“Bachelorette”Star Michelle YoungHe hasn’t resisted prompting Conversations about important topics that are honestthis season, and she’s encouraging her contestants to follow suit.
Tuesday’s episode featured a candid conversation between Michelle & David.Joe, a fellow Minnesotan and former basketball player, who opens up about the intense mental-health struggles – including thoughts of suicide – he faced after an injury ended his basketball career.
“It was beyond difficult. It was anxiety, depression, there (were) times when I was thinking I didn’t even want to still be here,”Joe. “Ball was life, and that life was gone.”
Recap of last week:An eleventh-hour accusation threatens Michelle’s frontrunner
Joe, in tears, explains how a foot injury and subsequent complications meant that he was unable to continue playing competitive basketball.
“I’ve always had such high standards, and I didn’t feel like I was still there,”He said. “It was just breaking me down too much that I knew mentally I wasn’t in a good place. … I knew it probably was time to wrap it up and focus on what can make me happy outside of basketball. So much of your identity is wrapped up in sports that you’re like, ‘Who am I at this point?’ “
Michelle, who is also a former player of basketball, understands Joe’s struggle to deal with the loss of something so fundamental to his identity.
“That’s a pain not everyone will understand,”She said. “You woke up fighting every day (in) a battle that a lot of people didn’t know about.”
The segment began with a content warning and ended with suicide hotline information, both increasingly prevalent in entertainment Hollywood continues to push for improved representations of mental illness.
This isn’t the first time Michelle and her contestants have tackled heavy topics on ABC’s reality show. They have had conversations earlier this season about racism, mental illness, and grief.
Previously:Recap of “The Bachelorette”: Michelle talks about being called a racist slur
Who went home?
Chris, who continues the drama he sparked last week among the men, gets the boot early on after crashing Michelle and Nayte’s one-on-one date. But Nayte gets that rose – as does Joe on their one-on-one – and Clayton collects the group-date rose.
That leaves Rick, Olu, Brandon, Martin and Rodney to receive flowers at the rose ceremony, while Michelle says goodbye to Casey and Leroy.
More:What’s the best way to eradicate racism from ‘The Bachelor?
You can reach the Helpline if you or someone you care about is struggling with suicidal thoughts.U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifelineat 800-273-TALK (8255) any time day or night, orChat online.
Crisis Text Linealso provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741.
American Foundation for Suicide Preventionresources to helpif you need to find support for yourself or a loved one.
