The Bachelor and Bachelorette Brands Can’t Be More Racist
My wife loves both the Bachelor and Bachelorette and she MAKES me watch them. As I’ve watched these reality shows I’ve come to notice there are no minorities to speak of. None. Well maybe a token here and there.
Why? Why so white?
Here is the cast for this years new Bachelor:
And the lucky guy:
And last years Bachelorette and cast:
That’s a lot of white.
So why the obvious discrimination?
In 17 total seasons, neither show’s main role has ever been filled with a person of color. ABC representatives say they are “exploring” the issue for upcoming seasons.
How do these brands go unnoticed? Is this a branding strategy from ABC?
Whay say you kahunas, are the brands racist?
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January 4th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
Via Facebook:
Hector S:
I probably watched 3-4 seasons before I realized a) These folks aren’t really here to find love and b) a person of color was never going to take the lead. Sure there were people of color as contestants but they were definitely tokens; generally eliminated quickly. I don’t think they’re doing it to be racist though. They’re just aiming for a … See Morebroader demographic. I can almost bet when they give the lead to a person of color the show will experience it’s lowest ratings ever and will probably be canceled.
January 4th, 2010 at 11:02 pm
Just a shade under 80% of US citizens are white, so no, it doesn’t seem racist. (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/00000.html)
What about shows on networks aimed toward black people that are 100% black actors? Are those shows racist too?
January 5th, 2010 at 2:55 am
First off this isn’t a make pretend show, it’s suppose to be real life. And in real life blacks date whites, whites date asians etc etc. To think that a white bachelor wouldn’t like a person of color is ridiculous.
So in 17 seasons not one time has there been a black bachelor or bachelorette, even by your math there should have at least been 2. Add to that out of the 25 contestants there are 0….Goose egg, bupkis.
Is the ABC brand geared towards whites and whites only? That’s a fine question you pose. I think not.
If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck.
January 5th, 2010 at 7:44 am
hmmm…
i believe that the producers are doing what they think everyone wants.
the justice of the peace in louisiana said he was not marrying mixed race couples because he was concerned that their children might face discrimination. or perhaps become president, i’m not sure.
is the country ready to see love and not color? on the whole, no. people are more comfortable with folks who look like themselves.
i don’t agree with that way of thinking.
January 26th, 2010 at 7:33 pm
Well, I would say that active racism and bigotry is unlikely. However, to count something like this as an oversight would be just as unlikely. After working in marketing / branding / advertising, I know that usually companies strive for “diversity” when casting for photo and video shoots, and thus will choose people who can represent ethnicity. I truly don’t know why The Bachelor / -ette is different. I’d be curious to know who cast these shows, and if anyone has mentioned the issue to them. I didn’t notice this until you called attention to it. I have no answer, but certainly think it’s an interesting question!
February 8th, 2010 at 11:05 pm
hmmm…
i believe that the producers are doing what they think everyone wants.
the justice of the peace in louisiana said he was not marrying mixed race couples because he was concerned that their children might face discrimination. or perhaps become president, i’m not sure.
is the country ready to see love and not color? on the whole, no. people are more comfortable with folks who look like themselves.
i don’t agree with that way of thinking.
That judge didn’t marry that couple for that reason. Please! Interracial couples have grone through a lot as have black Americans and other people of color and nationalities. So that is a wack ass reason. That’s not his decision to make or even a valid one. He just didn’t want to see that union happen. Please tell me that in America people aren’t really that silly mushed in the head to believe that load of crap.
February 12th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
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February 25th, 2010 at 12:12 am
Maybe we should be honest the bachelors and and bachelorettes perfer white candidates maybe blue eyes blond hair e.t.c , thats not racist that preference, for whatever reason. Yes if the network put people from other ethnic backgrounds on the show it would make it more interesting and give the bachelors a chance to met someone they usually would not met or approach they may be surprise what blossoms. Although you can not say they are racist if they not are attracted to particular physical attributes.
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:50 pm
Its sad even in today’s time that people want except the realization that people do date outside their race, and the majorority of them are truely okay with that. So, I don’t know why the Bachelor or Bachelorette won’t promote a person of color. All I can say is, “A damn shame’. I’m black and I don’t watch the show that is just targeting the white audience.
July 21st, 2010 at 6:49 pm
Yes if the network put people from other ethnic backgrounds on the show it would make it more interesting and give the bachelors a chance to met someone they usually would not met or approach they may be surprise what blossoms.
Aa, you’re right, it would be interesting and realistic. I mean ABC ought to cast more people of different races and ethnicities on both The Bachelor and The Bachelorette or it’s going go off air. Look at it this way, the majority of relationships on both shows have failed miserably. Why? From what one notices is lack of diversity among lead people and contestants. The lead people are mostly choosing final contestants of the same race and it always goes bad. Example: Jake and Vienna? If ABC diversified both shows more, then relationships between lead people and final contestants wouldn’t go bad. Sometimes the winner may be of another race or the same race.
But then, there could be controversy slipping in, especially if contestants are South Asian or Middle Eastern with Hindu, Sikh, or Muslim religious backgrounds. Say there’s an Indian or Arab female contestant on The Bachelor. All of a sudden the lead bachelor learns the the girl he is dating is being arranged by her parents for a relationship with another guy of the same background. The next thing you know the parents are making racist phone calls, saying that the lead bachelor is not good for their daughter and that she should date her own race instead. How does “The Bachelor” feel? Dejected, sad, heartbroken, betrayed, like he’s not good enough for her (even though he likes her and she likes him too), etc. It could be the same with South Asian or Middle Eastern male contestants if they were on The Bachelorette sometimes but then guys of those races/ethnicities can choose whomever they like but not girls. Of course, you know there could be cultural issues among lead people and contestants and it shouldn’t be a huge factor.
I mean, America is a melting pot here and interracial dating doesn’t make anyone that bad. The problem is we’re a pretty divided society. In some places, interracial dating is fine, in some places it isn’t and it seems like the brands or sponsors of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette are targeting people in small communities (which are mostly White) too because people and small communities don’t tolerate interracial dating as much as they do in diversified larger communities. But then half the population is complaining about lack of diversity on the show and half of it isn’t. It’s crazy.
February 23rd, 2011 at 7:15 pm
I’ve watched probably 10 seasons of the bachelor and bachelorett combined always hoping that a black princess and or a black pilot would come out of the limo and represent the the reality of the world…a)THE ARE NO PURE RACES we are all mix of a mix, especially in america, if most of you really trace and I tell the whites not to stop in Europe, really trace your blood lineage you will discover that we are all just a melting pot… b) In real life people date outside their races, being blacks, whites, indians, or asians…c) The idea that the rest are minorities and would not bring good rates for the brand is just delusional, they would still make their ratings, and acquire new markets… The conclusion I arrived to was easy and simple, black people do not know how to PRETEND very well, come on those shows are so pretentious, I mean perfect settings and all, I don’t believe a black person could really fall in LOVE in so rounded by such fake smiles, and fake people, so I understood why minorities could never get involved in lying for a whole season, and cry over a guy or girl that they don’t really care about…so it’s cool how it is, it’s just good for tv.
March 14th, 2011 at 10:55 pm
I am a single, African-American female, 32 years old and I would love to have a chance to be chosen to look for my prince charming, however this network is very concerned when it comes to racial relationships with people of color. So I will stop giving them my viewing votes. ABC could and should do a whole lot better!!!
April 21st, 2011 at 10:39 am
I have just one question:Are the Bachelor/Bachelorette funded by the billionaire
Koch Brothers,the financiers of the racist,crypto-fascist ‘Tea Party Movement?”
I ask because “The Bachelor/Bachelorette’ are the most racist TV enterprises since “Beulah,”,”Amos ‘n Andy,” and some other pre-Civil Rights-era TV show on which
African Americans were relegated to jester and side-kick roles.
January 3rd, 2012 at 1:40 am
Hello. Tessa Horst. Part Asian and winner on The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman