The Bachelorette season 21 star Jenn Tran has a strong connection with Sam McKinney, but she's ignoring his red flags, which could be a problem for her in the future. During The Bachelorette season 21 premiere night, Jenn, a 26-year-old physician assistant student originally from Hillsdale, New Jersey, but currently living in Boston, Massachusetts, immediately felt drawn to Sam McKinney, a 27-year-old contractor from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Not only did she give him her first impression rose, but she also gave him the first and only kiss of the night, which was actually a long makeout session.
Throughout The Bachelorette season 21, Jenn and Sam's connection has grown. Their physical attraction is undeniable, but they've also been getting closer on an emotional level. Jenn even invited him on a one-on-one date during episode 4. However, Sam has exhibited some red flag behavior that Jenn has chosen to ignore, which she might live to regret in the future.
1Sam Only Seems To Care About His Physical Relationship With Jenn
Sam Always Goes In For The Kiss
Jenn and Sam have an undeniable physical attraction to each other and great chemistry. However, sometimes it seems as though that's all their relationship is based on. Somehow, every one of their conversations turns into a steamy makeout session, and they're much more than the chaste kisses that a lot of the leads share with their contestants. Although Jenn seems to love kissing Sam, she has to start realizing that a relationship needs more than just physical chemistry to survive.
When Jenn was terrified about jumping from the Auckland Sky Tower in New Zealand on their one-on-one date, Sam asked her to give him a kiss in the middle of her emotional struggle, but she ignored him. Jenn said in her confessional that he wasn't reading her emotions. It was disturbing that he would be thinking about kissing her when she was clearly in distress. Sam didn't seem to want to understand Jenn's feelings at all.
Later in the date, Sam and Jenn bonded about their past relationships, and he even opened up about how he was cheated on by his ex-fiancée, but it might not be enough at this point. Jenn has deep emotional relationships with men such as Devin Strader and Marcus Shoberg, which might surpass the physical connection that she has with Sam. It's definitely a red flag that Sam and Jenn's relationship is based more on their physical attraction than anything else.
2Sam McKinney Ignores Jenn Tran's Feelings
Sam Forced Jenn Into Doing Something That She Wasn't Comfortable With
During Jenn and Sam's one-on-one date, Sam wanted to participate in the Auckland Sky Tower Jump, but Jenn's afraid of heights, so she didn't want to. He continuously tried to pressure her into doing it, even setting up a session for them, and she was upset that he wasn't reading her emotions. Jenn said that it didn't feel like a date, but rather it felt more like Sam just wanted to jump off of a building because he was "an adrenaline junkie."
Jenn admitted that she felt very alone while she was facing her fear. This is a red flag because Jenn has opened up about her toxic exes in the past. She doesn't need another man who's unwilling to listen to her feelings. Although Sam and Jenn did eventually take the leap, and Jenn was happy that she did, the whole situation was problematic, especially when he was smirking and laughing at her.
Sam tried to spin it as though he was encouraging Jenn to face her fears, and it was something that they could do together. He said that they could look back on it when they were married and marvel that they did it. However, it actually was indicative of Sam being manipulative and refusing to hear what Jenn was saying, which could happen again in the future if Sam doesn't get his way. Sam won Jenn over by being vulnerable at dinner, but she should keep her guard up around him.
3Sam Appears To Be Very Controlling
Sam Has To Have His Way
The Sky Jump incident was very concerning because it showed Sam's need to be in control. When the waiter asked them if they'd like to jump or take a walk around the perimeter of the tower, Jenn replied that a walk sounded lovely. However, Sam interrupted and said, "No. We would like to jump." It was a shocking case of Sam, who's probably used to getting what he wants in real life, making a decision for Jenn.
Every time Sam seemed as though he was understanding and accepting Jenn's feelings, he interjected a "but" into his statements. "I want her to be comfortable, but I also want her to be comfortable being uncomfortable," was just one example of Sam speaking this way. Sam seemed to have forgotten that it was Jenn's Bachelorette season, and she was in control. However, Jenn also needs to be more assertive and not allow people to push her around. She can't let her attraction to Sam cloud her judgment.
4Sam Can Be Very Fake
Sam Quoted A Movie When Speaking To Jenn
After The Bachelorette season 21 episode 3 male stripper revue group date, Jenn asked Sam if she made him "flustered," and he replied, "No, you just bother me." When Sam then went in for a kiss, Jenn said, "Oh shut up! What line ... what movie did you get that from?" Sam replied, "I wouldn't be doing this if you didn't bother me."Sam's words are actually from the 2016 film The Choice, in which Benjamin Walker's character Travis tells Teresa Palmer's character Gabby that he kissed her "Because you bother me."
Although it's good that Jenn was able to recognize Sam's line for what it was, she chose to ignore this behavior. While quoting movies isn't in itself a red flag, and can even be cute or romantic, in light of Sam's other qualities, it makes him appear fake and calculating. Sam isn't naturally talking to Jenn, but instead playing a role. It's definitely something that Jenn should pay attention to in the future, in order to make sure that she's getting the real, authentic Sam.
5Sam Is Insecure Around The Other Men
Sam Always Has Something To Prove
Sam's obsession with his fellow Bachelorette season 21 contestant, Devin, is just one of the things that makes him seem insecure. He's constantly picking fights with him, and accusing him of being a bully, when nothing could be further from the truth. It seems that Sam might actually be worried about Devin's connection with Jenn, and even jealous of him, so he has to knock him down in order to make himself feel better.
Although Jenn doesn't see this side of Sam because he's good at hiding it from her, his pushy physical attraction towards her should be a clue that something isn't completely right with their relationship. This was especially evident during his aggressive dance during the male stripper revue group date. Sam always seems like he's trying to prove that his connection with Jenn is the strongest. However, it makes him come off as fake and forced, which is another red flag.
6Sam Doesn't Value Others' Opinions
Sam Is Always Thinking About Himself
Devin said it best when he told Sam that he only values certain people's opinions, and then mocks everyone else. This happened after Sam laughed in Sam Nejad's face when he tried to explain why he declared his love for Jenn in front of all of the other guys during the male stripper revue group date. Jenn also got a taste of this when Sam tried to force her to jump off the building in Auckland. His laughter was insulting, and she felt that he was only thinking about himself.
Hopefully, Jenn will catch a glimpse of how belittling Sam can be towards the other men in the house, especially Devin. Sam only thinks about himself. While it's understandable that Sam wants to push himself to the front of the line when it comes to Jenn, there's no reason for him to be just plain mean to other human beings, and try to make them feel less-than.
7Sam Doesn't Take Accountability For His Actions
Sam Blames Others For His Bad Behavior
Throughout The Bachelorette season 21, Sam hasn't taken any accountability for his actions, and constantly blames others for his bad behavior because he feels that they deserve it. He uses his catchphrase, "keep the main thing the main thing," to justify why he's so dismissive of the other men, meaning that he came there for Jenn and only Jenn. However, there's no reason that he has to be so disrespectful.
Jenn got a little taste of how Sam behaves in a conflict when he was forcing her to jump from the building. Instead of realizing that he was being pushy, he continued to coax Jenn until she gave in to him. When he finally told her not to do it, he'd pushed so hard that it didn't seem sincere. Jenn has to realize that this is a red flag, and that Sam needs to learn to recognize when his behavior is out of line. Instead, he made himself out to be a hero who helped Jenn to overcome a fear.
8Sam Is A Totally Different Person Around The Other Men & Acts Like A Villain
Sam Belittles & Bullies Others
Although Jenn doesn't see it, Sam is a totally different person around his fellow Bachelorette season 21 contestants, and acts like a villain. He laughs at them, mocks them, and gets into confrontations with them. This is especially true of Devin, whom he claims not to care about, but he's constantly talking about him. Although he called Devin a bully, Devin has stood up for what's right on more than one occasion. It's Sam who's belittled and bullied other people. In his confessional, Sam has even expressed physical violence towards Devin, saying he'd snap him in half, and if it was a competition, he'd step on his neck.
However, in front of Jenn, Sam is a totally different person. It's getting harder for him to hide his true colors though, especially since Jenn has now seen a new side to him when he pressured her into jumping off of the building. It'll be interesting to see how much longer Sam can hide this side of himself from her, or if he'll blow up on one of the men in front of her.
Sam definitely has some red flags that Jenn is choosing to ignore. While he's not all bad, he definitely should acknowledge that he could improve on himself and change his ways and bad behavior. If Jenn ends up with Sam, they might actually be happy together, but she should keep her eyes open and beware of his red flags.
