Who Won ‘The Bachelor’ Season 28? Joey Graziadei Makes His Decision in Shocking Finale
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[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for The Bachelor Season 28 finale.]
Joey Graziadei has been on an epic journey to find love again after getting his heart broken by Charity Lawson. At the beginning of The Bachelor Season 28, Joey was surrounded by 32 beautiful women vying for his heart. Now, it’s down to Kelsey Anderson and Daisy Kent.
The highly-anticipated conclusion to Joey’s love story has finally arrived in a three-hour finale event that includes the After the Final Rose special. The way Joey’s Bachelor journey ends has been called “heartwrenching” by host Jesse Palmer. So, who ultimately won Joey’s heart?
Jesse helps kick the night off on the After the Final Rose stage and notes that it’s officially the 22nd anniversary of The Bachelor. Fellow Bachelor Nation alums Charity, Dotun Olubeko, Maria Georgas, Jenn Tran, Rachel Nance, and The Golden Bachelor’s Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist are in the audience to watch the finale.
The host stresses that what happened in Tulum has “never happened before” and “history will be made here tonight.” After Joey’s choice is revealed, the reality star and his final two ladies will discuss the “most surprising, most dramatic, and most heartwrenching ending ever” live.
Joey’s family arrives in Tulum to help guide him in this final chapter. He’s thrilled for his family to meet Daisy and Kelsey. Joey brings Daisy to meet his family first. A tearful Daisy says this “whole experience has changed my life.” Joey’s sisters, Ellie and Carly, take Daisy aside to chat.
Daisy tells Joey’s sisters that she would accept Joey’s proposal if he does pop the question. “I am in love with him, and I haven’t told him yet,” she says. Joey admits to his sisters that one of his “biggest fears” with Daisy is this “feeling of her holding back.” Ellie believes Daisy would be “heartbroken” if Joey doesn’t choose her. Joey’s mom tells Daisy she would be “honored” to have her as a daughter-in-law.
Joey introduces Kelsey to his family next. Kelsey is an open book and talks about losing her mom. Joey’s mom notices the “emotional connection” between Kelsey and Joey right away. During her conversation with Joey’s sisters, Kelsey tells them she thinks she’s ready to accept his proposal, which makes them worry. Joey’s sisters bring this up to him because they don’t want him to get rejected again.
Everything begins to shift on Joey’s final date with Daisy. They participate in a cleansing ritual, and Daisy admits that it “hurts” that Joey isn’t sure she’s the one. “My desire is for both of us to find true happiness, whether that’s with each other or just in general,” Joey tells Daisy, which makes her question everything.
Daisy still tells Joey that she loves him during the final moments of their one-on-one date. However, he doesn’t say it back. Daisy admits it’s “terrifying” that she didn’t get much of a response from Joey after her declaration.
In her confessional, Daisy feels like something is “off” with Joey. He’s being “measured and careful” with her. In his confessional, Joey reveals that he’s the “most conflicted” he’s ever been. Unfortunately, Daisy already thinks he’s not going to choose her. “If I’m being 100 percent honest, I don’t think it’s me,” Daisy says.
Kelsey puts all her cards on the table with Joey during their last one-on-one date. “I just love being with you, and I can’t get enough,” she gushes. “I just want it to be you.” Just like he handled Daisy’s confession, Joey doesn’t say “I love you” to Kelsey. But Kelsey comes away from her final date feeling much better about her relationship than Daisy.
The next day, Daisy is convinced that Joey is choosing Kelsey over her. She feels like Joey was “trying to prepare” her for his decision during their final date. “Love shouldn’t feel like it hurts this much,” an emotional Daisy says.
Daisy goes to Kelsey’s room to talk. She asks Kelsey how her time with Joey has been. Kelsey got “validation” from Joey that Daisy did not, which breaks Daisy’s heart. Despite her “doubts,” Daisy’s not ready to walk away.
As Joey waits on the beach, Daisy and Kelsey ride in the car together holding hands. A truly unprecedented moment. Daisy walks up to Joey first. Daisy tells Joey that she loves him again. “But the thing is, you’re not going to choose me,” Daisy says.
She’s realized over the last few days that Joey’s not her person. “As much as that hurts, I know you want the best for me. So I’m going to do what’s best for me, and I’m going to go,” Daisy continues. Joey offers to walk her out, but Daisy responds, “I think it’s something I should do on my own.”
Disney/John Fleenor
Joey is left crying on the beach as Daisy walks away. Daisy and Kelsey share a sweet hug before Daisy leaves. “I know that it’s right that it’s not me,” Daisy tells the camera when she’s in the car.
After he recovers from his emotional moment with Daisy, Joey greets Kelsey on the beach. “I can’t wait another minute to tell you that I love you,” Joey tells Kelsey. He sweetly calls Kelsey his “light” and raves over her “infectious energy.” Joey proposes to Kelsey, and she happily accepts. (Meanwhile, her dad is crying in the audience at After the Final Rose watching it back.)
During After the Final Rose, Joey sits down with Jesse solo. He reacts to Kelsey and Daisy’s girl power moment in Tulum. “They were empowering each other as they should be,” Joey says.
Daisy and Joey speak for the first time since Tulum when she’s brought out. “I’m so happy for you,” she tells Joey. They get the closure they’ve both needed from each other.
Kelsey and Joey are finally able to showcase their love publicly after months of waiting. Kelsey declares she’s “so excited for everyone to see how in love we are.” Jesse brings up how “eloquently” Kelsey has spoken about her late mother throughout the season. “I definitely feel her presence,” Kelsey says on After the Final Rose. “I know that she would love Joey without a doubt.”
Joey and Kelsey reveal they are the “strongest” they’ve ever been and have “grown so much” over the last couple of months. Kelsey reveals that Joey’s coming to New Orleans, and they are planning to move to New York in the summer. Before saying goodbye to Joey and Kelsey, Jesse hints that we may see Kelsey’s dad on The Golden Bachelorette!
Before the next Bachelorette is announced, Kelsey and Daisy reunite on After the Final Rose. They are both genuinely happy and supportive of one another. Daisy sweetly says she “can’t wait to watch” Joey and Kelsey get married.
In a surprising twist, Daisy is not the next Bachelorette. Fellow Season 28 star Jenn Tran is making history as The Bachelorette’s first Asian American lead.
