Beverly Ortega Shares Her Reasons for Exiting ‘The Bachelor’ Prematurely

Fans of “Bachelor” were left perplexed when a contestant abruptly left the dating show without any explanation during the episode aired on Feb. 10. Now, she’s shedding light on what truly occurred.

Beverly Ortega, a 30-year-old insurance salesperson, was chosen for a solo date with Grant Ellis early in the episode but then unexpectedly withdrew from the competition before they could embark on their romantic outing.

Later in the episode, another contestant, Parisa Shifteh, briefly mentioned Ortega’s departure during a confessional interview.

“Today was supposed to be Beverly’s one-on-one with Grant, but she was feeling really unwell yesterday morning. Today, we learned she wouldn’t be returning to the house,” Shifteh shared.

Due to Ortega’s exit, Ellis invited three other women on a smaller group date, mentioning her departure by noting she had to return home.

On Feb. 10, Ortega spoke out on her Instagram story, stating, “I’m receiving many inquiries about why I had to leave.” She later elaborated on the incident on the “Bachelor Happy Hour” podcast, hosted by former Bachelor Nation members Joe Amabile and Serena Pitt.

What did Beverly Ortega say about her exit from the show?

In her appearance on the “Bachelor Happy Hour” episode released on Feb. 11, Ortega provided more insights into the illness that led to her departure.

She described the situation, saying she had taken a nap while the other contestants went out for their group date.

“I woke up and my stomach was in pain. I thought maybe I just needed to use the restroom, or perhaps the food didn’t sit well. Then, I started throwing up,” she recounted.

Ortega described her situation as being in “intense pain” and mentioned that she continued to vomit for 12 hours.

“I was uncertain if it was food poisoning or something more serious. My stomach was hurting all over, not just one side. I didn’t think it was anything too severe,” she shared.

After seeking medical attention, Ortega was given morphine which alleviated her pain, but she received distressing news: she had appendicitis and required emergency surgery.

“I’m usually emotional and a crier, but I didn’t shed a tear. I was thinking, ‘My family and friends aren’t here while I face major surgery on my organ,’” she explained. “Having already had my gallbladder removed in 2018, I now had to lose my appendix too. I felt like I was losing organs left and right.”

Since it was unsafe for Ortega to fly back to New York, she had her surgery in California, after which her mother came to help her return home.

For Ortega, the emotional healing took longer than the physical recovery.

“Honestly, it took me about a month and a half to emotionally recover. Physically, I was fine, but emotionally, I struggled. Leaving with ‘what if’ thoughts was difficult. We had started to build a connection, and while I know they didn’t show many of our moments, there were some truly sweet moments we shared,” she stated.

Ortega expressed disappointment about not getting to say goodbye to Ellis and hopes the production team informed him of her situation. While she regrets the abrupt end to her “Bachelor” journey, she ultimately believes it was the right choice considering her circumstances.

“I wished to remain, but I think it was better for me to go home and recover. They would soon be traveling to different locations, and it wasn’t safe or wise for me to fly while recuperating from surgery,” she clarified.

Looking ahead, Ortega isn’t dismissing the possibility of appearing on “Bachelor in Paradise” if the chance arises.

“If I had progressed further, I might not have considered ‘Paradise,’ but since I didn’t get that far, I am open to it. I’m eager for marriage as I’m 30 years old, ready for kids and family. I’ve always been someone who thrives in relationships,” she concluded.