The Golden Bachelorette contestant Pascal Ibgui self-eliminated from Joan Vassos' season during their Fantasy Suite date in Tahiti, and he should never have ed the show in the first place. Pascal, a 69-year-old salon owner who was born in , but now lives in Chicago, Illinois, and Joan, a 61-year-old private school from Rockville, Maryland, had a strong connection throughout the season. Their one-on-one date in which they flew in a private plane to Las Vegas was a reflection of Pascal's lavish lifestyle. They developed a deep connection, but he still had trouble opening up to Joan.

During The Golden Bachelorette season 1, Pascal had his walls up, but, on their one-on-one date, he told Joan about his difficult childhood during which he didn't feel and love from his parents. He was determined to make something of himself, which is why he takes pride in the life that he's created. Although Pascal made it all the way to Joan's final three men, he left the show when he realized that he wasn't in love with her. Here's why he should never have ed The Golden Bachelorette in the first place.

Pascal Ibgui Wasn't Over His Last Relationship

Pascal Wasn't Ready For A New Love

Before Pascal and Joan's Fantasy Suite date, he itted to host Jesse Palmer that his heart was broken the previous year when he broke up with his girlfriend of two years, to whom he almost got engaged. They'd broken up two times before, and he knew that the third time was really the end. Pascal said that he wanted to move on, but he was having a tough time. He said that he was trying to rebuild, but, deep down, he was hurting. Pascal then told Joan about his experience, and said that his daughter signed him up for The Golden Bachelorette, and he didn't think he'd last that long on the show.

When Pascal asked Joan why she chose him out of 24 men, she told him that he reminded her of her late husband of 32 years, John, who ed away from pancreatic cancer in 2021. This was because Pascal embraced life like John did. Pascal then itted to Joan that he got scared during their date when they participated in a Tahitian bonding ceremony because he was having a very difficult time letting go.

Pascal said that he cared very much about Joan, and the last thing that he wanted to do was hurt her. However, he didn't think that he could get to the place that she wanted him to be. Joan told him that if he wasn't ready at that moment, that would be one thing, but if he was never going to be ready, that was a different thing.

Pascal responded, "I'm having a very difficult time because I know what love is. I've experienced it. You've experienced it. And I care about you as a friend, but I'm not in love. And I just can't be there. And it's hurting me because we have a good time together. We do. We do. We laugh. We seem like we connect, but I need that spark, and I just don't have it." Pascal then agreed with Joan when he said, "I'm not ready."

I'm having a very difficult time because I know what love is. I've experienced it. You've experienced it. And I care about you as a friend, but I'm not in love.

When Pascal left Joan, she said that she felt hopeless, and she wondered if she might end up alone at the end of her journey. Based on everything that Pascal said, it seems as though he knew that he wasn't ready for a new relationship, never mind an engagement, so soon after his breakup. However, he'd told Joan that he'd ed the show at his daughter's urging, never thinking that he'd make it that far.

Pascal shouldn't have ed The Golden Bachelorette in the first place, knowing that the lead, Joan, was looking for a long-term relationship or an engagement. After he signed up, he should've left sooner if he knew that he wasn't ready. Pascal took things way too far by staying until he was one of Joan's final three men.

Although Pascal might've been trying to see if he could develop stronger feelings for Joan, he hurt her in the process and put a damper on her experience. When Pascal left, he and Joan exchanged "I love yous," and they were clearly good friends, but that's not what Joan was looking for on her journey.

Pascal Had Trouble Opening Up To Joan

Pascal itted That He Had His Walls Up

Throughout The Golden Bachelorette, Pascal had a lot of trouble opening up to Joan. He knew that he was guarded, but he continued to pursue a relationship with her anyway. Even if Pascal's intentions were pure, he had to know deep down that he wasn't going to be ready for a full commitment, let alone an engagement at the end. He shouldn't have brought Joan home to meet his family during his hometown date if he was having these doubts. It wasn't fair to her, his family, or himself.

Pascal Didn't Make Enough Effort During Group Dates

Joan Asked Pascal About His Lack Of Attentiveness

One of the signs that Pascal wasn't that into Joan was the fact that he didn't make as much of an effort with her during the group dates as the other men did. After the Chippendales strip tease group date, Joan told Pascal that she was a little disappointed about it. Pascal apologized and told her that he was more of a one-on-one type of person, and that he didn't want to appear aggressive.

In an interview with Glamour after his self-elimination, Pascal said that Chock Chapple acted like a stalker during the bowling group date when he was constantly by Joan's side. However, Joan didn't mind it, and, since she'd already told Pascal that she needed more from him, perhaps he should've made more of an effort. Chock was showing Joan affection because he was actually falling for her, unlike Pascal, who was holding back.

Pascal's inattentiveness could've actually been another sign that he shouldn't have ed the show. The Golden Bachelorette is a competition series, and, if Pascal is better one-on-one, then the environment clearly wasn't right for him. He shouldn't have been on the show if it didn't fit his personality type.

Pascal Broke Joan's Heart When He Self-Eliminated

Pascal Left Joan Questioning If She Could Find Love

Although Pascal clearly didn't intend to break Joan's heart and he's not a villain, his self-elimination obviously left her questioning everything. When he left, she wondered if she'd find love on her Golden Bachelorette journey, or if she'd end up alone. It was hard to watch Joan, who was so excited before her Fantasy Suite dates, look so defeated. Pascal let things go too far with Joan, which could now affect her relationships with Chock and Guy Gansert, who are her final two men.

Joan also said that she felt like a failure and that her hope was down to nothing. However, Pascal's self-elimination really had nothing to do with Joan. He wouldn't have been able to commit to anyone, no matter who the Golden Bachelorette was, because he wasn't ready. Pascal should never have ed The Golden Bachelorette, but, hopefully, Joan will find the love that she's searching for with either Chock or Guy, and live happily ever after.

The Golden Bachelorette airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Sources: Bachelor Nation/YouTube, Bachelor Nation/YouTube, Glamour, Bachelor Nation/YouTube