Tuesday, 19 Nov 2024

Denver, meet your new co-“Bachelorette” — Gabby Windey

(If you haven’t seen the episode yet, stop reading now to prevent spoilers.)

Denverite Gabby Windey may have recently had a rough go at dating as one of the top three ladies competing for Clayton Echard’s heart and marriage proposal on the “The Bachelor,” but turns out, her journey isn’t over yet.

Windey will co-star on the upcoming season of “The Bachelorette” alongside fellow finalist Rachel Recchia, the show announced Tuesday via a live broadcast during the finale of “The Bachelor.”

Host Jesse Palmer suggested both women would simultaneously date a couple dozen dudes in one cohesive season. While not unprecedented – the show formerly pit two women against each other on night one to see who got the most votes from the contestants to be the bachelorette, cringe – the announcement did seem like much was left to be decided.

“Who knows what this thing is going to look like, but we’re all going to figure it out,” Palmer said.

The announcement was vindication for both the women and for “Bachelor Nation” after seeing the conclusion to Echard’s season, which can most accurately be described as a complete disaster. In Monday night’s episode, both Windey and Recchia met Echard’s parents in Iceland — typically the final step before a proposal. But viewers quickly learned it was all for not.

RELATED: Why Denver’s Gabby Windey did not accept Clayton’s rose — at least initially

Echard was still hung up on Susie Evans, the top contender who left after finding out the bachelor had not only slept with the remaining competitors but also told them he loved them. Still, he couldn’t shake this feeling that Evans was the one.

Tuesday night’s episode began with Echard telling Windey and Recchia his “heart is no longer here, it’s with Susie.” This news came days after Windey initially declined Echard’s rose, but then accepted it after he groveled, unabashedly begging her to stay. Windey, already a fan favorite, achieved icon status by putting the bachelor in his place.

“You asked me to stay because you were pissed and your pride was hurt because Susie left,” she told him. “You actually sound ridiculous.”

When Echard asked to walk her out, she immediately retorted, “No.”

Recchia’s breakup was much more emotional, as evidenced by the smeared mascara under her eyes. Both women had the opportunity to confront him in person during live interviews, and neither held back.

“When you say you love someone, you’re assuming responsibility to protect them, to care for them and not to hurt them, and you didn’t do any of those things,” Windey said, as her now legendary grandpa sat beaming in the studio audience. “I don’t think you know the weight of your words.”

“None of these emotions are for you or about you,” Recchia said through tears. “I became collateral damage in your journey to find love.”

Twitter, like Windey’s grandfather, was aflame with support for the women (and dragging Clayton). So it’s perhaps unsurprising that both ladies earned the titular lead role.

Some even championed Windey’s grandpa to star in the next season in some capacity.

As for Clayton? Well, after all that, he begged Evans to give him a second chance. In the show’s signature final rose ceremony, he flaunted a ring box and spilled his undying love to her.

“It’s not over to me until you say it is,” Echard pleaded.

“I feel like it’s over,” Evans responded, before leaving him standing alone in the pouring rain in Iceland. Ouch.

But host Palmer was adamant during the live portion of the show, “no one knows how this is going to end!” He welcomed Echard out for an interview alongside his now girlfriend — Evans. Turns out, the two took some time apart and rekindled their relationship. While not engaged, the former bachelor is soon hoping to move in with Evans in Virginia, he said, and they’re both planning to live happily ever after. Presumably. We won’t hold our breath.

Instead, we’ll be anxiously awaiting our local contestant’s journey to find love. Asked if there’s anything she had to say to the innumerable potential suitors watching with anticipation, Windey responded accordingly: “Hell yeah!”

Stay tuned for the drama to come this spring.

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