Dealing with Rumors and Gossip: The Bachelor Edition
We’re die-hard fans of The Bachelor franchise. The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Bachelor in Paradise - we’re obsessed. No matter how cheesy or stupid you may think the show is, you have to admit it’s entertaining. Even after almost twenty years on air, the show continues to be a success, with millions of loyal fans looking forward to watching each new season. At one point or another, most people have watched an episode, or maybe got dragged into watching the whole season.
The Bachelor season 25, starring Matt James, premiered on January 4th, 2021. On night one, 32 women step out of the limo to meet Matt. Tension and drama begin brewing right from the start, as every woman wants to make a good first impression and get time with the bachelor. You can imagine some claws come out. Of course, we know that not everything seen on television is always how things went down in real life. If you watched this season, I’m sure you are aware of some of the rumors and gossip that circled about some of the women. The point is not WHAT was said on the show, but rather the impact that words and false accusations can have on someone’s life. As entertaining as reality TV is to us viewers, the impact can be even more severe for those on the other side of the screen.
The Bachelor practically advertises drama, and with such a large group of women fighting for one man, there is bound to be plenty of it. But with that drama also comes gossip and rumors. Both rumors and gossip spread like wildfire throughout the house, as everyone must have an opinion on the juicy details. Rumors are often spread under the assumption that they are true, so many people do not realize the harm they are causing in doing so. Women come onto the show with details about other women, things they were told about them or heard on social media, and proceed to share these with the group. Whether it is true or not, as soon as it is said, the information cannot be taken back. While there were plenty of rumors and gossip throughout the season, it wasn’t until this season’s episode of ‘The Women Tell All’ where a few of the women spoke out about the impact some of the statements have had on their lives since leaving the show.
In season 25, we saw this specifically with two contestants, Anna and Brittany, where a false statement spread throughout the house and caught the eye of millions of fans. On ‘The Women Tell All,’ some of the contestants opened up about the amount of hate that they received after the show aired. Viewers sent thousands of horrible messages, hate comments, and threats, all for rumors that were not true. Brittany talked about the impact these messages have had on her and her family since the rumor started, stating directly that words have consequences.
Words can hurt even the toughest of people and can stick with someone for the rest of their life. Everyone has said or done things that they regret, even on national television. It is okay to make a mistake, but realizing the true toll that mistake can have on someone else is equally crucial. Even if you don’t start the rumor, spreading it is just as bad. While we all enjoy this lighthearted, romantic, reality TV series, it is important to remember that there is more to these women than what the camera captures.