The Bachelor franchise has stooped to a new low, and it’s making everyone uncomfortable.
It’s one thing to hear about contestants who say or like questionable things, it’s another thing to watch a new series that is borderline-shameful in its concept, and it’s another thing, an awful thing, to have to watch a contestant who has an assault case attached to his name date the Bachelorette.
And it’s time for a re-evaluation.
With social media tracking our every move, it’s no wonder almost every season of the Bachelor/Bachelorette dirt comes out for at least one contestant.
With a pool of 20-30 people, one is bound to have liked a post they shouldn’t have on Instagram.
It takes 0.2 seconds to like a post, and it’ll last forever because that’s how the Internet works. And some contestants have learned that lesson the hard way.
Some, of course, don’t care. Last Bachelorette season, Lee wrote some racist Tweets, but he didn’t show much remorse when confronted. But this season, Garrett seems to care a little bit about his past actions of liking offensive Instagram posts, issuing an apology before the finale airs (where he’s predicted to be a frontrunner).
Social media actions are semi-forgivable. We all grow, we all change, and it’s a tiny thing, right? And liking something seems more forgiveable than writing by a hair.
It’s uncomfortable, for sure, but not unredeemable. But a contestant who was charged with assault is not.
When the news came out about Lincoln, a current contestant on the Bachelorette, it was shocking. And truly uncomfortable.
How are we supposed to watch this guy woo Becca when we know we was convicted in an indecent assault case, especially in the #MeToo era?
I couldn’t even think this guy was genuine from the beginning He cried over a broken picture in the second episode and he thinks the earth is flat. But now I’m really over it.
But what really bothers me is how this could’ve happened? These contestants are supposed to go through some extreme background and psychological checks, but somehow this case never made it to the team?
Seems impossible.
The Bachelor needs to start vetting people better, including an extensive historical social media check, just to be prepared for what may come out and give contestants a chance to defend themselves.
And also, no more stupid spinoffs. “Bachelor in Paradise” is bad enough (though it has an interesting set of proposals and weddings), but “The Proposal” truly hit a new low.
I watched the premiere Monday, and it was probably the worst hour of watching TV ever.
Less than 15 minutes in and this is worse than #MissUSA pageants… #TheProposal
— Clara B. (@ClaraAB2) June 19, 2018
I know this was probably filmed awhile ago, but @TheProposalTV, if you come back, take a cue from #MissAmerica and cut the swimsuit portion.
— Clara B. (@ClaraAB2) June 19, 2018
I’m a romantic, but this show is not. #TheProposal #forcedaf
— Clara B. (@ClaraAB2) June 19, 2018
I don’t know where they picked these people, but it was cringey. The budget clearly on the low-end, though they someone found room to be able to CGI the suitor during his intro package.
The concept of going from never meeting to proposal in one hour TV time is insane. A proposal should never be competed for, but at least on the Bachelor/Bachelorette, you get to see some relationship growth. On “The Proposal” it’s like watching a poor-man’s Miss USA that ends in a proposal, with Bachelor-franchise ring designer Neil Lane, of course.
Now that they’ve pulled the second episode of the new show because of a sexual assualt accusation, can we really trust this team anymore?
Overall, @TheProposalTV is worse than I thought. I’m disgusted. It’s worse than a #guiltypleasure . No wonder people think marriage is a shame these days.
— Clara B. (@ClaraAB2) June 19, 2018
The Bachelor franchise has always been a guilty pleasure, but now I feel just guilty watching it.