The Bachelorette season 21 contestant Devin Strader has been painted as a villain by some of his fellow contestants as they compete for Jenn Tran’s heart, but nothing could be further from the truth. Devin, a 28-year-old freight company owner from Houston, Texas, and Jenn, a 26-year-old physician assistant student originally from Hillsdale, New Jersey, who’s currently living in Boston, Massachusetts, had an instant connection during premiere night, when they shared a meaningful conversation. Devin didn’t arrive with any gimmicks; he was simply sincere and himself.

Throughout The Bachelorette season 21, Jenn and Devin have continued to build their relationship. They’ve connected during group dates, but it was their one-on-one date in Auckland, New Zealand that really brought them closer. Unfortunately, Devin’s bold moves to capture Jenn’s attention have rubbed some of his fellow contestants the wrong way, and they’ve made him out to be a villain. However, there are several reasons that Devin is not the Bachelorette season 21 bad guy.

1Devin Strader Is Unafraid To Tell Jenn Tran He’s Falling For Her

Devin Is A Frontrunner For Jenn’s Heart

During their one-on-one date dinner, Devin told Jenn that he was falling for her, and he wasn’t afraid to say it. Jenn was thrilled, and she shared in her confessional that she’d never heard those words from anyone before. Devin has been completely transparent and sincere since the season began, and it’s very clear that he’s truly there for Jenn.

If Devin were really the villain that his fellow contestants made him out to be, he wouldn’t have seemed genuine when he told Jenn that he was falling for her. However, it was one of the sweetest moments of the season so far, and solidified Devin’s status as a frontrunner for Jenn’s heart. She even said that she could see a future with him. Jenn is very aware of toxic traits because of her past relationships, so she would certainly be able to tell if Devin had ulterior motives.

2Devin Is Opening Up About His Past

Devin Loves His Mother

Since The Bachelorette season 21 began, Devin has been very open about his past and his family. He grew up with a single mother, and he feels that his big personality was the result of him having to stand up for himself and his younger brother. During their one-on-one date in New Zealand, Devin and Jenn learned about how the Māori people give significance to landmarks in their country, and that they believe that a specific mountain or river has the persona of a living being.

When it was his turn to talk, Devin called himself a wanderer with his family who came from many different places. He said that they don’t have mountains where he’s from, but he thinks the mountain in his mind is his mother. Jenn was very impressed by how Devin opened up. It really meant a lot to her that he did. Jenn and Devin’s relationship is becoming very serious, moving beyond the surface to become much deeper.

3Devin Hasn’t Done Anything Wrong By Stealing Jenn Away From The Other Guys

It’s Part Of Being A Contestant On The Bachelorette

During the first Bachelorette season 21 group date in Melbourne, Australia, Devin stole Jenn away for some one-on-one time during which they ate gelato together. His fellow contestant, Aaron Erb, was infuriated by this because he thought that group dates should only involve group activities. This was a strange opinion for him to have because, in the 22 years since The Bachelor premiered, “can I steal you for a second” moments have been a major part of the show.

Since Aaron’s twin brother Noah was a contestant on The Bachelorette season 16 and Bachelor in Paradise season 7, one would think that he’d know that. Devin isn’t a villain because he wants to spend as much time as possible with Jenn. In fact, this proves that he’s actually creative, romantic, and fun because he’s carving out little moments for them to share within the larger group date.

Devin is only doing what so many others have done in the past: doing what he has to do to make himself stand out and win Jenn’s heart. This isn’t a bad thing, and the other guys should be doing it too, instead of focusing on Devin.

4Jenn Loves Devin’s Attention

Jenn Isn’t Complaining About Devin’s Actions

Aaron was also very upset when Devin interrupted him and Jenn later in the group date in order to share an ice cream sundae with her. While Aaron blamed Devin for stealing Jenn away from him, the fact is that Jenn allowed it. She could just as easily have asked Devin to wait, but she didn’t. It seemed as though she’d rather spend time with Devin than Aaron, which doesn’t make Devin a villain.

In addition, Thomas Nguyen and some of the other men expected to have the opportunity to speak to Jenn first at the rose ceremony cocktail party, after they didn’t have any one-on-one time with her after a group date. When Devin immediately stole Jenn away, Thomas became irate and confronted him in front of Jenn.

Jenn later told Thomas that the men planning out the order she should speak to them took away her ability to make decisions. Jenn’s defense of Devin, and her willingness to let him steal her away from the other guys proves that he’s not the villain in her story, but rather the hero with whom she wants to spend more time.

5Devin Is A Good Sport

Devin Does His Best To Have Fun On Every Date

Devin has made the most of every date with Jenn, but it was the male stripper revue group date where he really had his chance to shine. Even though Devin later admitted to Jenn that he’s always been insecure about his body, he was a good sport when he had to strip, and he really got into his routine. He showed that he was willing to do whatever it took to win Jenn’s heart, even if it meant that he had to go far out of his comfort zone. Jenn even gave him the group date rose after he opened up to her about how he felt.

Devin also was a good sport during the comedy roast group date, when he was the butt of several of his fellow contestants’ jokes. While another man might’ve become angry, Devin just laughed it off. He was secure enough in his relationship with Jenn to know that their jabs came from a place of jealousy. Devin’s good-natured personality proves that he’s not the bad guy.

6Devin Respectfully Listened To His Critics

Devin Thanked Aaron Erb For His Book

After Aaron and Devin’s tug-of-war when they stole Jenn back and forth, Aaron said that he couldn’t stop thinking about Devin. He decided to have a conversation with him during which he gave him a self-improvement book titled Principles for Self-Growth: How to Understand Yourself and Gain Emotional Depth by Dr. Brandon O. Conner, which was similar to the one that Bennett Jordan gave his brother Noah during The Bachelorette season 16. Despite the fact that Aaron kept mistakenly calling him “Dylan” and criticizing his every move, Devin was still willing to hear him out.

After Aaron gave him the book, Devin smiled, clearly trying to hold back laughter. However, rather than laughing in Aaron’s face like Sam McKinney or Thomas might’ve done, he thanked him and said that he really appreciated it. In his confessional, Devin called Aaron passive-aggressive because he wouldn’t say that he lacked emotional intelligence, but instead gave him a book about emotional intelligence.

Devin also said that Aaron giving him the book was his petty way of saying that he got the last shot at him. He added that he didn’t need a book to show him how to be a man. However, to Aaron’s face, he simply said that he’d read the book at some point in time. It’s easy to imagine that some of the other men would’ve become angry and confronted Aaron, but Devin chose to take the high road. This proves that Devin was more mature and the bigger person.

7Devin Stands Up For What’s Right

Devin Defended Sam Nejad From Sam McKinney & Thomas Nguyen

After Sam Nejad professed his love for Jenn in front of everyone during the male stripper revue group date (he declared that he wanted to bare his soul rather than his body), Sam M. and Thomas were snickering and talking about him behind his back at the cocktail party. Devin noticed this and said in his confessional that their behavior was “really, really low.“ After Sam N. addressed all of the men and admitted that he felt pathetic for saying that he loved Jenn in front of everyone, Sam M. was almost laughing in his face.

Devin then said to Sam N. that he had no reason to feel sorry for what he does and who he is. He told him that anybody that decides that’s not right has their own issues. Devin then addressed Sam M. directly and told him that he threw around words like “mutual respect,” but he didn’t really believe it. Devin said that he claps for Sam M. and smiles at him even though he doesn’t want to, but Sam M. doesn’t do the same. Sam M. responded that he didn’t respect him, he had nothing to say to him, and that they weren’t going to be friends.

Thomas also then chimed in after Devin repeated the words “mutual respect,” and said that Devin always had to have the last word and called him a child. However, Sam M. and Thomas are the ones who act immaturely, proving that they don’t have the emotional intelligence to handle themselves on The Bachelorette season 21. Devin is right that Sam M. and Thomas only value certain people, which is really wrong. It was refreshing and admirable to see Devin stand up for Sam N., which makes him the hero, not the villain.

8Devin Has Been Bullied By His Fellow Contestants

Some Of The Men Have Defended Devin

Sam M. has been bullying Devin since the beginning of the season with his persistent confrontations with him. He also speaks harshly about him in his confessionals, saying that Devin is smooth with his words, but he’s smooth with his fists, and that he’d snap Devin in half. He also declared that, if it was a competition, he’d step on Devin’s neck.

Sam M. even called Devin a bully in his confessional, but the show captioned his picture with, “Needs to look up the definition of bully in the dictionary.” The following week, Sam M. got into another confrontation with Devin, when all he had to do was leave him alone. Despite the fact that Aaron, Sam M., and Thomas have attacked Devin, contestants such as Brian Autz and Grant Ellis have expressed that they didn’t have a problem with Devin doing what it took to capture Jenn’s attention. Devin is clearly not the villain in this situation.

9Devin Is A Kind & Open-Hearted Person

Devin Doesn’t Have A Mean Bone In His Body

Devin is emotionally available and in touch with his feelings. Although some of Devin’s fellow contestants see his behavior as disrespectful, the truth is that Devin is a kind and open-hearted person who doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. When he steals Jenn away for one-on-one time, he’s not doing it to be spiteful to the other men. He’s simply focused on building a relationship with her. Devin has also taken the high road in many arguments, and has defended Sam N. from Sam M. and Thomas. Unlike Sam M. and Thomas, he doesn’t pick and choose who to respect and value.

Even though Devin has been pulled into drama on the show, he hasn’t created it. The conflict comes from the men being threatened by him because Jenn likes him so much. It’s clear from Devin’s conversations with Jenn that he’s connecting with her on a deeper level than many of the other Bachelorette season 21 men. This is because he’s a good person who truly wants to find love.

10Devin Joined The Bachelorette For The Right Reasons

Devin Genuinely Seems To Want To Get Engaged To Jenn

During Devin and Jenn’s one-on-one date, he shared that kids are all he’s ever wanted. He said that growing up without a full family intact, having a happy and healthy family is all the tradition that he needs. Devin was so open and receptive to learning new things during the date, which is something that it’s hard to imagine with some of the other men who are more immature or close-minded than him.

Devin definitely joined The Bachelorette season 21 for the right reasons. He’s a genuine person who doesn’t seem to have any ulterior motives. His intentions are pure, and he doesn’t seem to be on the show to further his career or gain clout. Devin wants to fall in love and get engaged to Jenn, and his focus has always been on her. Hopefully, Jenn and Devin will get engaged at the end of The Bachelorette season 21, and they’ll live happily ever after.