On 'The Bachelorette,' Charity Lawson Gets The Proposal Of Her Dreams

Can we talk about how adorable it was to see Dotun breaking the news to her?! I know the training for DWTS is rigorous, so good luck to my good sis, Charity. To be honest, though, I really need her to be released from this ABC contract soon because she deserves some rest! — Ruth

Loved having Dotun break the news and how excited Charity was. I hope she makes lots of money. It seems like Bachelor Nation people do well on this show, which I’ve never watched and likely never will, even for Charity. But Ruth, I’m with you ― she needs some sleep. ― Elise

Joey’s the next Bachelor! His interview about it was endearing, if not super notable, and I’m happy for him. And I think he could actually be a really good lead. DO NOT LET ME DOWN, Joey. ― Elise

We absolutely called Joey being the next lead, y’all. Wish it was John, as Bachelor Nation has yet to have an Asian American male lead — and he seemed like an absolute sweetie who didn’t get enough screen time — but alas. Justice for John! Maybe he’ll go on “Bachelor in Paradise.” — Ruth

I definitely saw John in the “Bachelor in Paradise” clip! — Erin

Annie from the studio audience, who was trying to be a contestant on the next season of “The Bachelor” talking about “you can really take that time” to connect with someone, when the entire season we see people bickering about their limited time with the lead ... ok, sis. — Ruth

I had a feeling early on in the episode, when Lea from Hawaii introduced herself, that she was definitely going to be on the next season of “The Bachelor.” Joey’s “hometown” on his chyron every week was Hawaii, so I immediately spotted that connection. — Erin

I really hope Maybelline got its money's worth throughout this season of "The Bachelorette" because everywhere we turned, there was another product ad. — Erin

I’m sorry but this product placement and promo is sending me into the stratosphere. Love that Serena P. and Joe are getting to the bag; I just find this hilarious. — Ruth

I always laugh during these moments. But mostly because Charity doesn’t really look like she knows what she’s doing when she applies the blush. — Erin

Will just say that Charity’s laugh is precious, and she looks stunning! Moreover, I love that Joey’s first words out of his mouth were expressing gratitude to her. I appreciated him setting the stage, acknowledging the awkwardness of them speaking as exes for the first time ever while caring for her well-being. “We both said at the end of the day that even though we wouldn’t be in love with each other, we will always have love for each other.” Their maturity is so refreshing. — Ruth

I can’t imagine talking to my ex on national TV, but I thought Joey, as always, was so good with his words: "This was your story and I felt lucky to be a part of it,” he told Charity. YES. Thank you, Joey, for centering Charity in that moment. — Erin

Yay for healthy, Black love on this franchise. Final-fucking-ly. After 20 seasons, we finally have a Black couple. Twenty long, lily-white seasons. Let me start by saying this: I am pleasantly surprised to be proved wrong for once by network television. Earlier this season, I wrote a piece about the status of Black love on reality TV, namely “The Bachelor” franchise; along with several Black “Bachelor” fans, I was expecting the same old, same old.

Yes, Michelle, a light-skinned biracial woman, chose Nayte, another biracial Black male, on her season. But it’s important to note how desirability politics and colorism play out on reality television dating shows, thus it is momentous to have a darker-skinned, monoracial Black couple make it to the very end.

As Ashley Tabron, who I personally consider the unofficial Black “Bachelor” hive extraordinaire, said on Twitter (which I refuse to call X), “This is the most beautiful moment in the history of the show.” Dotun and Charity chose each other. Every. Single. Time. No one was pulling teeth to understand the other. It was natural, it was beautiful and most importantly, healthy.

I will be rewatching that scene over and over and over again just to capture and remember the words they said to each other. I was starting to tear up! It’s so refreshing to see a Black woman sought after, desired, and taken care of. Ready to see Charity in Nigerian attire at the wedding, ASAP! — Ruth

Plus, if I remember correctly, so many of us did NOT want Michelle to choose Nayte! He had some playboy sensibilities about him that made it seem like he wasn’t ready for marriage. (They called off the engagement six months after the finale.) Anyway! I was boo-hoo crying watching this proposal. It was just so beautiful. I really do hope their fairy tale lasts forever. — Erin

Listen … I looked at Nayte and just knew. Praying so fervently that Charity and Dotun make it. I hope they can enjoy each other in peace. I’m rooting for these two! Also, Jesse presuming that “future baby daddy” means Charity is actively pregnant … sir, please just mind your white business. — Ruth

I loved this proposal so much. These two are adorable together and you can tell they have so much fun. I also cracked up at them showing that Charity was standing on a box for their ITM ― I suspected she was! I try not to get too attached to TV couples but I am really rooting for them. ― Elise

Who is this old white man giving Dotun and Joey their proposal rings? Also, we don’t need a lil’ pop-up box in the lower left during the episode showcasing the crowd’s reactions. I do not know or care about the studio audience, even the former contestants! — Ruth

That’s Neil Lane! I only know this because I remember him being on previous seasons as the guy with the ring. Apparently, he’s been a part of the Bachelor franchise for over 10 years, lol. — Erin

Aw, you (relative) newbies. Neil Lane is a Bachelor institution who always comes and throws out advice as if he knows anything about these people. I would love for them to skip the engagement bit entirely ― just date, people! ― but it’s part of the whole thing, alas. ― Elise

I was cringing the whole time Joey gave his soliloquy to Charity because something in my spirit knew she wasn’t going to choose him. (Sorry to say it; the liveblogging crew kept predicting that Joey would leave single and become the next Bachelor.) Charity said, “I never doubted or questioned how deep our love is ... but ...” and I was like, YIKES. Happy for her though! “I’ve found a love that is deeper with someone else.” But Joey was an absolute class act and said, “I just want you to be happy.” You deserve that happiness, Charity!

One thing I admire about Joey is that he has seemingly touched grass, unlike other previous contestants. “This is what I signed up for,” he said in conversation with Jesse Palmer. I will say, per the pop-up box, Joey looks very polished rewatching the scene in real time ... almost like ... he’s being prepped and groomed to step into a lead role... — Ruth

The studio audience was annoying me at first, and then it straight up gave me anxiety when everyone gasped when Joey stepped out of the limo first. I was like, is that a bad gasp? Or a happy gasp? What is happening? I still had faith that Charity was going to pick our guy Dotun, but I wasn’t sure what was going to happen? I cringed hard when Joey started to get down on one knee but Charity stopped him. My anxiety was through the roof — I felt like I was going to throw up. — Erin

I know they have to do it, but it always makes me a little mad at the lead when they let their second choice give a whole proposal speech before they tell them it’s over. Some seasons the leads are allowed to dump their No. 2 ahead of proposal day, which is more dignified but, I get it, not as good for TV.

Joey seems like such a great guy and handled the whole thing well. I really hope he doesn’t disappoint me going forward! I want to keep liking him. On an unrelated note: The backdrop for this is STUNNING. I need to get to Fiji. ― Elise

So Charity’s family comes to Fiji to meet Joey and Dotun. (Though, where was her brother???) It’s clear that she was struggling to make a final decision — or at least, that’s what the producers wanted us to think. I think Charity was sure on Dotun by now, but it seemed like they were trying to drag out any modicum of drama for the finale. I loved how Charity’s mom was very direct and left it up to Charity to make her choice; I definitely wouldn’t want my own mother inputting her feelings about the man I love at this point in the process. But it was only frustrating for Charity. It felt like a quintessential mother-daughter moment. — Erin

The fact that Charity was bothered by her family not gushing over Dotun like they did over Joey was a real tell that Dotun is it. And Erin, I totally agree they were trying to play up any sliver of drama. But Charity did seem to really want her mom to just tell her what to do, and I loved that her mom didn’t. If you’re ready to get engaged, you’ve gotta be able to make your own decisions! ― Elise

Speaking of goofing off, we saw a bunch of Bachelor Nation cast members frolicking around in the promo for the new season of “Bachelor in Paradise.” When Jesse Palmer said that Aaron was going to be on the island, I was shocked. He seems so uptight, so I can’t imagine him having fun on “BIP.” But then in the promo, he’s in a black mesh top and looking like he’s having the time of his life. The new season starts Sept. 28, so maybe I’ll tune in for a couple of episodes to see what happens. — Erin

It might just be because I read that Aaron is friends with “BIP” alum Aaron Clancy ― a mega bro who spent the last season having the dumbest fights with his love interest ― but I am very unsurprised he’s not as stiff as he came off on the “Bachelorette.” My love of “BIP” fell a bit last year when they dragged the season out way too long and threw in way too much filler (remember all the Ashley I. and Jared content?), but I’ll definitely tune in anyway. ― Elise

So I do appreciate a grand gesture, and I did admire Aaron for making the last-ditch effort for Charity’s heart. However, and this is a strong however, I really started to feel like Aaron’s ego was more bruised than his heart. I think that’s why he started rubbing me the wrong way a few episodes before he was kicked off. He and Charity were so much farther behind than her connections with Joey, Dotun and even Xavier. So I was glad that Charity sent him packing — again. Also, Aaron is so stiff and Charity seems like she might have some goofy tendencies that she needs to be comfortable sharing with her partner. — Erin

This was so obviously a failed effort. I did love seeing Aaron walk in and Dotun and Joey being totally stunned but clearly unable to talk ― you know there were producers just off camera telling them they had to just stand there in silence even though there was suddenly a different guy there next to them. Your observation that it may have been a bruised ego is spot on. Aaron will be all right! He’s got Paradise! ― Elise

I've got my money on Dotun. Their connection is so beautiful, and I hope Charity gets her fairy tale ending with him!