The Bachelor Finale: Juliana Finally Shares What She Thinks After Litia’s Shocking Revelations About Grant

As expected, The Bachelor finale really was the most dramatic episode all season, but not quite in the way fans anticipated. Yes, Grant’s final decision to choose either Litia, a 31-year-old venture capitalist from Salt Lake City, Utah, or Juliana, a 28-year-old client service associate from Newton, Massachusetts, came down to the wire. He also told both women he was in love with them the night before the final rose ceremony. But those weren’t the most shocking things about the finale, nor was it who he got engaged to (that would be Juliana). Instead, it was what he said to Litia in the weeks, days, and hours leading up to the final moment.

During The Bachelor finale’s “After the Final Rose” segment, Litia admitted that Grant told her consistently throughout the show that it would be the two of them in the end. In fact, as Litia told Jesse Palmer, that during their final night together she’d said, “Oh my gosh, we’re getting engaged tomorrow!” Grant’s reply? “I know. I can’t wait! I love you.”

Although Grant tried to apologize to Litia when they saw each other for the first time last night, a question on everybody’s mind was: What does Juliana think? This has to change how she feels about her fiancé, right?

But when Juliana came on stage, it was as if nothing had just happened. Palmer didn’t even ask what she thought about Litia’s comments, which left many viewers at home frustrated that a major bombshell had been swept under the rug. (At least, I know I felt that way.)

When Grant and Juliana joined me on Zoom a mere 14 hours after the credits rolled, Juliana said that she and Grant partied, drank, ate, and celebrated once the live taping concluded. “It was really exciting to have our friends and family [there] and our inner circle collide,” she told me.

But there’s no denying that if you’re going to go on a reality TV series to find love, some difficult conversations must be had. As such, Grant and Juliana did their best to open up to Glamour about last night’s uncomfortable moments, whether they’ve talked to Litia since, and why Juliana doesn’t blame Grant for not being more transparent. Read on.

Glamour: A lot happened on stage last night when Litia came out to talk to Jesse, and then Grant. Juliana, you were backstage, but did you listen to what was being said?

Juliana: It was a choice. I decided not to listen. We’ve done so good this far watching it all back that there was no point in trying to taint that by listening and hearing it. I wanted him to be able to go in with a clear mind and give Litia some grace and compassion, and I didn’t need to hear it.

I felt for you while Litia was in the hot seat. Did you end up finding out what was discussed?

Juliana: Honestly, I’m still in just a mode of celebration and happiness. I’ve had my walls up to the outside world right now, and I’m just trying to soak in the happiness.

Let’s go back to the last date that you had before the final rose ceremony. Grant, do you wish you would’ve told Juliana that you had also told Litia that you loved her?

Grant: It’s an individual relationship. When I was with Juliana, I was focused on us. There’s no reason for me to sit there and tell Juliana that I told somebody else that I loved them. At the end of the day, I am happy with my choice, and she chose me also. When I was with her, I was thinking about her. To bring that up…I feel like that would be off-putting.

Juliana: It wasn’t breaking news to me, watching it back. We had these conversations. I was fully prepared, mentally and emotionally, to watch it back. We supported each other as we always will. And not to answer for Grant, but this was his journey. He had to navigate it the best that he could. I don’t think telling me that in the moment would have changed anything for me. We would still be sitting here had you told me that the last night or not. The transparency of what we have to watch afterwards has to come when it finishes. I don’t think he should have told me. I don’t think it was any of my business.

Do you plan to sit down with Litia to talk to her at all, Juliana? Or did you get to see her last night?

Juliana: I think that Litia and I are just two different people. I want so much for her and so much happiness for her, but we did try to navigate this the best we could as who we are uniquely. There’s always a chair at my table if she wants to come sit, and I hope vice versa.

Grant, I remember you were telling me at the “Women Tell All” taping that Kelsey and Joey were really helpful during the this process. What advice did they share?

Grant: You have to go with your heart…and your wife is going to watch your back. I felt like I did that during the fantasy suites. I handled myself in a way where I wanted to really put myself in a position where something we had was unique and special. I led with my heart. I followed the advice they gave.

Juliana, who did you have to guide you through this whole process?

Juliana: Well, I met with Daisy [during the week of fantasy suites], and we’ve been in touch ever since. But Kelsey was like, “Don’t forget that what you’re watching back has happened months ago.” We’ve grown so much since what we all watched last night as people and as a couple that it’s okay for me to have feelings and emotions watching it back, but I can’t harp on the past because I’m so focused on our future.

Grant: Right.

Grant, before I move on from this topic, I do want to talk about what Litia said when she walked up to the final rose platform. Did you ever think of saying, “Before you start, let me tell you that you’re not the right one?” Not in those words, of course—but before she poured her heart out to you, did you think about stopping her from letting it get that far, knowing she wasn’t the final one?

Grant: Of course. Of course. I thought about it multiple times, but the audience has to be aware that there are other powers in play when it comes to being the Bachelor. There’s a protocol, and there’s a whole team that says, “This is the way things are done.” I’m the 29th Bachelor. There were a lot of Bachelors before me. I think if you look back, you see the formula of what it is. You allow the person to speak, and then there’s a “but.” I don’t know if that’s for a dramatic thing, but I know that I did the best that I could. If I could rewind, I probably would be a little more stern and not try to make everybody around me happy.

I think that’s very fair. Maybe once or twice someone has stopped them and said, “Before you go any further…” but it’s not the norm. So, looking forward then, you’re going to move to Boston?

Grant: Yeah, I’m actually going to go out there the first week of April to look at some apartments and just try to get life started. We’re at the end of this journey and the next phase, and we’ve made it this far. I’m really looking forward to seeing what comes next and looking forward to being in Boston again.

What comes next in terms of your careers?

Juliana: My job has been so supportive of me throughout this whole process and journey. They welcomed me back with open arms, and I’m excited to go back and try to get some normalcy back in my everyday life and truly, truly take it one step at a time. Being in the public eye and being so blessed with all of these new opportunities that are going to come my way, it’s going to be tough to juggle, but it’s not something that scares me. It’s just something I’ll figure out as it comes. [To Grant:] And you too.

Grant: Yeah, for sure. I have a really exciting career that I’ve put a lot of work into, and I’m not going to stop. That’s something that is going to carry me for the rest of my life. But it’s exciting to explore different avenues and different sides of yourself. I never thought I’d be on reality TV, and here I am. I’m trying new things, and I think that we’re open to a lot of different possibilities.

Speaking of different possibilities, Grant, your dad is so beloved by Bachelor Nation. Would he ever consider joining Golden Bachelor in Paradise or anything like that?

Grant: My dad has been through a lot in his life, and I think to put him on a platform where there could be a lot of criticism…I just want to take care of him. I want [him] to be happy. I’m sure he has a life outside of me.

So that’s a no…

Grant: That’s probably a hard no.

Juliana: Hard no.

Maybe he can be the concierge there or the butler. Make it easy on him.

Grant: Yeah. [Laughs.] He can go and give advice. That would be [fun].

Meanwhile, you’re probably ready for this all to be over and just get to Boston and eat some cannolis.

Grant: Right, right, right. Cannoli time.

Or Italy, since they gave you a free trip there.

Grant: Either way, cannolis are involved.