The "After the Final Rose" (ATFR) special is the moment Bachelor Nation lives for, a live, unedited look at the reality of a relationship that has been hidden from the public for months. As of today, December 12, 2025, the most recent season of The Bachelor, featuring Grant Ellis, delivered one of the most short-lived engagements in the franchise's history, confirming a devastating split that left fans reeling. The hope of a fairytale ending, cemented by a proposal in the Dominican Republic, quickly dissolved into a messy public breakup just weeks after the Season 29 finale and ATFR special aired.
The highly-anticipated reunion show for Grant Ellis and his final choice, Juliana Pasquarosa, promised a look at their new life and plans to move to Boston. Instead, the subsequent weeks delivered a swift and painful reality check, proving once again that the journey after the final rose is often more dramatic than the journey to get there. From runner-up drama involving Litia Garr to a shocking confession from Grant, here is the comprehensive, up-to-the-minute status of the most recent Bachelor couple and the state of the franchise.
The Bachelor Season 29 Lead: Grant Ellis Biography and Profile
Grant Ellis took the lead for Season 29 of The Bachelor, following his memorable run as a suitor on Jenn Tran's season of The Bachelorette (Season 21). His journey was marked by a charming, yet often indecisive, approach to finding love, culminating in a dramatic final choice.
- Full Name: Grant Russell Ellis
- Age: 31 (Born December 15, 1993)
- Hometown: Newark, New Jersey
- Current Residence: Houston, Texas
- Occupation: Day Trader (formerly a professional basketball player)
- Education: Graduate of Albertus Magnus College
- Franchise History: Finished fifth on The Bachelorette Season 21 (Jenn Tran's season) before being named The Bachelor Season 29 lead.
- Final Rose Result: Proposed to Juliana Pasquarosa in the Dominican Republic.
- Post-ATFR Status: Single, following a public breakup with Juliana Pasquarosa.
The Shocking Split: Grant and Juliana’s Short-Lived Engagement
The Season 29 "After the Final Rose" special, hosted by Jesse Palmer, was a whirlwind of emotional highs and uncomfortable lows. Grant Ellis and Juliana Pasquarosa appeared blissfully happy, confirming their engagement and revealing their immediate plans for the future, including a move to Boston and talks of a wedding.
However, the picture-perfect reunion was a façade that crumbled almost immediately. Less than three months after the ATFR aired, the couple announced their shocking split. This quick turnaround fueled intense speculation among Bachelor Nation fans, who questioned whether the relationship was ever truly solid outside the bubble of the show.
The Breakup Backlash and Conflicting Stories
The announcement of the split was met with significant backlash, with many fans blaming Grant Ellis for the relationship's demise. The pressure of maintaining a secret engagement for months, combined with the sudden transition to real life, proved too much for the couple.
Following the initial announcement, both Grant and Juliana took to social media and podcasts to clarify the situation, leading to conflicting narratives. Grant Ellis attempted to distance himself from the narrative that he was the one who initiated the split, claiming, "I didn't break up with anybody." This comment only intensified the scrutiny, as fans and media outlets interpreted his statement as deflecting responsibility for the end of the engagement. Juliana, in turn, acknowledged the pain and the difficulty of dealing with the public scrutiny, suggesting that the "immediate" shift after the cameras stopped rolling was the true cause of the relationship's failure.
The situation highlighted a persistent issue in the franchise: the transition from the highly controlled environment of filming to the harsh, unpredictable reality of a public relationship. Their engagement is now categorized alongside some of the shortest in the show’s history, reinforcing the notorious "Bachelor Curse."
The Lingering Drama: Litia Garr and the Runner-Up Controversy
No "After the Final Rose" is complete without revisiting the runner-up, and Season 29 was no exception. Litia Garr, who was heartbroken after Grant’s final rejection in the Dominican Republic, had a tense appearance on the ATFR stage. The drama, however, continued off-screen.
Litia accused Juliana of spoiling the finale outcome before the ATFR was even broadcast, claiming a conversation between the two contestants led to the premature reveal of the engagement. This public spat added an extra layer of controversy to an already dramatic season, keeping the names of all three individuals—Grant Ellis, Juliana Pasquarosa, and Litia Garr—in the headlines long after the final episode aired. The ongoing feuds and accusations are a classic example of how the show's drama extends into the real-world lives of its participants.
The State of Bachelor Nation: Other Post-ATFR Updates in 2025
The instability of Grant and Juliana's relationship is unfortunately not an isolated incident. The most recent seasons have demonstrated a concerning trend of short-lived engagements, providing crucial context for the topical authority of the franchise in late 2025.
The Bachelorette Season 21: Jenn Tran and Devin Strader
The most recent season of The Bachelorette saw Jenn Tran break tradition by proposing to her final choice, Devin Strader, in Hawaii. However, their post-ATFR update was equally disheartening. Jenn revealed during the live finale that she and Devin had ended their relationship shortly after the engagement. Devin reportedly expressed "regret" about the engagement almost immediately after filming concluded, leading to a swift and painful split for Jenn. This outcome, revealed on the ATFR stage, was a major shock to viewers and served as a prelude to the similar fate of Grant and Juliana.
The Bachelor Season 28: Joey Graziadei and Kelsey Anderson
In contrast to the recent splits, Season 28's couple, Joey Graziadei and Kelsey Anderson, remain one of the franchise's success stories in 2025. Their "After the Final Rose" special, which aired in March 2024, confirmed their strong engagement. They have navigated the challenges of public life, including rumors about their relationship status and Joey's participation in *Dancing with the Stars*. Their continued commitment offers a glimmer of hope that a lasting relationship can still emerge from the show's format, despite the recent track record of their successors.
The Golden Bachelorette: Joan Vassos’ Journey
The success of the spin-off, *The Golden Bachelorette*, also concluded with a highly-rated finale and "After the Final Rose" special in November 2024. Joan Vassos's emotional journey to find a second lasting love provided a mature and compelling counter-narrative to the younger, more volatile seasons. These spin-offs are now crucial to the franchise's overall topical authority, suggesting that viewers are increasingly invested in diverse love stories, even as the main shows struggle to produce lasting couples.
The drama surrounding Grant Ellis and Juliana Pasquarosa’s breakup, coupled with the rapid split of Jenn Tran and Devin Strader, has led to a major discourse about the future of The Bachelor franchise. With two consecutive seasons ending in immediate post-ATFR breakups, the show faces pressure to re-evaluate its format and focus. As Bachelor Nation looks ahead, the question remains whether the next season will finally deliver a couple that can survive the intense scrutiny and real-world pressures that begin the moment the "After the Final Rose" credits roll.
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