Dean's appearance on Monday night's episode of "The Bachelorette" may have been the most interesting one in recent memory. Usually, the hometown visits provide an intriguing entry into the lives of the contestants on the show. Never has that been truer. In this instance, however, it was so incredibly personal that fans of "The Bachelorette" were torn about how the producers handled the whole thing.

Dean goes home

Long before this visit unfolded on television screens across America, trouble was sowed. While talking to Rachel earlier in the season, Dean disclosed that his family somewhat fell apart after the death of his mother in high school.

During last week's episode, he admitted that he didn't want to go through with a hometown visit and wasn't sure if it was a good idea. Nevertheless, "The Bachelorette" continued forth with its plans.

The hometown visit is a strange time. It starts out well, as Dean's father - who has changed his name and converted to Sikhism - plays the gong. But it quickly devolves from there, with shouting and berating on both sides. It's truly heartbreaking to watch, as it appears Dean barely even recognizes his own father. Rachel tries to make the best of the situation, but since it's her partially her fault it's unfolding - by virtue of her being on "The Bachelorette" - there's no way to solve the awkward encounter that ends with Dean's father retreating from the glare of the cameras.

At the end of the episode, Dean is the one to go. There are a multitude of reasons why Rachel may have sent him packing, but it's hard to dismiss the family dynamics as one of the causes. There were clearly set to be problems between them, but Dean was light-hearted, giggly, and seemingly a good guy overall. The lasting memory people will have of him on "The Bachelorette," however, will involve one of the most uncomfortable scenes of the season.

Fans of 'The Bachelorette' divided

Most fans of "The Bachelorette" were in an uproar on Twitter as the scene was unfolding, calling the producers everything from unethical to exploitative. Those accusations only grew in fervor when Dean was kicked off at the end of the night. But others pointed out that contestants know what they are signing up for when they agree to participate in the show. Overall, there is no consensus as to how Monday's episode could've been appropriately dealt with, leaving viewers in an ethical lurch.
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