The 'Real' Reason Zach Shallcross Sent Christina Mandrell Home On 'Bachelor'

Bachelor Nation is devastated to see front-runner and fan-favorite Christina Mandrell get sent home on last week's episode of "The Bachelor."

Although Mandrell was on the winning team for the football game group date, meaning the 27-year-old got the chance to spend some extra quality time with Zach Shallcross, and even though the "Bachelor" lead told Mandrell, “We are still getting to know each other a little bit more than, maybe, a lot of the other relationships I have. So trust me, nothing is guaranteed, and we’re trying to figure this out together, but...” he decided to send Mandrell home at the rose ceremony.

The decision came after many of the girls told Zach Shallcross at the pool party the next day that Mandrell was "intimidating" and many women felt they couldn't be themselves with her around. They also said she took the spotlight away from others while Charity Lawson, who received the group date rose, explained that she felt her moment was "taken away from her" because of Mandrell.

Despite the show giving Mandrell a "villain" moment, fans of the reality show still loved watching her, and now even want her to be the next lead of the show.

At the pool party, Brianna Thorbourne, who received America's first impression rose, confronted Shallcross and told him that she is pulling out of the show, name-dropping Christina Mandrell and saying she caused “intimidation” in the group.

Shallcross then spoke to Mandrell, as well as a handful of other women about the situation at hand, but ultimately decided to send Mandrell home despite their instant connection and his earlier conversation with her on the group date.

Bachelor Nation was shocked that Shallcross sent Mandell home so easily considering their obvious connection from the start. After thinking about the first two episodes, many fans have come to the decision that the real reason Shallcross sent Mandrell home was that he is not ready to become a stepfather to Mandrell's daughter, Blakley, who she told him about on their first one-on-one the week prior.

"I don’t think Zach really bought Brianna’s story about Christina. I think he was looking for an out because he wasn’t comfortable with the idea of being a step dad #thebachelor," one fan Tweeted.

https://twitter.com/trashtvpanda/status/1622803449346723840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1622803449346723840%7Ctwgr%5E568df4f4a746b427f3bb59da88a964e33823c1d1%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bustle.com%2Fentertainment%2Fwhy-did-christina-mandrell-leave-the-bachelor-reactions-memes-tweets

While another had a similar thought, Tweeting, "#TheBachelor #bachelor Honestly what Christina did wasn’t even that bad I think mans just wasn’t ready to be a father and saw a way out. See you on the beach girl."

https://twitter.com/Mediocritea_/status/1622793854951780352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1622793854951780352%7Ctwgr%5E568df4f4a746b427f3bb59da88a964e33823c1d1%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bustle.com%2Fentertainment%2Fwhy-did-christina-mandrell-leave-the-bachelor-reactions-memes-tweets

Another member of Bachelor Nation wrote, "Zach when he gets a reason to send Christina home without having to admit he’s just not ready to have a child rn #TheBachelor #Bachelor."

https://twitter.com/iironicaa/status/1622794368603021315?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1622794368603021315%7Ctwgr%5E568df4f4a746b427f3bb59da88a964e33823c1d1%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bustle.com%2Fentertainment%2Fwhy-did-christina-mandrell-leave-the-bachelor-reactions-memes-tweets

Another user praised Shallcross for not keeping Mandrell even though the show made her out to be the villain for drama purposes, saying "Holy crap, Zach just gave a ?to the producer pick. I like this guy. @zach_shallcross #TheBachelor," to which another fan replied, "Nah he just didn’t want to be a step dad. Which is fine but."

https://twitter.com/Molly_RoseCLE/status/1622792656345567232

"The Bachelor" airs on ABC Monday evenings at 8 p.m. ET.