Did Tarzan find his Jane? Not quite. Jill Chin and Jacob Rapini’s relationship on Bachelor in Paradise was rocky, but the two members of Bachelor Nation were able to (briefly) connect off screen.
Chin and Rapini both arrived on week 1 of the 2022 season but didn’t connect until episode five. Following a successful outing and rose ceremony, they faced their first hurdle when host Jesse Palmer announced that the female contestants would be spending a week at a different resort as new contestants arrived at their respective locations. “Split Week” ultimately ended up being their demise in Mexico as Rapini connected with Kate Gallivan.
While his romance with Gallivan didn’t last long, Chin quit the series before he could give things with the architectural historian another chance. The Bachelorette season 19 alum told Us Weekly in October 2022 that he had regrets about how everything went down.
“Obviously, at that point, Kate and I were no longer, and I was perfectly fine with that. I wish I had tried to pursue us as just a couple. Getting engaged at the end, probably not, but us as an actual relationship where we could be, you know, just talking and having fun with each other like we were before. I kind of do wish that [we] continued things,” he explained. “What I did there was I said, ‘OK, look, I don’t want to lead you on anymore. I want you to see if you can find your soulmate here.’ I didn’t want her to leave right away. I didn’t think she would leave right away. But after what happened with her and Romeo and then having a relationship with her and I, Jill just said, ‘You know what? Enough is enough. I gotta go.’ I still wish I had just said, ‘Let’s just see what you and I have.’”
After wrapping the show during summer 2022, the twosome reconnected and clued fans in during the reunion, which aired that November.
“We just started talking. We talked on the phone every other day, like, outside of Paradise,” Rapini told Us after the taping. “It’s fun. … We said to ourselves, no pressure whatsoever, but we’re open to having a relationship.”
Chin, for her part, told Us that they are working on their communication.
“We are exploring it. I think it’s really in its infancy right now, so we just have to see. We have to explore more. We have to have more conversations, go on dates, spend some quality time together and then decide from there. But so far, things are good,” she said. “I think [our next step is] communicating our needs and our feelings. Getting to know him on a deeper level. On the beach, I didn’t get to know him terribly deeply, but even last night, we had such a great conversation. I just think spending more time together. We’re gonna have to do a couple trips, so I think a couple trips are in the future for sure. And then we’ll see what happens from there.”
Scroll through for Chin and Rapini’s timeline:
Credit: Stewart Cook/ABC
Bachelor in Paradise’s Jill Chin and Jacob Rapini’s Relationship Timeline
Did Tarzan find his Jane? Not quite. Jill Chin and Jacob Rapini’s relationship on Bachelor in Paradise was rocky, but the two members of Bachelor Nation were able to (briefly) connect off screen.
Chin and Rapini both arrived on week 1 of the 2022 season but didn’t connect until episode five. Following a successful outing and rose ceremony, they faced their first hurdle when host Jesse Palmer announced that the female contestants would be spending a week at a different resort as new contestants arrived at their respective locations. “Split Week” ultimately ended up being their demise in Mexico as Rapini connected with Kate Gallivan.
While his romance with Gallivan didn’t last long, Chin quit the series before he could give things with the architectural historian another chance. The Bachelorette season 19 alum told Us Weekly in October 2022 that he had regrets about how everything went down.
“Obviously, at that point, Kate and I were no longer, and I was perfectly fine with that. I wish I had tried to pursue us as just a couple. Getting engaged at the end, probably not, but us as an actual relationship where we could be, you know, just talking and having fun with each other like we were before. I kind of do wish that [we] continued things,” he explained. “What I did there was I said, ‘OK, look, I don’t want to lead you on anymore. I want you to see if you can find your soulmate here.’ I didn’t want her to leave right away. I didn’t think she would leave right away. But after what happened with her and Romeo and then having a relationship with her and I, Jill just said, ‘You know what? Enough is enough. I gotta go.’ I still wish I had just said, ‘Let’s just see what you and I have.’”
After wrapping the show during summer 2022, the twosome reconnected and clued fans in during the reunion, which aired that November.
“We just started talking. We talked on the phone every other day, like, outside of Paradise,” Rapini told Us after the taping. “It’s fun. … We said to ourselves, no pressure whatsoever, but we’re open to having a relationship.”
Chin, for her part, told Us that they are working on their communication.
“We are exploring it. I think it’s really in its infancy right now, so we just have to see. We have to explore more. We have to have more conversations, go on dates, spend some quality time together and then decide from there. But so far, things are good,” she said. “I think [our next step is] communicating our needs and our feelings. Getting to know him on a deeper level. On the beach, I didn’t get to know him terribly deeply, but even last night, we had such a great conversation. I just think spending more time together. We’re gonna have to do a couple trips, so I think a couple trips are in the future for sure. And then we’ll see what happens from there.”
Scroll through for Chin and Rapini’s timeline:
Credit: Craig Sjodin/ABC
A Connection on the Beach
The twosome got naked on their first date after Chin’s brief relationship with Romeo Alexander ended.
“There’s a totally different side of him where he’s so sweet. He’s really smart,” Chin told Parade of her connection with Rapini. “I know he comes off as this ‘himbo’ and such a goof and he is, but there is definitely a lot of depth to him.”
Credit: Craig Sjodin/ABC (2)
Split Week
While Chin was struggling at the other resort, Rapini connected with Gallivan. After they were reunited, Chin broke down and quit the show after Rapini thought he had a stronger connection with the real estate agent.
Credit: Stewart Cook/ABC
October 2022
“We still talk a lot,” Rapini told Us as the episodes were airing. “Jill is an amazing person. She really is a sweet individual. I wish she wasn’t as emotional over me in that particular case, just because I am a fun, goofy person and just like to have some fun. Ultimately, I am there for a proposal. If it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out. But again, it is sad to see her leave like that.”
Credit: ABC/Eric McCandless
November 2022
Fans learned that Chin and Rapini were giving things another shot.
“It turns out your beautiful personality truly is right for me?? I’m honored that I can call you mine after going through all the chaos that we had to endure. After rekindling what was a 3 day relationship on the beach we both realized we’re right for each other,” he gushed via Instagram after the finale aired.” You have really impressed me and made me extremely happy these past few weeks. I’m so looking forward to spending some quality time with you on the east coast and you here in the west. Glad you stayed open to us???.”
Credit: ABC/Eric McCandless
November 2022
Chin revealed on the “Click Bait” podcast that things were already over.
“I had no other I had no other choice. I literally had no other choice. I had to do what was best for myself. And there’s just a line and, like, standards that you have for yourself that you just can’t allow people to cross. I don’t have any ill will. I don’t wish bad things,” she said. “The trust had been broken. And that in a long-distance relationship, you need communication and trust, and we had neither of those things.”
Credit: Courtesy of Jacob Rapini/Instagram
December 2022
After Chin confirmed their split, Rapini wrote a lengthy note to her via Instagram to take responsibility for the breakup. “You deserve to be loved. Right now, I deserve to be alone. Jill, good luck on your journey angel?,” he wrote, in part.
