Dear future “Bachelor” contestants: Do yourselves a favor and leave the siblings at home.
Case in point: the awkward conundrum that is the Haley and Emily Ferguson dilemma.
Long before Ben Higgins began his reign as America’s most bland Prince Charming, ABC kicked off a cringe-worthy promo tour featuring the two Vegas-bred twins vying to win his heart.
What could possibly go wrong? Uh, just about everything.
Though the 23-year-old bombshells managed to charm Ben throughout the first three weeks of the competition, it wasn’t until Week 4 that he realized dating twins was just too “Sister Wives” for him.
“Dating twins has been difficult,” Ben says, stating the obvious. “I’m attracted to them both, into them both. But as my feelings grow, it’s kind of getting harder to comprehend how I can continue with two sisters.”
And considering the “Bachelor” camp has been holed up in the twins’ hometown of Sin City, Mr. Charmer decided to kick off the local dates a wee bit early with a trip to Mama Ferguson’s abode.
“I was hoping that I could get to the point where Ben could meet my mom, my family, my dogs,” an ecstatic Emily shares.
After Haley gives Ben a tour of her bedroom — photos with ex-boyfriends included — she gives it to him straight and tells him that he’s going to have to choose between the two at one point or another.
“I don’t know if you’re afraid to hurt our feelings, but I want you to know that you can treat us as individuals and I really don’t want you to look at us as a pair,” Haley says. “We knew coming into this, eventually you’re going to have to choose one.”
Now ready to put his big boy pants on, Ben decides that there’s no time like the present to make his choice. But first, he needs to consult Mom.
“I think that even today, coming here, it’s getting really hard for them, it’s getting hard for me,” he begins. “It’s hard to, like, treat them both as people I’m dating.”
While Mom tells Ben that Emily has always been the more “dominant twin,” she also shares that once Haley lets her guard down, she is “a thousand percent in” when it comes to relationships.
Ready to make the choice, he gathers the girls in the family room — with Mom present, of course — for what may be the first rose ceremony without host Chris Harrison present.
“This is a unique situation because of just how much I do care for you and for you. I think in order to be intentional about relationships from here on out, and to try and make things work and to figure out if things are going to work . . . I’m going to have to say goodbye to Haley,” Ben reveals.
While Haley is understandably upset, her farewell speech proves that she is sane enough to withstand the pressures of a reality TV romance — and that she deserves a spot on this summer’s “Bachelor in Paradise” roster.
“Rejection isn’t easy. I mean, I know what heartbreak feels like. I think that it’s out there and eventually what’s meant to be will happen,” Haley states, holding back tears. “But more importantly, I’m happy that Emily gets to continue this journey, even if it’s alone.”
As Ben and Emily head back to the Strip in a stretch limo, Emily readies herself to face the competition (and Olivia) solo.
“I’m just sad, because I knew this was going to happen at one point,” Emily chokes out. “I just wasn’t expecting it to be today.”
Someone, anyone, please pass us some tissues.