The Bachelorette Criticized for Bullying Male Contestants into Stripping on Camera

The Bachelorette’s Clare Crawley and the show’s producers are under fire for pressuring male contestants to strip during an episode that aired Tuesday. 

In a segment of the show hosted by Chris Harrison and Crawley, 39, that was more than likely staged by production, male contestants competed in a game of dodgeball to win a group date with the Bachelorette.  

The men were divided into two teams of red and blue, and were about to begin playing on the show’s court, when seemingly out of nowhere, Crawley said, “I feel like I wanna up the ante here. I think we should play strip dodgeball.”

Harrison, mocked shock when he replied, “So this tournament is over when the losing team has nothing on?” Crawley smarmily responded, “Yeah. This is my game, these are my rules.”

The red team won the game, once the blue team was completely naked, save for Brendan Morais, who refused to remove his jockstrap. Crawley gleefully sprayed the shirtless red team with a bottle of champagne, hugged the naked blue team farewell, then headed off for her group date with the victors. 

Critics questioned if the real winner of the game was Crawley, who created a double standard of a game that would have caused the show to be cancelled, if a male bachelor had attempted such a stunt with his potential female paramours.  

Fan indignation poured out on Twitter, with one user stating, “imagine the outrage if Juan Pablo asked the girls to do strip dodgeball….and said “sorry girls, my game my rules.”

Imagine the outrage if Juan Pablo asked the girls to do strip dodgeball….and said “sorry girls, my game my rules”

Why does Claire get a pass? This is cringeworthy TV….#bachelorette #TheBachelorette pic.twitter.com/MdFNMWQCLk

— Nicko and Friends (@NickoAndFriends) October 21, 2020

Former Bachelorette contestant J.P. Rosenbaum pointed out a similar scenario. “I realize this “date” is gonna have a lot of critics,” he said. “But can you imagine the flak the show would get if this was #Thebachelor and the girls were stripping down to their underwear?

Another posted that they “thought this show couldn’t get more cringey.” 

I thought this show couldn’t get more cringey after Peter’s season but YOU DID IT CLARE. YOU DID IT#TheBachelorette pic.twitter.com/lYgBtifXsC

— TheBachBabes (@TheBachBabes) October 21, 2020

One user tweeted: “I’m starting to think Clare should’ve gone to therapy instead of being on the bachelorette.”

Another posted, “This is the most uncomfortable episode I have ever watched.” 

This tweet sums up the entire show: 

#TheBachelorette #TheBacheloretteABC
Claire:
– Falls in love with Dale at first sight because of his looks
– makes everyone take their shirts off in dodgeball

Claire when Brandon calls her beautiful: pic.twitter.com/F7zXX11xAt

— sophia (@sophiaullrichh) October 21, 2020

Marie Finn