The Bacheloris one of the most popular reality shows in T.V. history. Originally debuting in March 2002, the show has had 29 seasons so far, and led to multiple spin-offs, includingThe Bachelorette, Bachelor in Paradise,andThe Golden Bachelor.Nowadays, even if you don’t find love on the dating competition, you’re likely to find clout. Many contestants have turned theirBachelorappearance into a full-time career, explaining how ABC always finds a handful of interesting and willing contestants.
Butthe show hasstricter casting rulesthan you may have thought. You must be 21-years old at the time of application as well as legally single, though divorced or widowed applicants are allowed. Hopefuls must also agree to undergo a background check and psychological evaluation plus be available to film for 6 to 9 weeks, during which time no phones or social media are allowed. But the most shocking casting rule concerns location. WhileBachelorwelcomes applicants from both the U.S. and Canada,there’sone Canadian province that’s excluded – Quebec. Any applications from legal residents of Quebec are immediately rejected, even if the applicant is a Canadian citizen. When you consider the marginalization of French Canadians, andThe Bachelor’sinfamy for lack of diversity, it makes this casting rule even more problematic.
The Bachelor Excludes Quebec – Why it’s Problematic
Quebec has a long history of being treated as an outsider in Canada.For decades,French Canadians have faced discrimination, from economic marginalization to exclusion. Even today, tensions over language and representation persist.The Bachelor’srefusal to cast applicants from Quebec reinforces this marginalization.
10 Shows To Watch if You Love ‘The Bachelorette’
For the drama and the romance fans!
The Bachelorand its spin-offs have had no problem casting Canadian applicants from other provinces. Over 40 contestants in the franchise have originated from up North, including Jillian Harris, Jesse Palmer, and Kaitlyn Bristowe. The Canadian contestants have come from a range of provinces, from to British Columbia Ontario to New Brunswick, yet none were from Quebec. Both French and English are Canada’s official languages, andFrench is themother tongue for 22% of the country’s population. They’re not isolated to Quebec, as French Canadian communities exist in various provinces.
During the last season ofThe Bachelor,there was a Canadian contestant with a French name, Natalie Crepeau, who was eliminated in the first week. Though her surname is Francophone, her inclusion showedThe Bachelorisn’t averse to casting people with French roots. But for some reason, legal residency in Quebec is an issue.
The Bachelor Has a Problem with Diversity
It remains unclear why Quebec residents are excluded from casting, but it’s not a good look for ABC, especially whenThe Bachelorhas long had an issue with diversity.The franchise has faced criticism for its treatmentof Black contestants,leading to recent attempts at inclusivity.We’re now seeing a similar pattern– this time in the form of linguistic discrimination against French Canadians. While some may speculate Quebec’s stricter language and contest laws play a role, these regulations only apply to reality shows being filmed in Quebec (the province has a huge television industry in the French language). ButThe Bacheloris filmed in the U.S., so these restrictions wouldn’t apply to Quebec residents who want to compete.
Language shouldn’t be a barrier. While it’s reasonable to expectThe Bachelorrequires applicants to speak fluent English, since it’s the language the show is filmed in, that’s not a problem in Quebec.51.7% of the province’s population speaks English. Alack of English-speaking applicants can’t explain why ABC continues to put a blanket ban on Quebeccontestants. For now, it appearsThe Bachelorfranchise has never formally addressed it exclusionary casting. If there’s a legitimate reason for this policy,ABC should speak up and give context. Otherwise, it looks like another example of the franchise shutting out marginalized communities and discriminating in its casting.
The Bachelor
