“Bachelorette” fans blast producers for making jilted Jenn watch her proposal

Former Bachelor Ben Higgins called the decision "cruel and unnecessary."

There wasn't a dry eye in the house during last night's live finale of The Bachelorette — but nobody was crying happy tears.

Jenn Tran — the 26-year-old physician assistant student from Hillsdale, New Jersey and the Bachelor franchise's first-ever Asian lead — ended her "journey" to find "love" by proposing to Devin Strader, 28, in Hawaii. He said yes — but then the cameras stopped rolling.

As a sobbing Jenn explained to stunned viewers during the live finale, shortly after she and Devin left Hawaii, his entire mood changed. "We had left Hawaii engaged. It was the happiest day of my life," she told Bachelorette host Jesse Palmer. "And then, essentially, as soon as we had left Hawaii, things were just different. It kind of just felt like he was pulling away… He wasn't calling as much; he wasn't texting as much."

Related: Bachelor Nation producers address franchise racism, admit they 'did not protect' Matt James

Devin, who walked on stage to scattered boos from the audience, didn't have a great explanation for why he ultimately broke up with Jenn — BY PHONE, NO LESS — but that wasn't the most painful part of the evening. After Jenn pressed Devin repeatedly for answers, to no avail, Palmer announced that it was time for everyone to watch the doomed proposal — Jenn and Devin included. As the footage rolled, a camera stayed on Jenn, recording her as she continued to sob.

Online, fans — including season 20 Bachelor Ben Higgins — reacted with outrage. "Absolutely cruel and unnecessary to make her watch that back," he wrote. "Cannot believe it."

Another fan pointed out how "frustrating" the producers' decision was, especially in light of a recent LA Times interview in which they admitted to not protecting Matt James, the first Black Bachelor, during his tumultuous season.

One viewer complained that making Jenn watch the proposal next to Devin "is one of the cruelest things they've ever done."

ABC and Warner Bros., the studio that produces The Bachelorette, declined to comment.

While Jenn did not get her fairy-tale ending, she will bounce back from the public breakup by competing on the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars, alongside former Bachelor Joey Graziadei and other familiar faces.

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.