Katie Thurston's new promo for her season of The Bachelorette aired over the weekend, and viewers are not happy with it. The former The Bachelor contestant was named the lead for the franchise spin-off in March alongside Michelle Young, whose season will be airing in fall 2021. Katie's is set to premiere on June 7. After ABC went back and forth about choosing Katie as The Bachelorette for this spring, they decided to do double Bachelorette seasons for the first time ever.
Viewers met Katie for the first time when she stepped out of the limo during Matt James' season of The Bachelor in January. After they greeted each other, Katie revealed a special gift from behind her back – a vibrator. The pair laughed, starting a strong bond between her and Matt. However, when Katie finally got her first one-on-one date with Matt, little did she know that would be the end of the road in their relationship. Katie may not have won Matt's heart, but she did get the opportunity of a lifetime.
After the new Bachelorette promo with Katie premiered, viewers took to Reddit to share their thoughts on the new promo. One fan wrote, "I like Katie but I’m going to have to swipe left on this promo," while another agreed, adding a comment about her underwhelming outfits. "Yea, she needed some more edge," the comment read. "The white dress was pretty, but that purple wasn't doing anything." Another fan felt ABC did not give Katie the same kind of enticing promo as they have for past Bachelorettes. A viewer even slammed the gown she was wearing an "old prom dress," with a "$5 t-shirt from cafepress."
Some viewers believe ABC is trying to make Katie seem more feminine, as she came off more headstrong on Matt's season. One viewer wrote, "I personally think they’re trying to soften her up a little bit ... They’re trying to backpedal a little bit ... To make her more palatable to a more universal audience.... that’s what they’re going for with this fluffy crap." Others regard her as a "badass," rather than the princess the promo seems to be pushing.
Viewers do not believe the promos represented Katie as the woman they saw on The Bachelor. The promo does not depict Katie's outgoing and resilient personality. Overall, fans are disappointed with Katie's promo for her season of The Bachelorette. Not only did they put her in an unflattering outfit, but they did not portray her as the Katie viewers have come to known and love. Fans are hoping the promo is not a depiction of what's to come on Katie's season.
Sources: Reddit, The Bachelor (YouTube)