ABC's The Bachelor would not be as successful as it has become without all the tears and all the drama. Producers and fans alike have the show's most infamous villains to thank for most of those tears and dramatic scenes.
Many of the show's villains seem easy to spot right from their first introduction. However, some of these villains do not show their true colors (or the editors hide them from viewers) until later on. Some villains even start as fan-favorites before getting knocked off their pedestal. While many of them remain fan-favorites only for a short while, some have notoriously made it to the very end of their season before they are seen by fans in a different light.
Vanessa Grimaldi
Vanessa Grimaldi was a contestant on Nick Viall's season of The Bachelor. She was actually the one to win Viall's heart in the end, as he proposed to her at the end of the season. Vanessa seemed very down-to-earth and lovable at first. It was not until later in the season, and even more so after the season ended, that fans saw a different side to her. Former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay was a contestant on Nick Viall's season with Grimaldi. She revealed that Grimaldi had to be separated from the rest of the cast at one point because she used an "extremely derogatory word" about Lindsay.
Trish Schneider
Trish Schneider is often referred to as the first villain of The Bachelor franchise. She was fighting for Bachelor Jesse Palmer's heart, which was back in the show's fifth season.
When she first arrived, she proudly wore a shirt proclaiming herself to be a "gold digger." It was a divisive move. While some viewers did not appreciate it, many loved it and put her on their list of favorite contestants of all time. Trish was eliminated eventually, but that was not the last fans and her fellow contestants would see of her. She came back and interrupted fellow contestant, Mandy J's, overnight date. She was dressed in a beautiful gown, holding her own room key as she requested to have her own overnight date with Jesse instead. This was the move that cemented her status as the original Bachelor villain.
Kelsey Poe
As a recently widowed school counselor, Kelsey Poe was an immediate fan favorite on Chris Soules season of The Bachelor. Fans will easily admit that she did have a touching and amazing story. She had tragically and suddenly lost her husband while she was out walking their dog one day and had been on a journey of healing and become whole again. However, it definitely seemed to fans and contestants around her that she was using her story to advance her relationship with Chris for the wrong reasons. She may have faked a panic attack to get attention from Chris. Kelsey constantly compared herself to the other contestants and always held herself as superior. Eventually, she and Ashley I. had one of the most explosive two-on-one dates in the history of the franchise, where Chris sent both of them home.
Taylor Nolan
Taylor Nolan was another mental health professional that initially caught the eyes of adoring fans. She was a contestant on Nick Viall's season. Taylor is best known for her feud with the more obvious villain of that season, Corinne Olympios.
Corinne and Taylor's fights were often the center of the season's earliest episodes. Nolan was frequently questioning Olympios' motives and her "emotional intelligence." Usually, the contestant who challenges the show's villain is seen by fans as a hero. This time, however, she just seemed like another villain. As a mental health professional, many fans believed she should have handled the confrontations differently, rather than degrading Corinne on national television the way she chose to do.
Kelley Flanagan
Kelley Flanagan, a contestant on Peter Weber's season, had actually met the Bachelor before. It was in a hotel lobby where Kelley was at a friend's wedding and Peter was at a high school reunion. They literally danced in the hallway together as strangers and went their separate ways before Kelley went on the show to see him again. Of course, that sounds like a fairytale! Fans were rooting for Kelley from the very beginning. It wasn't until later on that she started calling the other women offensive names that fans started to see her as a villain.
Courtney Robertson
Courtney Robertson is probably one of the most famous (or infamous) villains in the entire franchise. She is most known for being the villain that won over the heart of the Bachelor, as Benjamin Flajnik chose to propose to her at the end of his season. As soon as she walked out of the limo, Ben couldn't help but blurt out, "that is a pretty girl." Her beauty is what caught the eyes of fans at first. It is only natural to root for the contestants who are easiest on the eyes. However, Courtney turned out to be one of the most condescending and meanest girls ever to compete on the show. She later capitalized on her situation with her successful book, I Didn't Come Here To Make Friends.
Olivia Caridi
Olivia Caridi was a contestant on the Ben Higgins season of The Bachelor. She was a news anchor before coming on the show to find love. At first, she seemed to be destined to become a fan favorite and a favorite of Higgins. He did give her the first impression rose, after all.
Unfortunately, she did not get along with all the other contestants. She was likely the victim of the "villain edit" more than anything. However, she became the season's villain nonetheless.
Rachael Kirkconnell
Rachael Kirkconnell is one of those contestants who only became a "villain" after her time on the show. Like Courtney Robertson, she was the "winner" of her season. Bachelor Matt James proposed to her on the finale before breaking it off (and eventually reconciling). Matt James was the first-ever black Bachelor. With that said, when it was revealed that Rachael had attended an "Antebellum Party" in her hometown a few years prior, Matt broke up with her. "Antebellum Parties" invite guests to dress up and act like southern Americans did just before the Civil War. It is a party that celebrates a time when those like Matt were enslaved and mistreated. Thankfully, Rachael has since been able to apologize and educate herself on why those actions were not okay.
Krystal Nielson
High energy personal trainer Krystal Nielson seemed fun and lovable in her introduction video on Arie Luyendyk Jr.'s season of The Bachelor. Her fan-favorite status did not last long though. In the first episode, viewers began to get annoyed with her obsession with glitter, aggravating princess voice, and how she believed herself better than any of the other girls. Although, she may have been another victim of the "villain edit." She has since started a successful fitness business and turned a new leaf on Bachelor in Paradise, where she found love.
Rozlyn Papa
Rozlyn Papa may be another one of the most infamous villains in the history of The Bachelor franchise. She may not have been as memorable if it weren't for the massive scandal she caused. She was a contestant on Jake Pavelka's season, where was eliminated only in the second week. The contestants were just getting to know Jake and each other. Fans were just figuring out who they wanted to root for and who their favorites would be. Then one day, it was revealed by Chris Harrison that Rozlyn had been having an affair with one of the crew members of the show. Even though she still denies it, her fellow contestants say otherwise. Rozlyn was kicked off the show and the crew member was fired.