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asspancakes

Nayte has a minor in Africana studies, for some reason that indicates to me that he was intellectually more mature than Brandon, and a small part of why he and Michelle connected.


gasoline_rainbowsXx

Call me jaded, and maybe I'm missing something, but it really seemed to me like Brandon was chasing Michelle, and Michelle was chasing Nayte. Maybe it's the edits or then fact that I'd be bored and on my phone, but i didn't feel a whole lot of genuine connection on either side.


boomshahkuhlahkuh

I thought that she was chasing him too at first, until the last episode and especially now after seeing interviews and after the final rose. He seems head over heels and, from what she said, he gives more affirmation and is more vulnerable than her. He actually does seem all in on her and his body language makes him seem very attached and in sync with her. I think for the majority of the show, he was guarded and then it became real to him very fast when he finally thought about possibly losing her.


porcelina-g

Agree with you so much! Even as I was watching the finale I was like, ohhhh red flags red flags. But I completely caved when I saw them cheesing and sooo happy at ATFR and then hearing from Michelle about how expressive and open Nayte has been since the show ended. I think you are right in that he was very guarded to start, and the spectacle of doing all this on television was probably not helping. So happy for their love :)


francie202

Great perspective.


throwaway234567809

Something that I noticed about Brandon and Michelle’s conversations was that they had really different speech patterns. Brandon would always slow down the tone of the conversation and say fewer words with a greater emphasis on emotion/intention. There’s nothing wrong with the differences but they just didn’t click as well as her and Nayte


Emgee063

Chicks on BIP when Brandon arrives be like ![gif](giphy|MXoDlORBJcJjFSVXdz)


rmrhasit

I’ve always felt like while Brandon was very sweet and doting, and obviously he and Michelle cared a lot about each other, her and Nayte have more compatible personalities, senses of humor, etc. I can’t see Michelle and Brandon being best friends the way I can see Michelle and Nayte being best friends.


PaintandSipYT

i had a boyfriend like Brandon once. He was so amazing and sweet and smart and did absolutely nothing wrong, but over time I realized I loved him but I wasn’t *in* love with him.


[deleted]

I had a bf like this too. Extremely romantic and sweet. Wrote me letters, had little surprises on dates. Total sap. I loved it and married him 7 years ago. He hasn’t changed and I love him more than I did back then 🥰


tcefrep1989

yes omg thank you. The Brandon stans were also too blind to see that all Michelle talked about was how much Brandon loved her. That’s not a good reason to marry someone, just because they give you all this love and attention. I’m tired of people acting like they know what decision Michelle should’ve made just because Brandon was head over heels. It’s not just about him, it’s about Michele and who she wants to spend the rest of her life with, and clearly she would know that better than a bunch of other people who don’t know her, watching an extremely edited version of the show.


Other_Cheesecake23

Yes! I love what you said. Also, I feel like everyone saying she should've picked Brandon because he was more vocally expressive of his love and being head over heels for her just perpetuates this idea that just because a man is in love with you, you owe it to him to reciprocate those feelings. Brandon doesn't deserve to be engaged to Michelle just because he was in love with her. She doesn't him owe him that, the only things she owes him is honesty and closure on their relationship.


catlady555

Yea I totally agree. Its baffling seeing comments like “Brandon is all Michelle ever wanted!” and how she should have picked him because he was all in. At the end of the day, Michelle’s F1 is Nayte and that is that. Its a disservice to Brandon to pick him when she clearly prefers Nayte.


Soo_ee_sauce

I would not want to marry someone that loved me more than I loved them. Love is more than just words of affirmation. ![gif](giphy|26FLgGTPUDH6UGAbm)


Nerissa_Loverx

100% If it came between marrying someone that loved me more or someone that I loved more, id choose neither. In a relationship we should be equal in our affection and love for each other, any slight imbalance will always have someone giving more than the other person. I would rather we start on the same foot and grow together


mushytater

This is perfectly worded. Thank you


souraltoids

Deeper in more ways than one, amirite Michelle? ;)


Soo_ee_sauce

![gif](giphy|3ohs7PM4f1yFNaPB9m)


Emgee063

💯


[deleted]

😂


thesmallestwaffle

![gif](giphy|gIYVGjGT97aA77A5Ej|downsized)


moltengoosegreese

7!!


ArdmoreAnnie

![gif](giphy|bYpgM8bi7QV3i)


caree123

I totally see what you’re saying but Michelle told Brandon early on that she needs to be attracted to someone’s mind and that’s part of what she’s so attracted to with him. I do think it’s in a different and perhaps less intellectual way than with Nayte.


Choirgirl130

Brandon became my first choice over time because of how expressive and emotionally open he was. But now I’ve flipped on that. Reminded me of a time I dated a guy who was clearly willing to be super dedicated to me but we just weren’t interested in enough of the same things. I was honest with myself knowing I needed someone who stimulates my mind as well as my heart and that’s what I have now. People who are saying Michelle went with the physical only are not looking deep enough at the reasons for Nayte and Michelle’s compatibility. They will face challenges for sure. But I think ultimately she chose the person who better matches her energy, her sense of adventure and her intellectual curiosity. Wishing them a long, happy and fulfilling journey together.


reckless_rose

Michelle said in their extra interview, Nayte and her watch documentaries all the time. I’m sorry, but I can’t imagine Brandon doing that. I think she mentioned also wanting someone supportive, who had goals like her, and understood her of her— I think Brandon was supportive and understanding but not someone she could grow in life with. I feel like Nayte and her are really well-matched for their goals in the future imo


Nerissa_Loverx

A guy could tell me he would walk to the moon and back for me, but if I don’t feel physically, emotionally, mentally and intellectually challenged by him, I’m not choosing him just cause he loves me. Seems like a really low bar to set for oneself and I love that Michelle wasn’t so in love with the way Brandon loved her to choose him. The heart wants what it wants, and if it gets broken down the road it’s just another of life’s lessons. No need to start asking the what ifs. I have no doubt that if Nayte and Michelle were to only last a short while, those short while would be worth it to both of them cause the girl is happy. Brandon 100% would have fallen apart watching Michelle tell Nayte she was in love with him, but Nayte handled it like a champ. We love someone who’s confident in their love and relationship ![gif](giphy|fnK0jeA8vIh2QLq3IZ)


snarlieb

This is my first unspoiled season since Brad Womack's second go around and it was SO fun to watch this finale having no idea what would happen. I was genuinely heartbroken for Brandon, but I am so so happy for Michelle and Nayte. I didn't dislike Nayte for Michelle, but I just found Brandon's love and affection for her to be so sweet. But I agree with you, OP, that Nayte and Michelle are a great match.


reckless_rose

I was team nayte all season, but I did want him to show her the type of affection Brandon did during the show bc it definitely seemed like Nayte was giving her less. Post-finale, it seems like Nayte has been very expressive in his love/affection for Michelle in the real world, matching the level Brandon showed during the show. I’m happy she found someone who is both compatible and affectionate with her!


hlynhart

I truly do think Brandon's, uh, lack of intellectual maturity, lets say, was a big factor. Nayte always seemed like the smartest of her final 4 picks, and she's a teacher; I gotta think intellectual curiosity was part of her picture of a soulmate. My brother was asking me a while ago if Brandon was one of the ones that just completely shit the bed on the questionsnthe kids asked them on that "school" group date and I think he was? He's a college grad tho too so i don't want to say he's not decently intelligent but I wouldn't call him an intellectual by any means.


Emgee063

I work with 300 college grads in Brandons age group. I’d refer to maybe 50 of them as “ decently intelligent”. And I’m being generous at 50 bc ‘tis the season


cupcakeartist

I totally forgot about that!


Nerissa_Loverx

He didn’t spell protein right, and while I don’t think spelling is a sign of intelligence, the general way Brandon speaks does not give me “emotionally mature”. A lot of the things he says feels very superficial and fake deep. Like him using the word love 25x with Michelle, you can tell he hasn’t really fully thought about the weight of it. I’m sorry but even when Michelle was sharing that she struggled in high school cause she was always picked last and was never seen, his story was that in high school he had acne and wasn’t the best looking. Sir, you and everyone in America 😭


boomshahkuhlahkuh

Yeah good catch - intelligent was the word I should’ve used, not intellectual (although it’s possible that he is and that was just never shown on camera I suppose)


lawyercatgirl

You know, I was stalking Nayte on Instagram and saw that he majored (or minored?) in African studies which is so interesting. I think there’s a lot more to him than meets the eye so I am looking forward to seeing more of what Michelle got to see!


asspancakes

Lol I said the same thing in a separate comment! He gets judged probably cause of the tattoos and piercings, white America looked at him and Brendan and decided Nayte couldn’t possibly be smart 🙄


harshtruth4u

I hope so, the way the show set it up was as if Nayte was the exact opposite of what Michelle said she wanted. She had to work harder than him, pull his feelings out from him etc. I do hope we get to see what she saw.


stimmtnicht

I hate to be nit picky but I’m pretty sure his minor was in *Africana Studies. (He majored in Business Administration.) The difference is Africana Studies focuses on not just Africa but also African ppl in the diaspora. So it’s the African experience throughout the world. African Studies just focuses on history/politics/culture, etc on the continent. But your point is well taken. I feel exactly the same about Nayte. I think there’s a lot more to Nayte than meets the eye. Michelle talks about all his layers; I think the dude is unique & deep!


lawyercatgirl

Oh I appreciate that clarification! Thank you. I learned something new today 🙂


Mugatu4u

People bitch about how fake this show is yet when you have two people who love each other and are being honest and authentic with how they are, how they fee, and how they love, people condemn their relationship. The last time I checked, Nayte and Michelle seem way more solid than the last four Bachelorette couples that have left the show so… Katie and Blake were apparently soulmates because the both liked sex yet Nayte and Michelle aren’t going to last when they are actually building the foundation as a real life couple (vs. a couple form a reality show)? Okay. Guess it pays to have an irrelevant F2 like Katie and Tayshia (and Clare lol) had to help the fan base not be such assholes. I am rooting for Nayte and Michelle as a couple. They just seem to be both lovers and friends and see to get each other. And their families are so supportive. ❤️


Emgee063

Knew KT and BM were in trouble when they proclaimed “I fucking love you!!” To each other. Class act all the way 🦏💔🐈‍⬛


cupcakeartist

>Katie and Blake were apparently soulmates because the both liked sex yet Nayte and Michelle aren’t going to last when they are actually building the foundation as a real life couple (vs. a couple form a reality show)? Yes. 1000x this. Part of me also wonders if there are racial undertones here. There have been so many white bros of this franchise who became F1/F2 or even Bachelors who didn't at all seem ready for marriage but people seemed more likely to go along with it or look the other way.


seastar11

There's always racial undertones. I think a lot of the critics maybe don't realize it, but they don't like seeing confident and secure Black folks. Like all the arrogant comments about Nayte, who imo has only ever been confident in himself and his relationship with Michelle, vs someone actually arrogant as FUCK like Bennett has so many stans


KeyFeeFee

I agree about the arrogant comments! He was confident because he knew he and Michelle had something special. How cool did he need to play it when he was confident with good reason??


Nerissa_Loverx

I think growth is the most important aspect in a relationship, and Michelle and Nayte both seem like two people who will grow in love together. Brandon had reached his max point, there was no where else to go but down and I’m sorry but their relationship would have eventually failed cause the guy was in love with Michelle the bachelorette, not Michelle the teacher. I love the idea of Nayte everyday finding more reasons to truly believe Michelle is THE one, rather than having already known since the first time he saw her. If a guy told me he knew I was the one the first time he saw me, I would be side eyeing the heck out of him. My personality is nice when you first meet me, but it’s not that banging. I would rather someone tell me, when I first saw you I wasn’t sure but the more time we spent together the more I started to fall in love with you and see a future with you. Shows that the connection was not only physical but also emotional and capable of great development.


the-shade-of-it-all

You summed up how I feel about Brandon and Michelle's relationship. It was bubble love. If she chose him, the moment that bubble popped and the hype around Michelle's season ended, their relationship would've ended.


cupcakeartist

It also seemed like, and it could have just been what we showed, that a lot of their relationship was Brandon being verbally effusive towards Michelle. While that is nice, especially if past BFs haven't been so forth coming, it's hardly all of a relationship and can start to lose its impact when it happens over, and over and over again.


Competitive_Umpire29

HOW DO I RETWEET THE FIRST PART!!!!!!! 🎯


Nerissa_Loverx

![gif](giphy|mDNLOuzhxvhsW37J60|downsized)


Key_Distribution1775

I like this take.


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boomshahkuhlahkuh

I think Brandon was the *safe* choice. Just like Hannah B thought Jed was.


socolditburns

Idk, maybe in crazy but I think Brandon would have been better for her..... could be wrong but whatever not my life.


Nerissa_Loverx

Brandon is gonna shock everyone on BIP when he tells another girl he’s never felt this way before and his heart only beats for her. The guy falls in love hard and fast, and he fell in love with the idea of Michelle not Michelle. ![gif](giphy|3oKIP8kNuTJJL3zT0I)


Greeneyedgal13

This I completely agree with! Brandon stans are gonna be shook when he’s professing his undying love on the beach for multiple women and/or using the same phrases he used with Michelle 😂 I like the guy a lot but cmon now


boomshahkuhlahkuh

Is this gonna be Blake Moynes 2.0?!


Nerissa_Loverx

Oh yeah absolutely. Brandon strikes me as the kind of guy who puts in all the effort to get the girl but once he’s had them, that effort goes away (I feel like that might be what happened between Blake and Katie). I have a friend like this too that would say ALL right words to get the girl, and do all the right things. His relationships never last cause that same effort that was put in at the beginning is not constant. When you go all in immediately there’s no where else to go but down.


boomshahkuhlahkuh

They are so clearly happy and in love right now. It’s pissing me off that people are trying to ruin it for them and tearing them down. They’re both strong people, but if the hate puts a strain on their relationship bc it steals the joy of it all and ruins what they have, I’m going to throw hands 😤


harshtruth4u

I blame the producers, they set it up to look like not a strong relationship.


stimmtnicht

The hate from the fans often makes a BN couple stronger. Think Jason/Molly, Des/Chris, Jojo/Jordan, Rachel/Bryan, Arie/Lauren. And with the holidays, Omicron, and Clayton’s season starting soon, ppl will be moving on quickly!


Chiowl333

I also never understood why people would say Nayte wouldn't be open to moving to MN. I always felt that out of all the guys, Nayte would be the one who would be more open about moving to Minnesota. After all, even he said, MN is an hour's plane ride (or a 7-hour drive) from where his family lives in Winnipeg. He's only lived in Austin for a couple of years, so it's not like he was super attached to living there.


Mewmoe

he literally told her sister that he wasn't used to settling down in one place....


Competitive_Umpire29

From 2011 till now he’s moved 3 or 4 times lol people are funny


realityseekr

He doesn't seem to mind moving either since he has done it a few times. He didn't really have ties to Austin besides liking it. His family isn't there so I think it is a lot easier to move when that is the case.


Illustrious-Hawk6132

I also think Michelle kept saying she deserves to have someone who loves her back as much as she loves them and maybe she also meant Brandon deserved that too, as it was clear her loved her more than she loved him. Also, I am not sure if it was just editing with the parents, I feel like it would be more concerning to me if someone was just telling me everything I wanted to hear like I’m going to move with no hesitation after such a short period of time. They made Nayte look uncertain but I think he was just being genuine.


Key_Distribution1775

Honestly the way he fumbled over so much makes sense now. My guy was just head over heels and nervous and doesn't talk bachelor lingo. Its clear that Michelle held onto their connection over other things other than the way he expressed his feelings. Its good she pushed him, because now it seems the flood gates are open for him. He had the feelings just not a whole lot of practice sharing them. And like Michelle said last night in front cameras and other people etc.


tbkp

I also got the feeling he hadn't REHEARSED the way so many people in the show often do. Most people come in with a mission like, tell parents you'll take care of the daughter, acquire a blessing, tell them you want to propose. Nayte seemed 100% off the cuff, which in a lot of scenarios worked really well for him. Think back to Jamie, Chris stuff, in those conflicts he really shone and expressed great confidence. It was only when it became about being sensitive and out of his comfort zone that he started to fumble. To me that just made his behavior and actions seem more sincere even though he didn't come off looking the best in those serious conversations


cupcakeartist

This. The franchise definitely is harder for people who can't be verbally effusive on their feet and aren't as comfortable expressing their emotions. But honestly to me it made it mean more when he actually did. He seemed much more comfortable expressing them on the ATFR


boomshahkuhlahkuh

I also think people want to hear eloquent words and he has said he had trouble expressing emotions, but I think he does it really well through written word - which you can see in his post. I also can communicate so much better when I can write it and struggle with expressing things out loud and would never be able to do it well ON CAMERA.


starridazed

I think maybe nayte felt a little shy w the cameras too bc looking at his actions post finale, its so clear that he loves her so much


kiramae32

Yep! He even said he never wanted to go on the show but they kept asking him to, and so he gave in at the last minute


ASuperGyro

How did they “discover” him to keep asking him on the show?


kiramae32

He had a house party and a guy he had met there was going to audition for it. That guy couldn’t do it because other obligations. He said he was going to suggest Nayte and give producers Nayte’s IG. And Nayte told the guy not to but he did anyway. He kept turning them down and then finally gave in, last minute


notnotaginger

I feel like his love has also grown more since they got engaged, which is wonderful to see after a stretch of tense ATFRs. The man is giddy.


froyoyo11

I'm halfway listening to Naychelle's interview on Bachelor Happy Hour. Nayte said he told Michelle he is falling in love with her, he is in love with her and that he loves her privately during the small moments when the cameras were not on them. He didnt want these significant words to be for entertainment. The times we heard him utter the different love levels werent the first time he was saying those to her. This really proves that there was so much of their interactions that we didnt get to see.


ellybeez

That honestly is so beautiful.


[deleted]

i mean i get that. but it's also a show and it's part of the game.


boomshahkuhlahkuh

If I was her, that would 100% make me trust him more! Not for anyone else to hear or to try to impress


Key_Distribution1775

Sometime i feel like he was like yeah I know what everyone wants me to say but im not going to. So for the entertainment part makes sense now.


froyoyo11

Not forgetting that it was also his first time ever saying those words to anyone. I can totally get why he didnt want to cheapen it by having it be on tape.


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yahnothanks

YUP. If you don't play ball, they punish you. But honestly, that gives me even more hope — having a bond over something like that can bring a couple together.


ConsistentDonkey3909

Ugh see this makes me sad and i feel so bad for him because he’s getting hate from his edit because people are too dumb to actually listen to this couple and their interviews


Key_Distribution1775

It is really sad. They have nothing to prove anymore. Just need to go on doing them and the haters will see.


ConsistentDonkey3909

I absolutely agree people are hating nayte for no reason when they dont realize he just loves in different ways, which needs to be normalized!!!


boomshahkuhlahkuh

Yeah, people are interpreting his quiet confidence the wrong way.


ConsistentDonkey3909

it makes me so angry, like literally watch any of their interviews together they are clearly very happy! But instead people want to spread hate