The Bachelor season 28 ended with Joey Graziadei getting down on one knee and proposing to Kelsey Anderson, but their relationship wasn't without its ups and downs. The 28-year-old tennis professional was introduced to 32 eligible single women, which was the highest number of women to participate in the long-running series in a season. After a whole season of group dates, one-on-one excursions, rose ceremonies, hometown visits, cocktail parties, and dramatic interludes, Joey gave his final rose to 25-year-old junior project manager Kelsey.
The Bachelor season 28 was filmed several months before the finale aired, so Joey and Kelsey had to keep their relationship a secret the whole time. They weren't very good at doing so, as they inadvertently posted social media photos, which led to speculation they were vacationing together. When they finally went public with their relationship, it all seemed like a dream come true. The happy couple walked off into the sunset hand-in-hand, but since then, there have been signs of trouble in paradise.
Joey & Kelsey's Journey
A Whirlwind Romance
Joey and Kelsey hit it off right away, and Kelsey quickly solidified herself as one of the front-runners for winning Joey's heart. From the moment she stepped out of the limousine and into his life on night one of The Bachelor season 28, the two had chemistry. They even kissed on the first night, during the cocktail party. Joey was instantly drawn to Kelsey's warmth, and she was attracted to his boyish charm.
After the overnight dates, Joey had a serious scare when Kelsey sent a note to his hotel room, saying that they needed to talk. Joey, whose biggest fear was he'd meet the right woman, but she'd then leave him, freaked out and braced himself for the worst.
Still, the incident freaked Joey out, and he shut down. It was unclear if he'd get over the scare in time to hand out his final two roses. In the end, he gave Kelsey a rose and eliminated Rachel Nance. It was no surprise when Joey whittled the women down to Kelsey and 25-year-old Daisy Kent. In the end, Joey gave his final rose to Kelsey, but it's not clear their relationship will work out.
Joey & Kelsey Are Already In Therapy
They Have Different Communication Styles
In March, just days after The Bachelor 28 season finale aired on ABC and the couple went public with their relationship, Joey and Kelsey told Business Insider that they were already in couples counseling. They explained they wanted to start counseling when things were good instead of waiting until there was a conflict in the relationship. They said that counseling had helped them get to know each other. It made them understand that they have different communication styles.
Though it's always admirable to seek professional help, starting couples counseling this early in a relationship could be a sign of trouble. Dating on a reality show makes it hard to really get to know someone. It's a curated experience in a highly produced and manufactured reality. It would be nearly impossible to learn who someone is until the cameras stop rolling.
The counseling could help them learn to communicate properly with each other, but it's hard not to read it as a bad sign this early in the relationship.
Kelsey Wants More Children Than Joey
Family Planning
One of the things Kelsey learned about Joey after The Bachelor season 28 stopped filming was that he's a big sports fan. They told TV Insider that he likes the Green Bay Packers, while she's a Minnesota Vikings fan, but he insists their children would be Green Bay fans. Though the banter about their future children is really sweet and cute, they don't seem to agree on the number of children they want to have. Kelsey said she wants as many children as possible, while Joey wants two or three at the most.
Joey replied that he was simply "too logical" to think like that.
Kelsey & Joey Haven't Set A Date Yet
It's Not A Good Sign
The Bachelor season 28 wrapped filming in November 2023, which is when Joey and Kelsey got engaged. Seven months have passed since Joey put a ring on it, but the couple seem nowhere near picking a date. During the TV Insider interview, Kelsey and Joey both said they've got a lot going on and don't want to add the pressure of planning a wedding to the mix.
Joey and Kelsey talked about going on a recent vacation to Hawaii with fellow Bachelor Nation couples Charity Lawson and Dotun Olubeko, along with Kaity Biggar and Zach Shallcross. Bachelor couples like spending time together because they share this unique experience of getting engaged on a reality show. It must be very helpful to have the Bachelor Nation support system to lean on.
The Bachelor Curse?
Déjà Vu
The Golden Bachelor season 1 stars Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist recently announced their divorce. Gerry, the 72-year-old widower and retired restaurateur, hit it off with multiple single women during the season but ultimately gave his final rose to 69-year-old fellow widower Theresa. Gerry and Theresa's Golden Bachelor wedding took place just a few weeks later, on January 4. The couple represented the hope of finding love later in life, so there were a lot of people rooting for them.
Sadly, Gerry and Theresa announced their split in April, citing where to live as the demise of their marriage.
Now, Kelsey and Joey are also complaining they can't decide where they want to live. Joey works as a fitness pro in Hawaii, while Kelsey works in Louisiana. Moving would be a huge life change for either of them. Though the issue isn't necessarily insurmountable, it could end as badly for The Bachelor couple as it did for The Golden Bachelor couple.
