If there’s one thing Maria is going to do on The Bachelor, it’s stand her ground. The fan-favorite contestant addressed the ongoing drama circulating from the past four episodes of Joey Graziadei’s season in a lengthy TikTok video posted on Monday, hours before episode six of the show aired. Maria has been caught up in a dispute with some of the other contestants for weeks now that started when Sydney took issue with her response to Madina’s confession about feeling insecure about her age.
Sydney then raised some questions about her fellow housemate’s intentions and character to Joey in episode three, accusing Maria of “bullying,” which spiraled the dispute further and raised Joey’s alarms. Maria and Sydney hashed things out on a two-on-one date with Joey in Malta that aired last week, but even after Sydney was sent home, things didn’t exactly ease up for Maria.
First Impression Rose recipient Lea took up Sydney’s fight, taking issue with Madina acting civil towards Maria after Sydney’s exit. In a confessional, Lea called Maria “a drama queen crybaby.” In her video response, Maria acknowledged that episodes 4 and 5 were challenging to watch due to the drama and her display of a more sensitive side to Joey.
She emphasized the intense emotions in the environment and how it can overwhelm everyone involved. Maria admitted that the end of episode 5 was her breaking point, stating, “I’m out. They win.” Despite not being innocent in the unfolding events, Maria refused to apologize for standing her ground but expressed a desire to handle situations differently in the future.
She highlighted the importance of defending her character while also acknowledging her imperfections. Maria encouraged viewers to spread positivity and take responsibility for their actions. Despite the ongoing drama, Maria and Joey have made progress in their relationship, with Joey expressing his happiness around her.
During a two-on-one date, Joey chose to give the rose to Maria, emphasizing how good she makes him feel. Maria shared her initial hopefulness about Joey but expressed having unanswered questions due to recent events. The Bachelor airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
