In a dramatic conclusion to the Season 29 finale of ABC's "The Bachelor," which aired on March 24, 2025, Grant Ellis found love as he proposed to client services advisor Juliana Pasquarosa, leaving venture capitalist Litia Garr heartbroken. Ellis, the show's second Black male lead, expressed his feelings in a season where the franchise faced significant hurdles, including declining viewership and a cloud of controversy.
As the curtain draws on Season 29, it becomes evident that the once-thriving "Bachelor" franchise is suffering from formula fatigue. Experts and avid fans alike have voiced concerns about the show, from lackluster love stories to serious mismanagement of contestants, particularly those of color. Andy Dehnart, founder of realityblurred.com, stated, "‘The Bachelor’ has the most uncertain future it’s ever had, even in its early years," highlighting the show's current predicament.
Since its debut in March 2002, "The Bachelor" commanded attention, attracting upwards of 18.2 million viewers by the end of its first season. However, the landscape of reality television has evolved dramatically, and now, Ellis' season has left the viewership hovering around just 2.4 million—down nearly a million from the prior season starring professional tennis instructor Joey Graziadei.
The fallout has led producers to pause the highly anticipated next installment of “The Bachelorette,” normally premiering right after a season of “The Bachelor.” Instead, fans will see “Bachelor in Paradise,” featuring contestants from both the "Golden Bachelor" spinoff and “Bachelorette,” airing this summer. This shift reflects deeper issues at play within the franchise.
Following a string of controversies, leadership changes are brewing. The recent exit of showrunners Claire Freeland and Bennett Graebner—who stepped into their roles after creator Mike Fleiss left amid allegations of racial discrimination—signals a possible overhaul. While Freeland and Graebner attempted to revamp the show’s image, they reportedly encountered issues that contributed to a hostile environment behind the scenes, a claim they deny.
Emma Rose Gray, co-host of the “Love to See It with Emma and Claire” podcast, pointed out how newer dating shows are outshining "The Bachelor": "The rise of dating shows that feel more of the moment knocked ‘The Bachelor’ off the very comfortable pedestal it occupied for decades." Programs like Netflix's "Love Is Blind," which debuted in 2020, have set a new standard for dating reality television, emphasizing unpredictability and social dynamics in fresh ways that appeal to modern audiences.
Describing its fall from grace, Dehnart remarked, "The show lost its way because of its failure to diversify over so many years." He pointed out that an overreliance on a familiar casting model—primarily featuring white male leads—has rendered the storylines stale. “They’ve done a little bit better in recent years in finding new faces, but then did an absolutely horrible job of producing them and making outrageous drama out of racism and bad choices,” he added.
Significantly, previous seasons have had their successes, such as the breakthrough hit, “The Golden Bachelor,” which featured 72-year-old Gerry Turner, captivating audiences for its moving narrative. Yet the contrast to the more traditional seasons is stark—especially when considering the struggles faced by diverse leads, like Matt James, who became the first Black Bachelor in 2021. His series witnessed a catastrophic unraveling due to controversies surrounding race and cultural handling.
James himself documented his frustrations in his memoir, describing a sense of betrayal by the producing team, who failed to present him as a well-rounded Black man. His season famously collapsed following a scandal involving contestant Rachael Kirkconnell, forcing a reckoning on how such sensitive topics are addressed within the show.
The recent season featuring Ellis saw little engagement with his racial identity—a missed opportunity, as commentators noted the importance of discussing interracial dynamics in modern romance. In juxtaposition, prior seasons have faced backlash for their heavy-handed approach to racial issues, leaving many to question if producers grasp the delicate balance required.
The season finale also saw Jennifer Tran's painful engagement unravel live, as her fiancé Devin Strader ended their relationship shortly before the broadcast. Strader, with a past that includes a 2017 arrest for burglary, heightened concerns about contestant safety and vetting practices in the franchise.
Reflecting on these controversies and challenges, Ashley Tabron, a North Carolina high school teacher and longtime viewer, highlighted, "The quality of the show is not good. It’s not that much fun to watch. I think it’s at a crossroads to keep up with the other shows.” Indeed, while there have been glimmers of hope, the franchise's methodology for engaging audiences is under scrutiny.
Gray remains optimistic about the future of "The Bachelor," suggesting that rejuvenation can come from adding lightness and humor back into the franchise. "They really need to take this opportunity to really reset leadership and think about what makes the show special at its core," she said, signaling that the fanbase yearns for a return to the romantic escapism that originally drew them in.
