This isn’t the first time “The Bachelor” contestants have taken liberties with the truth to advance themselves on ABC’s reality dating show, but Episode 5 reached new heights. 

Last week’s unbearably mean episode showed Anna and Victoria starting and perpetuating false rumors that Brittany, one of four new contestants, had been an escort, and aiding in dividing new and original cast members. This week’s deals with the ugly aftermath. 

Bachelor Matt James makes it clear that he won’t tolerate bullying and sends the main offenders home, but not before a whole bunch of unsubstantiated accusations are made. To clear things up, we’re fact-checking claims from Matt, Victoria, Anna, MJ and other contestants. 

(Our “Pinocchio” scale: Zero roses indicates the claims were factual. One, two or three roses demonstrates varying levels of misinformation, while four roses means a big ol’ lie.)

Last week’s recap: Victoria, Anna’s mean girl behavior is unbearable to watch

Claim: Anna tells Matt she “immediately felt horrible” and “completely apologized” after bringing up accusations that Brittany was an escort.

Our rating: Mostly false.

We can’t know for sure what Anna was feeling on the inside. Last week, she briefly apologized to Brittany for spreading the rumor, but also continued to laugh with Victoria about their dislike for her and the other new women after the damage had been done. 

Claim: Victoria says she’s “always playful” and “never malicious” after learning that Ryan, one of the new contestants, told Matt about Victoria’s comments to and about the new women. 

Our rating: Mostly false. 

Sure, Victoria has had some genuinely comedic moments this season: Her reading at the steamy romance novel-writing night a few weeks ago had some of the other women laughing so hard they were literally rolling on the floor.

But perpetuating the escort rumor, which Matt and several contestants warned could  ruin her life, coupled with her derogatory and terms for women negates the idea that Victoria was “never malicious.” 

‘I’m not a bully’: ‘The Bachelor’ villain Victoria Larson addresses 2012 arrest, show controversy

Claim: “There’s nobody he can marry besides me.” – Victoria, crying after a conversation with Matt that has her worried he may send her home. 

Our rating: False. 

Victoria, who deemed herself the frontrunner, was sent home soon after making this declaration. Although Anna, Catalina, Lauren, Mari and Pieper also left in this week’s episode, Matt is left with 14 other women he could potentially still marry. 

Claim: Matt tells Rachael on their 1-on-1 that she looks “incredible.” “So do you,” she replies.  

Our rating: OK, technically looks are subjective. But we think it’s safe to go ahead and call this a truth.

Matt looks amazing in a tailored blue suit. Rachael looks even more stunning in a matching cobalt gown and her brand-new red-bottomed nude heels. Case closed, we confirm while watching this in leggings and a hoodie.

Claim: MJ says she has “only preached harmony” and “never lied” to Matt while arguing with Jessenia before they’re forced into a last-minute 2-on-1 conversation with the Bachelor.

Our rating: Half true

Jessenia and MJ are invited to meet Matt to go over Jessenia’s claims that MJ was also to blame for bullying the new contestants. There are two parts at play here.

MJ has definitely “preached harmony”: When Matt first brought up accusations that she was attributing to the toxic culture, she told him she leads “by example,” and said that when she sees “something, I’m going to make peace and harmony.” Whether she practices what she preaches is another question. (See: her asking if everyone wants “to see me fight,” minutes earlier.) 

But she did tell Matt during their group date this week that she was “shocked” to hear of the toxicity going on in the house, despite contributing to conversations about being unhappy with the new additions. 

Jessenia accuses MJ of starting the phrase “JV versus varsity,” which the original contestants had been using to refer the women who only joined last week. At the top of the episode, MJ predicts the new contestants would try to speak to Matt first at the rose ceremony, but advised them to “let the varsity squad go in first.” 

Claim: MJ tells Jessenia that Matt will “know the truth by the end of tonight.” 

Our rating: Too soon to tell.

Matt certainly doesn’t find out the truth by the end of this episode, so we’ll have to wait until next week to see how the rest of this controversy plays out. 

More to look forward to next week: Bachelor Nation fan favorite Tyler Cameron (Matt’s best friend) makes a cameo appearance. “Bachelor” alum Heather Martin – who memorably had her first kiss in Colton Underwood’s season – shows up in a move Chris Harrison tells her could “honestly destroy this whole thing for Matt.” 

More: ‘The Bachelor’ Matt James, host Chris Harrison talk groundbreaking casting of first Black bachelor

Elsewhere in Bachelor Nation: ‘No one person to blame’: Dale Moss talks ‘Bachelorette’ breakup after Clare Crawley feels ‘crushed’

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