Just a matter of weeks after filming began for Clare Crawley's season of The Bachelorette, sources have reported that Crawley has quit the season and will be replaced by Tayshia Adams. What does that mean for the season... and how is ABC going to make this work?
Over the past few days, rumors have been circulating. The gist is that, after just two weeks of filming, Clare has already managed to find love with one of her contestants, Dale Moss. Moss received Crawley's 'first impression rose' on night one. Reportedly, the pair has such a deep connection that Crawley told producers she was looking to quit the show in order to pursue a relationship with Moss. Fans weren't even sure if Crawley would be allowed to quit the season part of the way through. She is under contract, but it seems like ABC is willing to allow it, because they're already prepping her The Bachelorette replacement: Tayshia Adams.
During an Instagram Live this past weekend, spoiler king Reality Steve confirmed that Tayshia was already at the La Quinta Resort in California, where Clare and her contestants have been filming the season. Adams would have no reason to be at the resort at that time... unless she had been asked by producers to come for filming. Multiple sources have reportedly since confirmed to E! News that Tayshia would be the replacement. Sources are explaining that Adams has been told: "the season will still lead with Clare and her short-lived journey, and will show Clare falling in love with one of her suitors." Rather than throwing out all of the footage they'd filmed with Clare and her contestants, ABC will still air Clare and Dale's love story, "Clare will then conclude her journey and announce that Tayshia is the lead."
Prior to the news about Clare's departure, producers reportedly contacted some of the contestants who had already been sent home. This was likely to see if they would be willing to return as contestants on Tayshia's season. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ABC won't be able to recast the season without delaying production even further. All contestants are required to quarantine for two weeks prior, so it's understandable they might try to reuse contestants they've already cast.
Another moment that seemed to confirm the news that Clare would be replaced as the lead of the franchise was when Crawley returned to social media on August 2nd. It's known that contestants on the show are not active on social media while filming, Contestants don't have access to their phones. However, on Sunday, August 2nd, Clare appeared to "like" (and then quickly unlike) a fan's tweet about Tayshia being cast as the new franchise lead for season 16. Tayshia's last post on social media was on July 30, and she hasn't interacted with anyone online (or commented on The Bachelorette rumors) since then.
It seems that between the COVID-19 pandemic delaying production of season 16 of The Bachelorette, ABC recasting a number of contestants before resuming filming, and Clare Crawley allegedly choosing to leave the show, with Tayshia as her reported replacement, this could be the most dramatic season of the show ever. ABC has yet to officially confirm that Adams is replacing Crawley but it's hard to keep anything hidden from attentive fans. More information about how this season of The Bachelorette will work will likely be revealed in the days to come.
Source: E! News