On The Bachelorette season 21, Devin Strader and Sam McKinney were central to the drama, often playing the role of rivals and becoming villains in Jenn Tran's story, but who's worse? Sam's dislike for Devin was clear early on, as he believed Devin was insincere and accused him of not being on the show for the right reasons. Sam felt Devin acted one way in front of Jenn and another behind the scenes, particularly disliking how Devin frequently pulled Jenn aside during group dates. However, Sam was ultimately sent home earlier than Devin.
Devin, for his part, also disliked Sam, a further disservice to Jenn, who was basically cast aside in her own season of The Bachelorette. Their rivalry escalated, with Devin openly mocking Sam on social media, even wearing a sweatshirt with one of Sam’s catchphrases, “Keep the main thing the main thing,” further intensifying the feud. As fans await The Bachelor season 29, it's time to evaluate who was the bigger villain in Jenn's story. Either way, her treatment wasn't fair.
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Sam McKinney Was Fake From The Start To The End Of The Season
He Was Never Real With Jenn
Sam quickly went from being perceived as a potential match for Jenn to a contestant who was insincere in his intentions. Initially, he seemed to make a strong connection with Jenn, but cracks in his authenticity began to show as Jenn embarked on more serious interactions. During the striptease date, Sam made a dramatic confession about already falling for Jenn, which felt out of place. While this could have been romantic, it came off as disingenuous.
His behavior toward the other contestants also further fueled skepticism about his character and revealed how The Bachelorette's producers failed Jenn. He clashed with several men, with viewers accusing him of bullying and being confrontational. His interactions with Devin in particular showcased his abrasive side, suggesting he felt rightfully threatened by Jenn's future fiancé. Before getting eliminated, Sam tried to shower Jenn with physical affection to avoid deeper conversations. He was fake from beginning to end of the season while toying with Jenn's heart, making him a villain.
Devin Strader Acted Like He Was Only There For Jenn
He Was There For Clout
While Sam was fake from the start, it's almost worse that Devin bared his heart to Jenn for an entire season only to yank it away off camera. His actions on The Bachelorette reveal a stark contrast between who he seemed to be on the show and who he was afterward. While he initially appeared to be on the show for Jenn, he revealed himself as a con artist after it was discovered he ended the engagement while still projecting a "good guy" all over social media.
Devin threatened to leave The Bachelorette and then left Jenn in the dust, making him a villain.
In a maniacal move, Devin posted photos that suggested he was still committed to Jenn, even after their breakup, which obviously happened months before fans were able to see the finale. He was dangling his win in front of Jenn's face, who is still undoubtedly hurt and heartbroken over his betrayal. He's a cold-hearted clout chaser who never cared about Jenn.
Sam Love-Bombed Jenn In An Attempt To Stay On The Show
He Wasn't Genuine
Sam knew he was in trouble, and instead of letting Jenn follow her heart, he tried to lovebomb her. It was a manipulative tactic that was easy to interpret as a desperate attempt to remain on the show. Instead of opening up and getting vulnerable with Jenn, Sam excessively complimented her, showed way too much physical affection for their relationship, and tried to make grand gestures rather than openly communicate with her. After initially showing lukewarm interest in Jenn, he began showering her with affection when it seemed like his time on The Bachelorette was up.
Simply put, Sam was always more concerned about securing his spot on the series. By portraying himself as suddenly head-over-heels for Jenn, he played into the narrative of The Bachelorette, which is built on the idea of finding love, all while manipulating Jenn's emotions. She deserved better than his empty displays of false affection. Sam appeared to be using Jenn's vulnerability to keep himself relevant on The Bachelorette, creating drama rather than getting to know her. Luckily, Jenn eventually saw through his tactic and sent him home.
Devin Essentially Ghosted Jenn After Filming The Bachelorette
He Just Wanted To Be On Camera
Sam might have lovebombed Jenn and been fake with her, but Devin might take the cake as The Bachelorette season 21's villain. Devin and Jenn's relationship on The Bachelorette started with a high, culminating in an engagement in Hawaii. However, it's now been revealed that things fell apart after filming. Jenn noticed an immediate change in Devin's behavior, with him not following through on promises they had made during the show, including plans to move in together and build a future. Devin became distant and pulled away from Jenn.
Jenn explained that after they left Hawaii, it felt like Devin's priorities shifted, and she gave him the benefit of the doubt, thinking it was due to the pressure of the show. However, things continued to worsen, and eventually, Devin broke off their engagement over the phone. He no longer loved her and regretted his proposal.
Just days after the breakup, Jenn discovered that Devin had started following other women on Instagram, including Maria Georgas which was super disrespectful. On the After the Final Rose special, Jenn confronted Devin, expressing how hurt she was by his actions and questioning whether their relationship had ever meant anything to him. He didn't defend himself adequately.
The Bachelorette Verdict
Devin Is The Bachelorette Season 21 Villain
Ultimately, Devin is a bigger villain than Sam. While Sam lovebombed Jenn and was never genuine, Devin made Jenn truly believe that he was the real deal and could be a loving husband to her. After the show, he continued to post about Jenn, capitalizing on his newfound fame. Additionally, Devin opened up to Jenn and even threatened to leave the show when there were other men still vying for her affection. He was upset that he wouldn't return his "I love you," but he left her in the dust after the cameras stopped rolling.
Devin is the biggest villain seen onscreen on The Bachelorette, but the real villains were the producers. Jenn was the first Asian-American Bachelorette and was meant to be uplifted and celebrated, but instead, she was torn down at every turn. The producers should be held accountable for casting terrible men like Devin and Sam and capitalizing on Jenn's emotions. Jenn was never the priority on The Bachelorette, and it's unacceptable. Devin is a villain, but The Bachelorette's producers are to blame as well.
