Congratulations, ABC. You did it.
After delivering one of the most controversial “Bachelor” finales in franchise history — in which star Arie Luyendyk Jr. blindsided fiancée Becca Kufrin, dumping her in a 30-minute span of raw, unedited footage — America’s Network sunk to a new low in order to deliver season-high ratings.
Bravo, Mike Fleiss, for producing this mess. Are you making room in your bank account for a big bonus check?
At the end of every season, Bachelor Nation is promised the “most dramatic” conclusion ever from host Chris Harrison. And while the “Bachelor” brain trust certainly delivered Monday night, it was at the cost of nauseating a fan base.
We’re used to brutal breakups and cringe-worthy confrontations. Who could forget Season 13’s Jason Mesnick ending his engagement to Melissa Rycroft as the cameras rolled during the “After the Final Rose” special in 2009? But capturing the tense final moments between Luyendyk and Kufrin crossed a line.
Don’t get me wrong — fans of reality TV love a juicy storyline. Heck, it was hard to give up watching Bravo’s “Vanderpump Rules” in real time this year once the “Bachelor” premiered in January. But following the elimination of a vapid villainy midway through the competition, Luyendyk’s already snooze-worthy season lost even more luster.
As the final weeks approached, rumors surfaced Luyendyk would jilt his final pick in favor of the runner-up. And with ABC promoting a five-hour, two-night event ahead of Monday night’s season finale, it was apparent fans were in for a treat.
What they received, however, was something else entirely.
With a crew documenting Luyendyk breaking Kufrin’s heart, viewers didn’t miss a sigh or tear — thanks in part to dual screens, which eliminated tiresome camera pans.
Though nothing is sacred where reality TV is concerned, watching someone get their future ripped away for the sake of salvaging a lost season is not only doing a disservice to an already embattled franchise — looking to move forward following a summer scandal with “Bachelor in Paradise” — but to loyal viewers as well.
Bachelor Nation may not root for everyone on the show, but Kufrin was a fan favorite going into the finale, and audiences did not want to see someone they connected with get hurt. And while she may have signed her life away by joining the show, she didn’t ask for her personal heartache to become an embarrassing prime-time spectacle, either.
For a franchise that’s long been criticized for manipulating contestants in the hopes of delivering real drama, this ratings ploy feels like a low blow for a show that prides itself on creating a modern-day fairy tale.
And while some love stories don’t always have happy endings — as audiences have seen with “Bachelor” couples time and time again — the same can be said for TV shows that disgust their viewers one too many times.