The announcement heard round the world: Ben Higgins broke Bachelor rules and told both of the final contestants he’s in love with them, a feeling he has reiterated in every interview since he genuinely did feel. However, Chris Harrison threw an even bigger curveball at the start of the live viewing party of The Bachelor’s season 20 finale: Ben Higgins may just be a married man at the end of the night. The girls’ families were flown in, Ben’s hometown pastor was brought in, and Neil Lane was front row and center, wedding bands in hand.
After announcing he’s now engaged to Lauren, Chris teases the most exciting reveal of the night: the announcement of the new Bachelorette!
First, we get to see present-day Ben Higgins, excited about what the journey has brought him and excited to finally get to be with his fiancee out in public. Getting straight to it, Chris asks him about Jojo and how it felt to fall in love with two women at the same time. “What’s it like? It makes your mind go in a million different directions,” he says.
As for Jojo, he hasn’t been able to watch the show back because “It’s not a best case scenario. It makes my stomach hurt.” He stands by the fact that the feelings he had were real, that he’s not regretful of having admitted he loves her because he doesn’t want to look back on this situation and regret anything.
When they bring her out, Jojo seems less nervous than Ben does. She’s in a good mood and it’s nice to see their chemistry is still there. Like Amanda, she admits that watching how hard it was for him helped her feel better about the situation. Rehashing the situation obviously brings back memories for both of them, their easy mood faltering slightly, especially as she tells him that she felt slightly misled.
Staying on it, though, when asked what he feels about her now. Ben plays it neutral and says he has a lot of respect for her still. However, is he still in love with her? It’s simple: he’s at an entirely different point in his life and he’s been able to move on with everything that’s been happening, a feeling she seems to agree with. She repeats that her own confusion has been cleared up after watching the season back and seeing his connection with Lauren.
In regard to her own feelings on the whole affair, Jojo is adamant that watching the season back over the past few weeks has cleared up any of her confusion. She does ask him what his deciding factor was, though, as it appeared he was confused until the last minute. He tells her it was just because he started thinking about everything and he just couldn’t picture himself without Lauren.
The two part ways amicably...a good thing, considering Chris Harrison chooses that moment to announce Jojo as the next Bachelorette! (So what about Caila? Bachelor In Paradise, maybe?) Can’t lie, I’m already excited for next season with this reveal.
Not putting any of the possible wedding rumors to rest, Lauren finally comes out wearing a white dress. The two gush over their excitement over finally being able to be in public together, but Chris Harrison cuts straight to it: how did she handle watching him confess he loved Jojo?
Turns out, they hashed everything out almost immediately after the romantic proposal. It’s really hard to pay attention to what she’s saying when she and Ben are beaming at each other excitedly, clearly in love. Lauren announces she’s moving to Denver in the next couple weeks, but they’re really more excited to finally (publicly) date and show each other off to their friends and family.
They’re interrupted by the night's special guest: Jimmy Kimmel. Pretending to be a reporter for Parade Magazine, he asks them the basics: “Where do babies come from?,” “At your wedding, will there be cake?” and, pulling out Barbie and Ken dolls, “What happens in the fantasy suite? Show me on the dolls where you touched each other.”
Finally, we get to the surprise of the night: Chris reveals Ben’s pastor is here, challenging him to keep his word. Stepping out of it gracefully, he thanks Denny for being there and instead steals America’s hearts one more time as he brings Lauren’s family out and proposes to her with her family and friends present this time. The families intermingle for a minute, all finally meeting each other.
Ben finally parts with his title of Bachelor, settling on a wedding date of “very soon” and thanking Bachelor Nation for all of their support.
The Bachelorette premieres on May 23.