Grant Ellis and Litia Garr came face-to-face for the first time after he sent her packing in The Bachelor season 29 finale.
Litia, 31, claimed during the live portion of the Monday, March 24, episode that she and Grant, also 31, discussed their future throughout the season — and during their final date.
“Grant and I had talked a lot about that day, and everything that he had ever said about it was that it was going to be us,” she told host Jesse Palmer. “We were getting engaged from, you know, the first one on one that we had in L.A. until the night before that day. I remember saying goodbye to him and saying, ‘Oh my Gosh, we are getting engaged tomorrow.’ And he said, ‘I know I can’t wait. I love you. I love you. I love you.’ Those were the last words that he said to me before I walked up there. So it was a shock.”
Litia alleged that every time she “pumped the breaks” on their relationship, Grant “pushed the gas.” She also claimed that Grant told her she was his “No. 1 emotional connection,” adding, “There’s just no way to misinterpret that.” She added that Grant had previously told her that he could “stop the show” early since he knew she was The One.
In the season finale of the ABC series, Grant admitted he was torn between Litia and Juliana Pasquarosa after telling both of them he loved them. While Litia told Grant, “pick me,” he appeared to have reservations about the pair not being on the same page when it comes to their timeline for having children — and ultimately sent her home.
“This is hard for me. Litia, I love you very much. I want to give you everything that you deserve. But I’m not your person. And I’m sorry that it got to this point. My emotional connection is stronger somewhere else,” he said, to which she replied, “When did it change?”
“It didn’t change. I do love you — I don’t want you to feel like I haven’t been open or honest. I hope you don’t look at me differently,” he said, as Litia responded, “Well, I do, for sure.”
Litia said she would have “a lot of questions” if she were Juliana based on what Grant had said. While the twosome walked to her car, Grant asked Litia if he had been misleading her. “The switch-up is crazy,” she said. “I’m disappointed. … I just want to be so clear that I’m confused and I’m sad. And I’m mad.”
When Grant joined Litia on stage at the live portion, she said he started out with “great intentions” and noted that she doesn’t think he’s a “bad guy.” Grant, who said he needed to “accept accountability” for his actions, apologized to Litia for “hurting” her, her feelings and the people who loved her. He added that he didn’t regret telling Litia he loved her.
“I stand on what I said, but what I do regret is the mistakes that I made and speaking early on situations when I didn’t know how conflicted I’d be,” he said, to which Litia argued that there was “no transparency” that he was so torn.
Litia added that it was “news” to her that Grant was hesitant about her timeline with kids. “I’m excited for this to be the last time that I talk to you about this,” she said. “I’m glad that this whole, that last week and that last day, isn’t a part of my love story. I know that I deserve someone waking up one morning and knowing without a shadow of a doubt that they are going to choose me.”
One week before Grant broke things off with Litia, he dropped the L-bomb just before the pair headed to the fantasy suites for an overnight date.
“I think the maturity that you bring is big. I like the ground that you stand on, and I know where your priorities are, and I know what’s important to you, it’s what you are on the inside that I can see myself with you. And see you as my wife, because I do love you,” Grant told Litia, who conveyed the same feelings and said, “I love you, too.”
Grant later told the cameras that he had only said those three words one other time in his life — and feared that he shouldn’t have confessed his love for Litia with the other women remaining. (Grant had not yet sent home second runner-up Zoe McGrady, but it was clear he was talking about Juliana.)
“Maybe I should have waited a little longer,” he admitted. “I do love her, but I also am falling hard — and, if not, very close to — in love with somebody else. I never thought it would be possible to be in love with multiple women.”
While reflecting on his season, Grant shared in his Us Weekly cover story that he fell in love with two women. “I didn’t think it was possible, but it is,” he said of being in love with two people at the same time. “You probably should avoid it, though.”
Grant noted that “it’s very hard” to be the Bachelor “when you develop feelings and then tell people how you feel.”
“You’re honest and sincere, and you try not to hold back — because that’s the way you find your person — but it’s easy to be villainized because you don’t want to lead anybody on,” he said. “A man dating multiple women is already at a disadvantage. You just have to be careful and see where the cards fall.”
The Bachelor franchise will be back with Bachelor in Paradise season 10.
