Although Reality Steve initially said he would not be posting many spoilers during this season of The Bachelor because of the tight COVID-19 restrictions, he later revealed Matt James' contestant and fan-favorite Katie Thurston would be the next lead of The Bachelorette. Now, rumors have emerged, confirmed by Steve himself, that Katie will no longer be the franchise's next leading lady. After all the controversy the series is facing in light of Chris Harrison's disastrous interview with Rachel Lindsay, producers have decided to pivot and tap someone else as the lead. Whether those rumors are true or not, some fans were already hesitant about having Katie as the lead. While Katie is well-loved, there are a few reasons why she might not be the best choice for the series.
Katie Thurston was one of the highlights of Matt James' season. She was funny, confident, and self-assured. She did not require validation and was not afraid to stand up to bullies, as viewers saw all season long. The way she handled the drama with Anna Redman and Victoria Larson was incredibly commendable, hence why people have started calling her “my bachelorette.” However, is she the best suited for the role? Reality Steve announced Katie was revealed to be the next Bachelorette at the taping of the Women Tell All. Katie is kind-hearted and mature, and her wholesome attitude has been extremely endearing to many fans of the show. Time and time again she has confronted drama headfirst with grace and patience. However, despite all her amazing qualities, is she the best pick for Bachelorette?
When Katie first came out of the limo, she was unforgettable because she came armed with her vibrator. Her sex-positive attitude is incredibly inspiring, especially as sex education continues to be a hotly debated topic. Being Bachelorette would be a great platform for Katie to tackle female sexual pleasure and health, but it would also open the floodgates for her to be attacked online and slut-shamed. Although it would open spaces for people to have conversations about important topics, the internet might not be kind to her. Although she has dealt with bullies on The Bachelor, the internet is not an easily defeated nemesis, unlike Victoria. Plus, the producers might play up her sex-positivity more than she may feel comfortable with, and it might end up being like Colton’s virgin storyline – overplayed and uninteresting.
In addition, naming Katie as The Bachelorette does not address the diversity issues within the show. They have had countless white leads over the years. Now, the show is making a commitment to focus on diversity, but they have to follow through. They should not lightly dip their toes in the diversity pool and quickly take them out. They need to jump in with both feet. That means continuing to cast a wide range of people as the lead, rather than having one season with a Black lead before returning to a white-washed cast. Producers have yet to cast a Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, or many other ethnicities. With so many diverse women to choose from, especially from Matt James' season, the show will better express its commitment towards doing better by continuing to cast diverse leads as the face of their franchise.
There could be others who would be better suited to be the Bachelorette. Abigail would be a great Bachelorette and would act as a positive representation of the deaf community. She is a fan favorite, she is sweet, and it would be great to see her fall in love. Fans even think producers could bring back someone like Revian Chang, who was axed on Colton's first night. She was of Asian descent and both her parents were from China, which would certainly be something fresh and new for the franchise. If diversity is really a focus for The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, they need to keep that in mind when picking the next leading lady.
The Bachelor airs Mondays at 8 pm ET on ABC.