The latest episode of The Bachelorette saw contestants bare it all in a Speedo talent competition, but many viewers have different opinions on the show's need to make contestants participate. The speedo talent competition was without a doubt filled with lots of laughter and fun. However, not everyone is happy with the decision to make all the remaining The Bachelorette season 19 contestants wear a Speedo.
The Bachelorette season 19, episode 2, saw all 29 male contestants wear a speedo and compete in a pageant where each of them will get the chance to earn one of the six spots on the group date afterparty. This made the episode entertaining as Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey got to watch the men parade around The Bachelor mansion in nothing but hip-hugging swimwear. Although fans didn't get to see nearly as much as Gabby and Rachel did, many fans still have a lot to say about the seemingly unflattering contest.
The Bachelorette viewers believe the speedo talent show was unnecessary as a majority of the guys seemed uncomfortable wearing speedos on national TV. What made the competition even more embarrassing was The Bachelorette producers censoring the speedo area, which made everything look ridiculous and less entertaining than what they probably expected. According to Reddit user -Muse-of-fire-, competitions like this can sometimes be unbearable to watch, which is why fans are hoping the franchise puts a stop to them; however, that is unlikely to happen. "It was cringe. I was uncomfortable and I wish the franchise would do away with these sorts of things for all the shows. They won’t though," the Reddit user said.
Furthermore, some fans believe the producers used the competition to objectify the men by forcing them to wear a speedo. The issue of gender equality then came into play, as viewers of The Bachelorette believe that men also have body image struggles just like women do and shouldn't be made to do activities the women would be uncomfortable with. According to Reddit CaptElizabeth, "Here's the deal: they are not the same by ANY means. Truly. However, many men struggle with body image as well. Just because it's not as bad for them (and it truly is not even NEARLY as bad for them) doesn't mean that we should ignore these real issues." Overall, The Bachelorette fans were disappointed the network didn't take into account how this competition could negatively affect the men.
Although many fans of Bachelor Nation are divided on what should be appropriate for contestants within The Bachelor franchise, they all seem to unite on this specific issue. Forcing contestants to appear half naked on TV for the sake of entertainment when the contestants are uncomfortable can cause serious distress for them. Filming a TV show is difficult enough, and having to worry about one's body can cause even more stress. Hopefully, the next episode will include fewer speedos and more connections between Gabby, Rachel, and The Bachelorette contestants.
The Bachelorette airs Mondays at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.
Sources: -Muse-of-fire-/Reddit, CaptElizabeth/Reddit