‘The Bachelor’s Joey Graziadei Opens Up About Emotional Season 28 Scenes: “I Think It’s Tougher To Watch It Back Than It Was To Share It”

The Bachelor Season 28 has been one of the franchise’s most emotional, tender, and compelling installments yet — thanks in large part to 28-year-old lead Joey Graziadei.

Week after week, Graziadei and his contestants display immense vulnerability and heart, striking a satisfying balance between crucial conversations and fun, romantic dates. When the group traveled to Montreal, Canada in Episode 6, however, the weight of the journey and search for lasting love overwhelmed Graziadei to the point of tears.

“I think I just tried to be honest and transparent. It’s always hard to be able to describe and explain why you have those insecurities. And I think I’m still working through that every day,” Graziadei told Decider in a Zoom interview. “It’s because I came onto the show and it hadn’t worked out in the past. I think a lot of people sit with that every day: Why hasn’t it worked out? Is it something that’s wrong with me?”

Graziadei is admittedly his own biggest critic, but significant ratings bumps throughout his season prove that members of Bachelor Nation are faithfully showing up to support his search for love and his refreshing approach to the show.

Halfway through his exciting season — with Hometown Week, Women Tell All, Fantasy Suites, and an “unprecedented” finale on the horizon — Graziadei opened up to Decider about some of the season’s major moments, his Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Kathie Lee Gifford flubs, the Maria and Sydney feud, and more.

DECIDER: We saw you having a tough time in Canada this week. You had a very honest conversation about your fears and insecurities that not only felt relatable, but a bit refreshing because we rarely see that side of a lead. How difficult was it for you to share that part of yourself with viewers and watch it back?

JOEY GRAZIADEI: I think it’s tougher to watch it back than it was to share it. I think anyone that knows me — be it my friends or my family — knows how open I am about my emotions, especially later on in life. I realize how much it’s therapy for me. I love confiding in my loved ones and talking about how I’m feeling. But when you do it with the camera and you watch it back it’s always a little different. As you said, I think I just tried to be honest and transparent. It’s always hard to be able to describe and explain why you have those insecurities. And I think I’m still working through that every day, but they’re there. It’s because I came onto the show and it hadn’t worked out in the past, and I think a lot of people sit with that every day. Why hasn’t it worked out? Is it something that’s wrong with me? And being your biggest critic — that will be the number one thing anyone that knows me tells me, that I am my biggest critic. I think people are seeing that obviously after the Montreal episode.

We’ve seen some very heavy backstories and crucial conversations this season from discussions about Lyme disease and cochlear implants to endometriosis, unconventional family dynamics, and more. What do you hope people take away from these diverse stories and this vulnerability?

Just how much courage it takes for these women to be able to share it. I think that’s what’s most important. They are in a unique position where they get a platform to be able to express things that they have gone through; things that have made them who they are. And I think the beautiful part about it is there are people at home watching that could connect and understand it. So for them to get that platform, for them to be able to be honest and open, it takes courage. It takes special people to be able to do that. And I hope people can focus on that more than anything else.

I’m curious if there were any mental health resources available to you or the contestants during filming, and if given the challenging nature of reality TV, you think that’s something that should be required?

Yes, we are lucky on the show that we do have people that are there to help in that process. We have great doctors that are there to talk through mental health, and I think it is important. I think that it’s still sometimes in today’s world a little bit of a taboo subject, and I’m learning more and more how much it can help me to have those conversations. I think that it’s important in an environment like this because it is real. There are difficult situations that are tough to go through. So to have people to help you through that is really important. I’m grateful for it, and I know that women are, too.

Sorry I have to bring this up again, but obviously Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I know you’ve apologized. I know you went to the White House. What was that experience like for you?

[Laughs] I was waiting for it. The Ruth Bader Ginsburg thing was not my shining moment. I don’t even need to try and defend myself anymore. I’ll just take that one. But yeah, the White House was a really really cool experience. They reached out not too long ago and asked if I’d want to get a tour and just be able to see some things that you don’t usually get a chance to see. It was a special experience, and I’m just grateful to be able to get that chance.

I know you also got a bit of backlash for not knowing Kathie Lee Gifford. Do you now just live in perpetual fear of being presented with prominent figures you don’t know?

To be honest, I think what we’re seeing is how honest I am that if someone asks me a question I don’t know I’m just gonna be truthful about it. [Laughs] I think what you’re seeing is the fact that I lived in Hawaii for a very long period of time. I did not know a lot about pop culture. I don’t really pay that much attention to those things. My brain is filled on other things that I focus on, and it’s showing. But I’m okay with it. I know that that’s not something I should or would know usually. So let the internet say what they want to say.

There’s a Billy Eichner bit that’s morphed into a TikTok trend. It’s like “For $1, name a woman.” I can’t give you $1, but if you had to name a woman off the top of your head, who would it be?

I would say — let’s go with my mom. I’ll say Cathy. I’ll go with my mom.

I was hoping you would slip up and spoil the season but that’s a great answer.

[Laughs] I know what you were hoping for so I went with the safe bet. I went with that lovely woman I can talk about.

Speaking of women, one of this season’s biggest storylines was the Maria and Sydney feud. Has watching those episodes back enlightened you or reaffirmed you made the right decision?

I think it’s hard because I know that I don’t see everything. I know that America doesn’t see everything. I think what’s most important is to know that I have zero regrets because I’m happy that I went with what felt the most right to me. I listened to my gut. I listened to which connection was strongest, because I realized that it was going to be impossible in my position to get the full truth, and I had no interest in trying to dig up the truth because that’s not why I was there. I was there to be able to make connections with the women, not to really get lost in the dynamics that goes on between them in the house. And I think I tried to explain that as much as possible during that two-on-one, but it’s hard. It’s a hard position to be in and I don’t have any regrets on the decisions I made. I just think that it’s a good reminder that I don’t see everything and even America doesn’t see everything, so it’s tough.

Well Maria has such a strong fanbase. Did you know that as a child she was in the 2005 movie The Pacifier with Vin Diesel?

I recently learned that. Very cool. She did not tell me about that in person, but I thought that was cool.

That feels like a date-worthy flex to bring up. Your other one-on-one in Montreal was with Kelsey Toussant, an actor whose most recent IMDb credit is Barbie. Are you aware you dated a Barbie actor?

I did not know that either. I also saw that recently. It’s pretty crazy to see that they obviously have been on some pretty big films. It just shows how amazing these women are.

We had the pleasure of seeing your sisters in the premiere. I’m curious how this whole journey has been for them and if they gave you any crap after the RBG debacle?

[Laughs] Oh, yeah. I mean they’re always going to give me crap on every debacle that comes up. They will be there to give me flak with everyone else, as they should. But no, they’ve been great, supportive, in my corner always. They’re actually gonna come up to New York later this weekend. I’m excited to spend time with them and to have them here, to have them when we do this is one of the best parts.

I know you’re very private about what happens during overnight dates. But can you tease Fantasy Suite Week for us at all? Was it challenging for you? Do you think it went better than Zach Shallcross’ week?

I’m not going to say anything bad against Zach, he’s my boy. I know from going through it how difficult that that week could be. I keep that as close to the vest as I can. I think that’s something that’s intimate and private with the people that go through it. Whatever is shown on the show, whatever is talked about, people will be able to see. But I know that’s a difficult week that I think is tough for anyone on this position.

Before I go, are you streaming any good shows or movies you’d like to shout out?

Obviously streaming this and watching this as much as possible [Laughs] The new one that I just watched the other weekend was Love Is Blind‘s new season. I missed a couple of last seasons, but this new one was entertaining to say the least. So I’ve been enjoying watching that as of late.

This interview was edited for length and clarity.