December 1, 2021

'The Bachelorette' recap: Hometowns end with a devastating elimination

WATCH: Meet Michelle Young, the new ‘Bachelorette’

It was time for hometowns on Tuesday's episode of "The Bachelorette" and with just four men left, Michelle faced her most difficult rose ceremony yet.

The remaining suitors -- Brandon J., Joe, Nayte and Rodney -- were unable to travel to their real hometowns due to COVID-19, but each did their best to show off their own hometown stories with a series of fun dates that included skateboarding, paddleboarding, apple picking and a romantic prom.

MORE: 'The Bachelorette' recap: Michelle picks her final 4, will meet their families
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Each date ended with Michelle meeting the guys' families, which mostly went well. Michelle's conversations with Nayte's mother and stepfather, however, raised some red flags when they expressed doubt as to whether Nayte -- who would later profess his love for Michelle -- was really ready for a lifetime commitment.

Luckily, two of Michelle's best friends -- Bri and Serena P., with whom she formed a bond while competing together on Matt James' season of "The Bachelor" -- paid Michelle a surprise visit.

Ultimately, Michelle followed her heart, picking Nayte along with Joe and Brandon. Rodney ended up being the odd man out.

Craig Sjodin/ABC
Nayte, Joe, Rodney and Brandon J. in scene from "The Bachelorette."

Rodney declared that he was still "falling in love" with her, adding, "I'm always gonna care about you Michelle. Forever."

Here are the men going to fantasy suites:

Brandon J., 27, a traveling nurse recruiter from Portland, Oregon

Joe, 28, a real estate developer from Minneapolis, Minnesota

Nayte, 27, a sales executive from Austin, Texas

"The Bachelorette" returns for the "Men Tell All" episode on Monday, Dec. 6, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.