The decision by ABC to cancel a completed season of The Bachelorette has ignited the latest controversy for a franchise long scrutinised over its casting choices, cultural awareness, and the conduct of its prominent figures.
The network pulled the upcoming season, which was set to star Taylor Frankie Paul, after a 2023 video emerged depicting an altercation with her former partner.
In the footage, Paul appears to punch, kick, and throw chairs at him while her young daughter watched and cried. This cancellation marks a significant departure for the series, which has historically attempted to navigate issues in real-time rather than shelving an entire season.
For much of its run, The Bachelor and The Bachelorette have faced persistent criticism regarding a lack of diversity, particularly in their leading roles. A 2012 lawsuit, though later dismissed, alleged the show excluded contestants of colour from becoming the lead.
This criticism endured for years as the franchise predominantly featured white bachelors and bachelorettes. Rachel Lindsay made history as the first Black lead in 2017, a landmark moment following years of public pressure.
She subsequently became a vocal critic, advocating for deeper structural change in the franchise’s approach to diversity both on and off-screen. ABC later cast Matt James as its first Black “Bachelor” in 2020, a move widely considered long overdue.
More recently, Jenn Tran became the franchise’s first Asian American lead in 2024, describing the role as deeply personal. However, her season also sparked debate after early criticism regarding the limited number of suitors of Asian descent.
Even as casting became more diverse, contestants and leads of colour have frequently encountered backlash from segments of the audience. Non-white participants, including Lindsay and James, faced heightened scrutiny and racist commentary online.
Tran’s season further highlighted discussions around how contestants of colour have historically received fewer roses and more criticism from viewers, prompting questions about whether parts of the audience have evolved at the same pace as the franchise’s casting decisions.
One of the franchise’s most high-profile controversies unfolded in 2021, involving long-serving host Chris Harrison. He stepped down mid-season after defending contestant Rachael Kirkconnell amidst growing criticism over photos showing her at an antebellum plantation-themed event and dressed in a Native American costume. Harrison later apologised, stating: “By excusing historical racism, I defended it.”
Former contestants Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe hosted the remainder of that “Bachelor” season – which Kirkconnell ultimately won – and the 2021 “Bachelorette” season, before Jesse Palmer was named the permanent host later that year. ABC affirmed its commitment to improving representation within its production teams at the time.
Moments within the programme itself have also drawn censure, such as a 2019 episode set in Singapore where contestants mocked local cuisine, leading critics to suggest a lack of cultural awareness.
Earlier controversies include remarks made by former “Bachelor” Juan Pablo Galavis in 2014. Galavis stated in an interview that he did not believe a gay or bisexual man should lead the show and described gay people as “more pervert, in a sense”.
These comments provoked widespread condemnation and prompted an apology, with Galavis later attributing them to a language barrier. The incident remains one of the franchise’s most discussed early scandals involving a lead, underscoring long-standing questions about inclusion within the series.