Bachelor: Rachel Lindsay Says The Franchise Should Take A Pause
The world of The Bachelor is in a state of major flux as producers are reportedly working on making changes to the franchise to make the show more progressive and inclusive. But one former Bachelorette thinks it’s not enough. Rachel Lindsay recently went on record saying the franchise needs to take a break while the future of the show is being mapped out. A step back may be a prudent move, but would fans accept delayed content again?
Bachelor Nation is going through an upheaval the likes of which it’s never seen before. Contestant Rachael Kirkconnell’s history of racist behavior, Chris Harrison’s defense of that behavior, and Taylor Nolan’s racist tweets have all rocked Bachelor Nation recently, and it’s become clear that major changes are needed to the franchise moving forward. Rachel has been an outspoken advocate for those changes, but now she thinks the network needs to slow down the show’s production schedule and take time to figure things out.
Though Rachel deleted her Instagram account following intense harassment, she’s still vocal about the changes the show needs. On the Higher Learning podcast that Rachel co-hosts, she made an argument that the franchise should not jump straight into filming The Bachelorette, which is set to begin in just a few weeks’ time until the franchise’s core issues have been worked out. “I think they should just stop until…they get the train back on the tracks. You’re going to go another season, but you still have all of these issues,” she said.
Rachel argues that the series has not fixed all of its issues, and so it would make sense to put a pause on production. “I think that they need to take a beat, figure things out, regroup and then bring the product back to us in a way that we can all enjoy it like we used to.” Her co-host Van Lathan commented that in the franchise’s current state, ”no one is having any fun” because of the show’s issues and drama mongering.
Though some fans would be upset about postponing The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise, the franchise does have a lot to figure out and not a lot of time to do it. One of the current problems the show faces is finding a new host. Emmanuel Acho was announced as the host of the After the Final Rose special, but ABC has not said whether he would be the show’s permanent host. Many fans have called on Rachel to replace Chris Harrison, but that seems unlikely given the tens position she is in with the franchise.
Many think that Chris Harrison stepping aside permanently as host of The Bachelor would be a good first step toward pushing the franchise in a new direction. But Rachel is right that there are some deeply-rooted issues with racism and representation within the series. Fans have also been critical of the way the show has been featuring drama and bullying over romance. Taking a breather might be the right thing to do, but it’s a long shot that the network will follow Rachel’s advice.
Source: Variety, Higher Learning