The Bachelorette season 21 contestant Aaron Erb self-eliminated from the show in order to pursue his dream of becoming a fighter pilot, but his early exit proves that the show doesn't care about Jenn Tran. Jenn, a 26-year-old physician assistant student from Hillsdale, New Jersey who currently lives in Boston, Massachusetts, is making history as the first-ever Asian American Bachelor franchise lead. She got her start on Joey Graziadei's Bachelor season, and she's now ready to continue her journey to find love on The Bachelorette season 21.
Throughout The Bachelorette season 21, Jenn has been narrowing down her group of 25 men in order to find her future husband. One of those men was Aaron, a 29-year-old aerospace engineer from Tulsa, Oklahoma. He's the twin brother of fan-favorite Bachelor Nation alum Noah Erb, who appeared on The Bachelorette season 16 and later fell in love with his fiancée, Abigail Heringer, during Bachelor in Paradise season 7. Aaron hoped that The Bachelorette would work for him as well, but his self-elimination proved that he might not have been there for the right reasons.
Aaron Erb Shouldn't Have Joined The Bachelorette Knowing That He Might Have To Leave
Aaron Left The Show To Pursue His Own Dream
Aaron loves everything to do with aviation. During his Bachelorette season 21 premiere package, (shared in part via the Bachelorette Instagram page), he shared that, for the last two and a half years, he's been applying to fighter units because he wants to be an F-22 Raptor pilot. Aaron said that he's "superexcited to chase that dream." During The Bachelorette season 21 episode 3, Aaron received a phone call from his supervisor in the Air Force stating that his fighter pilot training dates had just come through. He'd been waiting a year and a half for the call.
Before Aaron exited the show, he explained to Jenn that he wished that he was further along in their relationship to the point that he'd think that, as long as he had her in his life, he'd be happy. Aaron made the decision that he was going to choose his dreams, which Jenn completely understood. She said that she'd do the same thing. However, Aaron should never have joined The Bachelorette in the first place if he knew that it was possible that he'd have to leave in order to go to flight training, especially if he'd been waiting a year and a half for it.
Aaron Appeared To Be A Bachelorette Producer Plant
Aaron Had Some Suspicious Behavior
Throughout The Bachelorette season 21, Aaron exhibited behavior that made it appear as though he were a producer plant. Aaron quickly developed an obsession with Devin Strader, and was constantly in conflict with him. Aaron was offended when Devin stole Jenn away for some gelato during a group date because he felt that group dates should only include group activities. This was an odd complaint considering that The Bachelorette is made up of stolen moments between the contestants and the lead. He should know that since his brother was once a contestant on the show.
In addition, Aaron and Devin got into a tug-of-war over Jenn when Devin interrupted Aaron's one-on-one time with her to bring her an ice cream sundae. Aaron then stole Devin back from her, and then Devin returned again to do the same. It was a ridiculous display. However, Aaron's most suspicious action was when he gave Devin a self-improvement book called, Principles for Self-Growth: How to Understand Yourself and Gain Emotional Depth by Dr. Brandon O. Conner, that was similar to the one that Bennett Jordan gave Noah during The Bachelorette season 16. However, Aaron never mentioned Noah's book, which was very strange.
Aaron's book doesn't seem to exist outside of the show, and the author shares a name with one of the show's producers. In addition, the book has a misprint on its spine that says, "Priciples for Self-Growth," which is very suspicious. Aaron had a prior connection to the show through his brother Noah, so it's highly possible that the producers hired him to stir up drama on the show, knowing that he'd probably leave for flight training. The producers didn't care if his exit hurt Jenn in any way; they just wanted to create chaos.
Aaron Left Jenn With A Cryptic Warning
Aaron Refused To Say Who He Thought Wasn't There For The Right Reasons
Before Aaron exited The Bachelorette season 21, he told Jenn that he cared about her and that there were so many good guys in her group. However, Aaron added that he wasn't going to name names, but there were people there who weren't ready to be engaged at the end of the season. Aaron said that some people weren't ready and some might not be there for the right reasons.
Jenn told Aaron that it was unfair for him not to tell her, but he said that it was on her to figure out who it was. In her confessional, Jenn called the conversation "disingenuous" because Aaron wouldn't tell her who it was. She said it was "cruel." Jenn was absolutely right that Aaron shouldn't have said anything about this if he wasn't willing to give her names. It was wrong of him to hold back that information from her. The fact that she called him disingenuous is a clue that she was maybe picking up on the fact that he himself wasn't there for the right reasons.
It seemed that Aaron only had that conversation with Jenn to create doubt, which led to her making a speech to the men in which she told them to leave if they weren't serious about the experience. It was yet another example of manufactured drama. The tension that Aaron created was unnecessary, and it seemed scripted by the producers. Aaron always seemed to be at the center of many of the conflicts on the show.
Aaron's self-elimination from The Bachelorette season 21 is yet another example of the producers manipulating Jenn's season. He should never have joined the show in the first place, knowing that he could get called to flight training. In addition, Aaron's time on the show seemed scripted by the producers to create drama. Hopefully, Jenn will find the love that she deserves, and she'll get engaged at the end of The Bachelorette season 21, despite the fact that the producers don't seem to have her best interests at heart.
