![Sam McKinney on 'The Bachelorette'](https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Sam-Mckinney.webp)
Sam McKinney Emerges as the Villain of ‘The Bachelorette’
Sam McKinney made a good first impression with Jenn Tran on The Bachelorette, but that appears to be where the positive feelings end. Sam has argued with other contestants, made Jenn uncomfortable, and has a couple of former romantic partners speaking out against him. While fans of the series seemed to like Sam early on, he is emerging as the villain of The Bachelorette this season.
!['The Bachelorette' Season 21 cast standing with Jenn Tran](https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/The-Bachelorette-Season-21-cast.webp?strip=all&quality=80)
Sam McKinney goes from fan-favorite to the villain on ‘The Bachelorette’
Sam McKinney established himself as a fan favorite early on in The Bachelorette. His sexual chemistry with Jenn Tran is undeniable. But that is pretty much where his appeal ends. The 27-year-old contractor has emerged as the villain of The Bachelorette in recent days, marking a swift and sudden shift.
Things got tense between Sam and fellow contestant Devin Strader last week. Sam even suggested he and Devin could “take it outside.” He opted to poke fun at Sam Nejad, too. While Sam insists he’s just there to win the competition, he’s taking it to a strange place.
![Jenn and Sam are seen at the Aukland Skyjump & SkyWalk on 'The Bachelorette'](https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/The-Bachelorette-Aukland.webp?strip=all&quality=80)
Sam’s oddly aggressive behavior with fellow contestants could be largely overlooked initially, and Jenn did just that. Can everyone overlook his most recent misstep, though?
During the most recent episode of The Bachelorette, Sam made a decision for Jenn that she didn’t love. During their one-on-one date at an Aukland Skywalk, Sam decided they would do the more adventurous sky jump. Jenn later revealed she was terrified and explained that she was upset Sam decided for her without understanding her emotional state. Sam wasn’t the least bit sorry about the misstep, either.
Sam McKinney’s off-screen behavior has helped dub him the show’s villain
Sam hasn’t been dubbed the villain of The Bachelorette just for his on-screen behavior, either. Earlier this month, reports emerged that he ended a casual relationship the day he left for The Bachelorette. According to his former partner, she and Sam met during a night out in Nashville and dated for months before he left for the show. In a TikTok video, his former female companion shared that McKinney blamed his decision to appear on the show on her.
Reality Steve also spoke to Sam’s former fiance. The Bachelorette contestant opened up about being cheated on by his ex on The Bachelorette. While his ex did say she cheated, she insisted there was more to the story. She didn’t wish to be further involved in the situation but did note that she was not surprised that Sam used the situation for a sympathy vote.
While it’s unclear if he’s officially the villain of the season, he is well on his way to becoming just that. It is unclear how long Sam lasts on the series.