Reducing the number of suitors from three to two was easier than expected The Bachelorette Monday, and in doing so, this season’s protagonist dropped a line that quickly resonated with viewers.
Charity Lawson, a 27-year-old child and family therapist from Columbus, Georgia — and also this season’s bachelorette — had narrowed the field of 25 men to just three before going on a series of “overnight” dates in the islands of Fiji.
The first was Xavier, a 27-year-old biomedical scientist from Carrboro, North Carolina. His daytime date consisted of a getaway on one of Fiji’s 333 islands – of the very small and private variety – which was completed with a performance by and a campfire gathering with some of the country’s indigenous people, with talks of wedding ceremonies as the main focus.
But it was during the dinner portion of the date that things started to go south for the hopeful couple. Xavier, knowing that infidelity was a major concern and very triggering for Charity, wanted to open up about his most recent serious relationship, in which he was unfaithful.
And in the series of questions following Xavier’s confession — including the answer, “I should have taken more time to think about that answer” — Charity was unhappy with what he’d done to learn from those actions and better himself .
So, as a woman ready for commitment to this show, Charity had heard all she needed and almost abruptly decided to take Xavier to the minibus for his Bachelorette Exit. And it was the words she said in the confessional after the rejection that immediately took on a life of their own on the internet.
“I sent Xavier home last night because Xavier isn’t ready for a one-person commitment,” Lawson said. “I’m not here to fix anyone, I’m not here to build a man.” For example, this is not a workshop for a man to build. I have no choice but to move forward.”
And with that line, a reference to the popular Build-A-Bear plush company where you can customize your own plush toy, Lawson set the social media world on fire.
And while the world of Bachelorette fandom immediately started working on how and when to use such a powerful comment in their very own love lives, Charity soon turned to the “two wonderful people” that remain: a 30-year-old integrative medicine specialist named Dotun, and a 27-year-old tennis pro named Joey, both of whom managed to get the morning portion for their “nightly dates’.
The Bachelorette airs on Mondays at 8 p.m ABC.
