I’m going to begin this post by asking to not be judged. Then I’m going to follow up that request with the realization that I’m a 34-year-old woman who is still obsessed with the Bachelor Franchise, and I deserve to be judged.
A few weeks ago, a notable Bachelorette/Bachelor In Paradise contestant, Chad Johnson, posted something on his Instagram which indicated he would be in San Diego making an appearance at a popular downtown establishment for Rachel’s Bachelorette season premiere. My friend Tay caught this immediately, and notified my sister and me. We made a commitment that we would be at The Tipsy Crow that evening and we would meet Chad.
Now, to me, Chad was a very unlikable dude. He seemed disrespectful to women both on his season of The Bachelorette, and on Bachelor In Paradise. He wasn’t anyone I wanted to support in the least bit. But… being the huge nerd fan I am of the franchise in general, I obviously needed to be there. I made a calendar invite so Tay and Riss would have consistent notifications and not forget about our planned girls night, and on this past Monday morning we reconvened and were set to go.
Until…
So… then I called The Tipsy Crow…
So… remember when I asked you to not judge me? Judge me. I was that crazy person. I called the bar to make sure Chad would be there. Tay and I get to the bar super early and in true form, act as if we didn’t even know there was an event going on that night. The security guards informed us the upstairs was reserved for the “Bachelorette” event and “The Bachelor” would be in attendance. I *cluelessly* questioned that …. “Wait THE BACHELOR will be here??” (not even knowing who he might be referring to), as another male security guard stepped in and clarified “a guy from the Bachelorette will be here… his name is Chad.” Ohhhhh we had noooo idea! The nice men lead us to the only table available in the place and told us we could order food and drinks and then if we wanted, we could go upstairs, where the Bachelorette event was being held, and where Chad would be taking photos with all the guests… once the rope was opened at 7:30.
We did just that. We sat at a table in the back, ordered a delicious tuna melt to share, and a a couple of drinks (for me)… we waited…until 7:30, then tried to walk to the front… where at this time it was a BUM RUSH of *actual* crazy girls, who had shown up holding roses and wearing matching Bachelor shirts. I was literally embarrassed to be grouped with such people. Tay and I had met up with my sister, Riss, as well as a few other girlfriends, and stood in a very crowded line to get upstairs. We stood in that line for the entirely too long amount of time that everyone else peaced out. One thing I have in common with Tay is that we are both stubborn to a fault. Did either one of us REALLY care about meeting this douchebag Chad Johnson?? NO. But were we going to wait in a never-moving line, and finally be first in the line to just leave and give up on the night?? Also, no.
I had made my sister my bartender for the night. I’d wait in this ridiculous line, and she would just continue to go to the bar and buy us drinks and deliver them to said line. At the point that Tay and I were number one on the line, they had announced that Chad wasn’t even upstairs anymore taking pictures with “fans,” but he had gone downstairs to where we had just been sitting eating our food as the first patrons of the fucking night because the upstairs lounge was “at capacity.” I looked at Tay… “We literally couldn’t have played this worse if we tried.” She agreed.
We decided we would wait. Chad would eventually be back upstairs to the lounge to greet his “fans” and watch the premiere. I literally didn’t care about Chad, as a person, but I cared about the cause. We were here to meet him. We finally got upstairs… so did Riss. We plotted… we spotted the back entry stairway that was also roped off to only staff and decided he’d be coming back up that staircase. So we stood and waited…and waited… finally, right when the show started, I decided I was making a move. If I left down the original staircase we came up, I was told I wouldn’t be allowed back up. I informed Tay and Riss,
“I was taught by an old friend… if you want to go somewhere you are not allowed, you just need to act like you own the place, don’t look at anyone, and do it. I’m going down the staff (forbidden) staircase and I’m going to see if I can find Chad.”
They warned me I may be kicked out, but at this point I didn’t care. I descended the forbidden stairway, passing staff members sitting on it around the corner sharing dinner, didn’t look at them, and kept going. I scrounged the bar looking for Chad and couldn’t find him. I was about to go back up the forbidden stairway to let the girls know Chad was longgggg gone… when I decided I’d like to have a puff of a Black & Mild (yes, classy… I know)… so I exited out of the forbidden exit near the forbidden staircase, full-on determined I’d make it back in that forbidden door when I was done, as well as up the forbidden staircase when I got in.
What did I see outside on the sidewalk? Oh… it was CHAD in all his glory, full lights, camera, action, doing an interview. I quickly took a pic and sent it to Tay and Riss, an indication they should come down the forbidden stairway immediately, if they wanted to catch a glimpse of this hunk of meat on stilts (yes, he has the skinniest chicken legs on a man hunk you have ever seen in your entire life).
Chad was done with his interview and I overheard him saying, “Are you going to give me a good edit?? Everyone makes me look like an asshole. I don’t want an asshole edit. I want to look like a good guy”
The producer tried to make him feel ok, by telling him they’d give him a good edit, and everything is a little “give and take.” I thought… LOL they’re not gonna give him a good edit and he doesn’t like that. So I set myself into action.
As soon as he walked away from the camera, I approached him. And again, I deserve to be judged… because now I’m a straight up liar.
“Chad… Hi. My name is Courtney and I was hired to write a blog about how you’re not actually an asshole, but you’re a really good guy.”
“Oh, really? Cool!”
“Yeah, my sister and my friend are also writing the blog with me and they should be down here in a second.”
*Cue Riss and Taylor coming out of the forbidden doorway at the bottom of the forbidden staircase.
I walk quickly to them clarifying that they are also part of this very special blog highlighting how great Chad is, and they give me eyes, with agreement.
I take a selfie with Chad, *for the blog* and then I have Carissa take photos of Tay and me with Chad *for the blog.* Chad happily takes all of these photos, and then tells Carissa that she is one of the girls he’s “given a rose” to tonight. She says, “No, you didn’t give me one, but YOU SHOULD HAVE.” She then, continues to tell him he has “really skinny legs” which I’m sure he was thrilled about, shakes his hand, and we all continue on our way.
Chad continued on his way to that upstairs lounge we waited all night to see…and we continued upon our way home. It was a Monday night. What were were all doing out at a downtown bar, anyway? F-List celeb sighting… check. Ridiculous photos with F-list celeb, check. Here’s to stubbornness… and my friends.
xoxo
Gossip Girl
breathe in, laugh out 