With the end of The Bachelorette season 18, fans have turned to Twitter with criticisms about ABC not enforcing mask use during the season finale. As Michelle Young's romantic journey on the show has come to an end, the drama surrounding her love interests and the series has only just begun. From online scandal to plenty of on-screen emotions, season 18 has had extreme highs and devastating lows.
While Michelle has had the challenges of trying to find a husband during the COVID-19 pandemic, she managed to make the most of her experiences on The Bachelorette. Different from many previous seasons, The Bachelorette season 18 has helped progress the narrative of the series, featuring the most diverse Bachelorette final four. Despite some bumps along the way and plenty of tears from both Michelle and her potential partners, Michelle has expressed her satisfaction with season 18 and ended her time on the series with a smile on her face, full of love and appreciation for her memorable and groundbreaking search for connection.
As shared by FOX News, fans have been outspoken on Twitter about The Bachelorette's failure to enforce wearing face masks during the filming of the finale, with many calling the network "irresponsible." For a season with a heavy emphasis on diversity and inclusion, it came as a shock to fans when the audience was featured in the final episode of the season and many were seen without face coverings, despite the current government-issued mask mandate. While Michelle may be thrilled by the finale, viewers were less than amused by the lack of safety precautions taken during filming the first portion of the episode. With a number of angry posts, fans like Kristen Baldwin on Twitter went on to call the finale a "super-spreader event." Even though masks were being worn during the final portion of the episode, many have pointed at Twitter as the reason for the sudden appearance of face coverings.
Even though fans came quick to the social media outlet with their criticisms about the series, a number of fans came to the defense of The Bachelorette. Some Twitter users claimed that the network was being "bullied" by fans online with their angry discussions about masks and social distancing being excluded from the final episode of the season. While masks were a heated topic surrounding the finale, Tayshia Adams' absence and COVID-19 encounter only fueled the flames of the ongoing debate surrounding the series and lack of COVID-19 precautions.
Michelle's season was enjoyable in many ways, yet all of the positivity surrounding her journey has been overshadowed by scandal and reckless protocols by the network. In what could have been lively closure for the season, many have ended with a bitter taste in their mouths, watching large groups experience the finale live (and without masks). As the series moves forward, audiences are certain to be on the lookout for the network's future handling of the pandemic, checking to see if they have learned from this disastrous, dangerous final episode of The Bachelorette. Even though Michelle is known for her integrity, the integrity of the iconic ABC series has now come into question.
Sources: FOX News, Kristen Baldwin/Twitter