Skip to main content

Sam McKinney might have been an early favorite on The Bachelorette, but he has since been dubbed the season’s villain. With his exes coming forward and McKinney’s on-screen antics leaving a sour impression on viewers, public sentiment about the contestant has shifted. McKinney isn’t taking the criticism lying down. He has publicly suggested he has gotten a bad edit, but Jenn Tran doesn’t seem to agree.

Sam McKinney thinks he got a ‘bad edit’

Sam McKinney and his family aren’t in love with what they have seen of him on The Bachelorette season 21. While McKinney was an early frontrunner, he has since fallen out of favor with fans and, from the sounds of it, Jenn Tran herself.

A photo of Sam McKinney from 'The Bachelorette' Season 21 sitting casually in a purple T-shirt and jeans
Sam McKinney from ‘The Bachelorette’ Season 21 | Disney/Ricky Middlesworth

Following a recent episode featuring McKinney and Tran on a one-on-one date in Aukland, he took to social media to suggest that fans are seeing “smoke and mirrors” from the show. His siblings jumped in on the trash talk, too.

McKinney’s sisters asked to see “all of the footage” and suggested fans weren’t given the proper context. His brother didn’t want to be left out. He took to social media to suggest that The Bachelorette cut out footage to make McKinney appear shallow. None of McKinney’s siblings were on hand for filming.

Jenn Tran shades the ‘The Bachelorette’ contestant, says he needs to ‘own his words’

While Sam McKinney and his siblings are busy insisting he got a bad edit, Jenn Tran isn’t willing to let him off the hook that easily. During a recent appearance on Love to See It With Emma and Claire, Tran discussed how the show edits people.

Sam McKinney in his underwear while talking to Jesse Palmer on stage in 'The Bachelorette' Season 21
Sam McKinney in ‘The Bachelorette’ Season 21 | Disney/John Fleenor

Tran said it was time for McKinney to own what he did and said. She said that while editing can put a spin on a contestant, the producers aren’t forcing words into the contestant’s mouth and aren’t creating villains. Instead, she suggested that all contestants are responsible for their actions and words.

While Sam McKinney is still in the competition, it doesn’t seem like he’ll be hanging around for much longer, considering Tran’s recent thoughts and McKinney’s social media musings. Spoilers suggest the Mrtyle Beach native was eliminated before the hometown dates.

Jenn and Sam are seen at the Aukland Skyjump & SkyWalk on 'The Bachelorette'
Jenn and Sam | DISNEY/John Fleenor
Related

‘The Bachelorette’: Sam McKinney Ended a Situationship The Day He Left For Filming

The Bachelorette viewers can expect Tran to spend time with four different men during the hometown dates. From there, she’ll choose which contestants will join her in the fantasy suite before she picks a winner. While the season finale has yet to air, Tran might have admitted she ends the season as an engaged woman.