The Bachelor Takes a Risk

By GRACIE DENEEN ‘21

As a lover of romance, drama, and heartbreak, I, along with millions of Americans, consider myself a proud member of Bachelor Nation. While watching the show, I laughed and cried at the same time. The finale of Bachelor in Paradise’s most recent season aired last week, and it was the most dramatic episode I have ever seen. The night of the premiere, I made popcorn, grabbed a Sprite, and planted myself on the couch for a two hour saga of proposals and shattered dreams. I was riveted the entire time. This season of Bachelor in Paradise exceeded my wildest expectations.

Traditionally, the Bachelor and Bachelorette follow very heterosexual structures: each bachelor or bachelorette dates 30 contestants of the opposite sex in hopes of finding love with one of them. The show features lavish dates complete with bungee jumping adventures, bubbling champagne, and fancy dinners, but also lots of drama between the contestants and tense rose ceremonies where the bachelor or bachelorette decides which contestants to dump. A similar setup applies to the spinoff show Bachelor in Paradise. The contestants spend their time on the “paradise” beach in Mexico. Though the show hosts 37 male and female contestants, only a handful of them start in the first episode. Everyone wants to couple up because if they do not receive a rose, they will be sent home. As contestants get eliminated, new faces arrive at the shore to stir up drama. 

On the Bachelor, thirty women compete for one man; on the Bachelorette, thirty men compete for one woman; and on Bachelor in Paradise, the show has the men present the roses one week and the women the next. Due to this setup, the show supports the outdated message that love can exist solely between a man and a woman. But one couple on this groundbreaking season of Bachelor in Paradise challenged the franchise’s view of sexual orientation, and threw all of Bachelor Nation for a serious loop. Demi Burnett, who was a contestant on Colton’s season of the Bachelor, came to Paradise looking for love, but also thinking about a woman back at home: Kristian Haggerty. Demi and Kristian began their relationship prior to Demi’s arrival in Paradise. Once there, Demi began dating Derek Peth, but Demi couldn’t shake her feelings for Kristian. A couple of weeks into Demi’s time in Paradise, the production team invited Kristian to surprise Demi and continue their relationship in Paradise (please watch the video of Kristian’s surprising her; it’s the most heartwarming video I’ve ever seen). Their bond blossomed into a strong and loving relationship, resulting in one of the most tear-jerking engagements ever.

The Bachelor franchise took a big risk by fully supporting Demi and Kristian’s relationship. In the past, the show promoted only heterosexual relationships, so the franchise had no clue how their fanbase would react and how its ratings would be affected. But, they decided to go for it anyway, and it paid off! Not only did major news organizations such as The New York Times, CBS News, and USA Today feature the love story in their headlines, but Demi and Kristian received overwhelming support from Bachelor Nation and beyond. Anthony Ramos of Time Magazine stated that “this move to include a same-sex relationship in an honest fashion has the power to upend preconceived notions of LGBTQ+ people like Demi who are attracted to more than one gender.” The Bachelor franchise’s advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community and their viewers’ acceptance of Demi and Kristian’s relationship represent a small, but amazing, step toward a more accepting future.

Demi and Kristian have inspired people in Bachelor Nation and around the world to be themselves. When given the opportunity to express their love to the world, they took a leap of faith and in return received mounds of love and support. In an interview, Demi said to People Magazine: “I’ve learned that it’s okay to be myself and embrace that and own it… I want to be honest and open. Love is love.” Demi and Kristian have inspired me, and many others, to take more risks, accept myself for who I am, and accept others for who they are. Everybody deserves the right to be themselves and live their lives the way they want to. Also, if anyone knows the host, Chris Harrison, or Demi and Kristian, please email me ASAP. I’d love to go to the wedding. 

Image courtesy of abcnews