Bachelorette, which was filmed at one location amid the coronavirus pandemic, the families traveled to La Quinta Resort in Palm Springs to meet lead Tayshia Adams. “When we get to hometowns, I always say, believe it or not, this is really the halfway mark because the season starts now,” longtime host Chris Harrison told Us in December 2020. “It’s not that everything before that wasn't meaningful, but those last few weeks are like years in. What's about to happen with families, with overnights, with meeting the other person's family, with the ring by and the proposals. And I mean, what's about to happen in these next few weeks is massive than it is life-changing. And [season 16] is very different even from prior seasons because hometowns had to come to us. Because of the pandemic, we had to bring everybody in. So, it's very different. And you had really a fish out of water sense of being for these poor people that were like, ‘Wait, what?’ You know moms and dads, like, ‘We didn't sign up [for this], but this is what's happening.’ So very different intimacy that you've got as well.” Scroll through for a breakdown of the most memorable hometown dates in Bachelor history:

Credit: ABC/CRAIG SJODIN

Most Disastrous Hometown Dates in ‘Bachelor’ History

After weeks in the Bachelor bubble, contestants are always forced to return to reality during the now-infamous hometown dates every season. While some parents welcome the lead into their home with open arms, hoping to help their son or daughter secure the final rose, other families make it clear that they aren’t giving their blessing if there are still three more men or women in the running for the ring. And while it’s rare, sometimes, the families refuse to participate at all. “[Mine are] the only parents in history that didn't do the hometown,” Bachelor season 13 winner Melissa Rycroft recalled on Us Weekly’s “Here for the Right Reasons” podcast in 2020. “I remember my dad telling me, ‘You know, my coworkers are going to be watching this.’ … Back then it was harder to explain to them why I was going. They're like, ‘This is a stupid reality show, you're not gonna find your person.’ [Back then], you didn't get fame out of it. That's not why you were going on the show. They were terrified I was going to embarrass them with the hot tub scenes … They really did not want me in a hot tub.” [jwplayer prUCrnUn-l3ahXupL] While Bachelor Jason Mesnick only spent time with Melissa’s friends during the 2009 season, he still proposed to the Dallas Cowboys cheerleader during the finale. Their romance didn’t last, however, with Jason dumping Melissa to reunite with runner-up (and now-wife) Molly Malaney. “I think if they could've picked, they wouldn't want their daughter being dumped on TV. I think it was just as hard for them to have to relive,” Melissa told Us. “Not relive — they didn't live it the first time — but to live, you know, through that and see me actually [going through it].” During traditional seasons of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, the lead travels to see his or her top four contestants with their families in their respective hometown. During season 16 of The Bachelorette, which was filmed at one location amid the coronavirus pandemic, the families traveled to La Quinta Resort in Palm Springs to meet lead Tayshia Adams. “When we get to hometowns, I always say, believe it or not, this is really the halfway mark because the season starts now,” longtime host Chris Harrison told Us in December 2020. “It’s not that everything before that wasn't meaningful, but those last few weeks are like years in. What's about to happen with families, with overnights, with meeting the other person's family, with the ring by and the proposals. And I mean, what's about to happen in these next few weeks is massive than it is life-changing. And [season 16] is very different even from prior seasons because hometowns had to come to us. Because of the pandemic, we had to bring everybody in. So, it's very different. And you had really a fish out of water sense of being for these poor people that were like, ‘Wait, what?’ You know moms and dads, like, ‘We didn't sign up [for this], but this is what's happening.’ So very different intimacy that you've got as well.” Scroll through for a breakdown of the most memorable hometown dates in Bachelor history:

Credit: Francisco Roman/ABC

Peter Weber and Victoria Fuller

During season 24 of The Bachelor, the pilot traveled to four hometowns … but only made it inside three houses. After Peter’s ex crashed the day portion of his date with Victoria — and claimed she was the reason several marriages “ended” in their Virginia Beach town — the pair fought outside of her parents’ house. While he didn’t meet her folks, Victoria scored a rose and was sent home the following week.

Credit: ABC/CRAIG SJODIN (2)

Jason Mesnick and Naomi Crespo

In case you missed season 13 contestant Naomi’s mother asking Jason to bury a dead bird in their backyard (that she hit with her car before he arrived and was storing in the freezer), you can relive the insane moment on Netflix.

Credit: ABC

JoJo Fletcher and Ben Higgins

Cue future Bachelorette JoJo’s mother chugging wine! JoJo’s parents and brothers were hard on the season 20 Bachelor, interrogating him about his feelings for her. Not to mention, JoJo’s ex-boyfriend Chad sending her roses to try and win her back hours before Ben arrived in Dallas.

“Watching back last season that was just a nightmare of a hometown date. I think everyone felt my pain,” JoJo recalled to reporters in 2016. “You saw my mom chug straight from a bottle, that’s how stressed she was. It definitely wasn’t the easiest hometown date."

Credit: Josh Vertucci/ABC

Rachel Lindsay and Dean Unglert

Despite having a strained relationship with his father, Dean brought Rachel to meet his “eccentric” dad on the 2017 season. While the season 13 Bachelorette encouraged Dean to mend his relationship with his dad, who converted to Sikhism following his divorce from Dean’s mother, it didn’t end well and Dean was sent packing.

Credit: Shutterstock; ABC

Sean Lowe and Desiree Hartstock

If you thought JoJo’s brothers were tough — meet Des’ brothers! The season 17 Bachelor wasn’t happy when Desiree’s family questioned his intentions and character and even referred to the born-again virgin as a “playboy.”

Credit: Shutterstock; Courtesy of Kirk Dewindt/Instagram

Ali Fedotowsky and Kirk DeWindt

Kirk was excited to show the season 6 Bachelorette his dad’s taxidermy collection, but it’s safe to say Ali didn’t share the same enthusiasm for dead animals.

Credit: ABC; Shutterstock

Amanda Stanton and Ben Higgins

Single mother Amanda introduced the season 20 Bachelor to her young daughters, Kinsley and Charlie, during the 2016 hometown — and it was clear Ben wasn’t quite ready to take on the role of stepfather after the little ones got cranky following their day at the beach. Much to her surprise, Ben sent Amanda home following the date.

“After our date with the girls, I thought there was no way he’d send me home,” Amanda wrote in her 2019 memoir. “Why would producers allow me to expose my children to this guy — and, not to mention, to the world — unless they knew I was going to be ‘The One?’ Surely Ben understood meeting someone’s kids is something you only do if you intend on sticking around, I thought. In hindsight, I realize how truly naïve I was back then.”

Credit: ABC

Colton Underwood and Cassie Randolph

The season 23 Bachelor couple’s hometown date was so awkward after her dad made it clear that he wasn’t going to give Colton his blessing, so they redid the Huntington Beach outing after he picked Cassie during the finale. After Colton temporarily moved into Cassie’s family home amid a battle with coronavirus in 2020, they split and she was granted a temporary restraining order against him, which was later dropped.

Credit: ABC/CRAIG SJODIN

Tenley Molzahn and Jake Pavelka

Tenley’s decision to dance for the season 14 Bachelor doesn’t just land her a spot on the most awkward hometown date list, but also guarantees a spot on the all-time cringeworthy moment list.

Credit: ABC/MARK BRENDEL

Vienna Girardi and Jake Pavelka

In addition to Vienna’s dad declaring that she needed to be treated like a “princess” during the season 14 hometown date, he also awkwardly busted into her bedroom while she and Jake were cuddling to remind them he was “right outside the door.”