The Shocking Truth: Inside 'Bachelor' and 'Bachelorette' Contestants' Explosive Revelations about Producers

Bachelor Nation has a complex relationship with the producers of the television series, and this has been evident through conflicts with various members such as Kelley Flanagan, Melissa Rycroft, and Colton Underwood. In his book titled The First Time: Finding Myself and Looking for Love on Reality TV, the Bachelor from season 23 expressed feeling betrayed by the producers. This occurred when they contacted Cassie Randolph's father and extended an invitation for him to join them in Thailand during the concluding weeks of filming.

"It was evident that everything was handled perfectly, aligning with what any responsible parent would do. I had a strong belief that this was the reason why Ruby Taylor, the supervising producer and my old friend, had reached out to Matt initially," he penned. "A few days prior, she had contacted him and informed him about Cassie's emotional struggles, suggesting that Matt could provide her with a listening ear. ... This gave me the impression that the production team was working against me, attempting to assist Cassie in ending our relationship."

While promoting his book, Colton disclosed to Us that he was not permitted to publicly discuss Peter Weber's season of the show due to production's awareness that he would be too honest."

In April 2020, he expressed, "I believe it's the producer's duty to assist and guide the main person. I felt that they left [Peter] in a vulnerable position and deliberately set him up for failure in numerous ways."

Continuing, he shed light on his own connection with the producers, stating, "I understand that this is an industry driven by entertainment and business, and I don't take things personally. However, I still believe in maintaining a professional relationship. I simply requested the same in return. But when boundaries were crossed, and I was instructed to be obedient and to remain silent, that's when I realized, 'You don't have the right to say that.'"

During Peter's season of the show, it was revealed that he had a brief encounter with Kelley Flanagan prior to filming. However, despite their initial connection, Peter decided to end things with Kelley before the hometown dates on season 24, which aired in 2020. Kelley later claimed that the show's production team hindered her chances of developing a relationship with Peter.

In an interview on the "Almost Famous" podcast in April 2020, Kelley shared her experience, stating that Peter's behavior towards her changed dramatically after their one-on-one date. She attributed this change to the influence of the show's producers, who seemed to have influenced Peter's thoughts and feelings towards her. Kelley expressed her frustration, stating that she confronted Peter about the situation and revealed that she was not given the same opportunities to spend time with him as other contestants. She also expressed her belief that certain individuals were favored by the producers while others were not.

After hearing Kelley's claims, Chris Harrison contacted her to clarify the situation. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight in April 2020, he shared that his conversation with Kelley went as follows: "I asked, 'What did you mean by that? We don't lock people in closets, so clearly, you weren't locked in a closet for three hours.' She explained that she was frustrated. Kelley is an intelligent individual who is accustomed to getting what she desires, and she was upset that she didn't have much time with Peter. The meetings take place in a room, and the duration can vary depending on circumstances... I believe Kelley was expressing her frustration at that moment."

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Every Time 'Bachelor' and 'Bachelorette' Contestants Called Out Producers

Bachelor Nation has a complex relationship with the producers of the hit TV series. Over the years, numerous members such as Kelley Flanagan, Melissa Rycroft, and Colton Underwood have had disputes with the show's producers.

In his book "The First Time: Finding Myself and Looking for Love on Reality TV," the Bachelor from season 23 expressed feeling betrayed by the producers. He mentioned that they contacted Cassie Randolph's father and extended an invitation for him to join them in Thailand during the crucial last weeks of filming.

"It was a flawless display of parenting, covering all the necessary aspects. I believe that's why Ruby Taylor, the supervising producer and my old friend, reached out to Matt in the first place," he expressed. "She had contacted him several days prior, informing him about Cassie's emotional struggles and suggesting him as a source of support. ... It felt as though the production team was conspiring against me, aiming to assist Cassie in ending our relationship."

While promoting his book, Colton mentioned to Us that he was prohibited from publicly discussing Peter Weber's season on the show due to production's awareness of his penchant for being brutally honest."

In April 2020, he expressed his belief that it is the producer's role to support and guide the lead, but he felt that they had abandoned Peter and set him up for failure in various ways.

He further delved into his own relationship with the producers, acknowledging that the entertainment industry is a business and not personal. However, he expected a professional relationship and requested the same in return. He felt that the line was crossed when he was told to be submissive and stay silent, realizing that such remarks were unacceptable.

During Peter's season of the show, fans discovered that he had a brief encounter with Kelley Flanagan before filming commenced. Despite feeling a connection, Peter decided to part ways with her before the hometown dates in season 24, which aired in 2020. Later on, Kelley claimed that the production team hindered her chances of developing a relationship with Peter.

In an interview on the "Almost Famous" podcast in April 2020, Kelley recounted her experience to hosts Ben Higgins and Ashley Iaconetti. She revealed, "In the first couple of weeks, I noticed a change in Peter's behavior towards me compared to when we had our one-on-one time. I could see that the producers were influencing his mindset." She continued, "During our one-on-one, nothing significant occurred between us, but he displayed this angry demeanor towards me. I was perplexed and wondered what he had been told because there was no reason for him to act that way. That's when I realized that something was going on behind the scenes, and I thought, 'This is unfair'." Kelley further expressed, "I told him, 'They are preventing me from spending time with you. Last week, I was locked up in a room for three hours, and they wouldn't let me see you.' I made it clear that some contestants were being favored over others."

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Chris Harrison disclosed that he contacted Kelley after being informed of her allegations. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight in April 2020, he stated, "I asked, 'What did you mean by that? We don't lock people in closets, so it's clear that you weren't locked in a closet for three hours. What were you trying to convey?'" He further explained, "She was expressing her frustration. Kelley is an intelligent individual who is accustomed to achieving her desires, and she didn't obtain the desired amount of time with Peter. It's not about being in a closet; it's about being in a room, and sometimes it takes several hours. It depends on the circumstances... I believe Kelley was feeling frustrated at that time, and that's how she expressed it."

Scroll through for more contestant-producer feuds:

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Shawn Booth and Lauren Bushnell

In July 2023, the victor of The Bachelorette season 11 and the victor of Bachelor season 20 collaborated on a podcast, where they reflected on their experiences from the show. During their conversation, they came to the realization that they both had the same assigned producer. Lauren alleged that this producer resorted to fake crying when she didn't react strongly enough to Ben potentially choosing JoJo Fletcher over her.

"I'm currently calling out Todd. He suddenly displayed emotions and began crying," she expressed. "To clarify, it wasn't genuine crying. This left me in a state of confusion, questioning my whereabouts and purpose. I had this odd realization that they have their own agenda. It's not necessarily negative - his agenda itself isn't malicious. He simply wants me to open up and display emotions. He's attempting to elicit that from me."

Shawn concurred with Lauren and stated that the producer attempted to "trigger" him as well. He added, "They would play melancholic songs on their phone, which you haven't heard in weeks, and it would evoke such strong emotions."

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Christina Mandrell

After she was eliminated by Zach Shallcross on season 27, Christina called out the show for seemingly airing a confessional from week 2 during week 3’s episode.

"OMG! I adored the rose dress I wore on our first date! I'm absolutely thrilled to see it showcased in the center of the group date once again on tonight's episode!" she exclaimed, sharing clips from the show on Instagram.

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Jessenia Cruz

The conversation between The Bachelor season 25 alum and Tyler Norris on a October 2022 episode of Bachelor in Paradise was called into question by the alum. "I was simply having a friendly conversation with someone I had never met before," she tweeted, clarifying that she had no intention to flirt with Tyler Norris, who was already in a romantic relationship with Brittany Galvin. When a fan remarked that the conversation with Tyler seemed "friendly" and criticized the editing choices made by the producers, Jessenia shared the tweet again, adding: "I was only giving off friendly vibes. That's just how it goes on #BachelorInParadise."

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Colton Underwood

During a March 2022 episode of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, the season 23 lead offered advice to the Bachelor production team. Underwood, who ended his relationship with finalist Cassie Randolph in 2020, emphasized the importance of the franchise paying attention to the input of former leads and contestants, as well as providing support for them after the show. Additionally, the former NFL player, who publicly revealed his sexuality as gay in April 2021, expressed that the show has a significant impact on one's life but fails to provide proper guidance afterward.

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Jillian Anderson

The former participant of The Bachelor season 19 alleged that the show's producers purposefully obscured her behind with a black box, despite there being no need for it. During an episode of the "She's All Bach" podcast in October 2021, she revealed, "The executive producer told me, 'Well, your butt's a little big and sometimes things got a little cheeky, so we had to blur it out. Disney made us,' which I find hard to believe." She further explained, "Instead of simply blurring it slightly, they used an enormous black bar and really exaggerated it. It was an extremely embarrassing moment. At that point, you experience a level of humiliation that you thought you could handle, but in reality, you can't. I can honestly say that no contestant realizes just how severe the situation will be until they actually go through it."

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Victoria Fuller

During an episode of Bachelor in Paradise in August 2021, the former contestant from season 24 of The Bachelor refuted Chasen Nick's statement about the unparalleled experience of being on the BiP beach. In an Instagram Story video, she playfully teased, "Ever heard of footing your own bill for a trip to Mexico and not having producers constantly bother you?"

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Rachel Lindsay

Lindsay recounted her experience on Bachelor Nation in a New York Magazine op-ed, revealing that she reached her breaking point with producers after being labeled a bully and witnessing Vanessa Grimaldi break down in tears.

"When it was over, I stormed out — and naturally the producers approached me, saying, 'Let's discuss what happened. Why didn't you show any emotion?' I completely lost control during the interview. Tears streamed down my face. I attempted to convey, 'You have no comprehension of what it's like to be a Black woman in this predominantly white setting, where a white woman can cry in your face and label you a bully,'" Lindsay shared in her story published in June 2021. "Did she accuse any of the other women of being bullies? No, she singled me out. Firstly, because she knew I posed a threat — Nick [Viall] liked me second best. Secondly, I sensed that she was projecting an underlying bias onto me. I stated, 'I hope you broadcast this in its entirety.' An executive producer took me aside and whispered, 'This will never be aired.'"

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Dylan Barbour

In January 2021, the alum from season 15 of The Bachelorette took to Twitter, expressing a desire to expose ABC's hidden secrets. Subsequently, he made several assertions about the franchise.

"The producers employ tactics that revolve around showcasing your actions for their benefit," he tweeted, shedding light on their strategies. "It's effortless to amplify the flaws of someone who already appears negative, but it's quite challenging to tarnish the reputation of a genuinely good person."

Dylan, who found love with his fiancé Hannah Godwin on season 6 of Bachelor in Paradise, made claims that the producers exert almost complete control over which contestants receive roses, manipulate the cast's sleep patterns, and deliberately edit footage to provoke bullying. Dylan also defended season 15 winner Jed Wyatt against allegations of infidelity towards Bachelorette Hannah Brown.

He stated, "I'm speaking up not just for Hannah and me, but for the countless others who didn't have the same fortunate outcome. The world of public figures is often deceptive, and it's crucial to expose that reality."

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Jed Wyatt

After Dylan’s tweets made headlines, Jed, who was dumped by Hannah shortly after he proposed amid allegations that he had a girlfriend at home, spoke out.

“I was heavily manipulated by the show, which had a profound impact on my mental well-being. And secondly, I want to clarify that I have never cheated on either my ex-girlfriend Haley Stevens or Hannah,” he stated through an Instagram post in January 2021.

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Luke Parker

The Bachelorette season 15 villain expressed dissatisfaction with his portrayal on Hannah Brown's season. Initially, his family defended him in the media, but Luke later appeared on Reality Steve's podcast in October 2019, prior to the conclusion of his contract with NZK Productions Inc. In May 2020, the production company filed a lawsuit against Luke, alleging unauthorized media appearances. It was confirmed in October 2020 that Luke has been ordered to pay producers $100,000 for breaching his contract.

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Kelley Flanagan

Despite facing challenges during the filming of The Bachelor, Kelley and Peter managed to reconnect after the show ended. However, their relationship came to an end in December 2020, after dating for eight months. Harrison also disclosed that she expressed regret and offered an apology for her previous comments.

He recounted the incident, saying, "She expressed, 'That was not my intended statement.' She conveyed, 'I deeply apologize for the misunderstanding that made it seem like I was confined in a closet.'" he informed ET. "So, everyone, there's no need to worry. Kelly was not trapped in a closet, she is safe and perfectly fine, and she apologized. I found it humorous and brushed it off, understanding her intended message."

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Melissa Rycroft

The season 13 Bachelor winner expressed her anger towards Jason Mesnick for choosing runner-up Molly Malaney over her in 2009. However, she was equally upset with the producers for their handling of the After the Final Rose taping. In a podcast interview with Us in August 2020, Melissa revealed her frustration, stating that she felt deceived by the entire production. She recalled being dressed up in a glamorous shiny foil strapless mini dress, with a ring on her finger, and forced to watch the engagement video backstage, which had not been aired yet. This experience left her feeling both manipulated and emotional.

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Brooks Forester

The contestant from season 9 of The Bachelorette discussed the process of recording the "in the moment (ITM)" interviews in Amy Kaufman's book Bachelor Nation: Inside the World of America's Favorite Guilty Pleasure, published in 2018.

"They would attempt to prompt me to discuss a topic from my childhood, such as disclosing personal information about a family member,” claimed Brooks. “Subsequently, they would attempt to relate it to the current events in The Bachelor world."

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Clare Crawley

Clare's path to becoming the Bachelorette was far from seamless. Throughout the years, she consistently denied the allegations of having intimate relations with Juan Pablo Galavis in the ocean during season 18. Additionally, she openly criticized the show's editing for depicting her conversations with a raccoon during season 1 of Bachelor in Paradise. However, it was her time as the season 16 lead that seemed to irk her the most, as she expressed disappointment with the production.

Upon meeting ex-fiancé Dale Moss during the October 2020 premiere, Clare's exclusive attention was quickly drawn to the model. Consequently, the initial two episodes of the season were predominantly dedicated to exploring her relationship with Dale. In response, Clare expressed her agreement through "liking" a series of tweets that placed the blame on the show for the excessive focus on the "Dale-obsessed storyline." One particular post emphasized that viewers overlook the fact that Clare is bound by contractual obligations and, further added, it is likely that past seasons also featured leads extensively discussing their frontrunners, although such conversations were not aired on #BacheloretteABC.

Clare also blamed the show for the controversial strip dodgeball date.

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Colton Underwood

Colton and Cassie made their split public in May 2020. In an August 2020 interview with Reality Steve, Colton criticized the producers again after Cassie's appearance on The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons Ever! following their breakup.

"They convinced her to come on and show her true self to the audience," he explained. "But then Chris Harrison comes in and asks questions like, 'I sense you don't want to upset Colton,' or 'You're afraid of making Colton angry.' It's like, 'No, Chris. I spoke to her that morning. We're fine. Stop worrying about me and stop portraying me as controlling or angry. I'm not angry. If there's anyone I'm upset with, it's you guys."

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Katie Morton

The Bachelor in Paradise season 6 contestant claimed producers wouldn’t let her wear her engagement ring with then-fiancé Chris Bukowski during the reunion.

"The producers confined me to a trailer for a grueling duration of six hours. Their intention was to unveil me on stage all by myself," she disclosed on the "Mouthing Off with Olivia Caridi" podcast in September 2020. "I requested [the ring], but they adamantly refused. They finally brought it out at a moment they deemed appropriate. .. Whenever I find myself overwhelmed, tears stream down my face seemingly at random. Therefore, when Chris Harrison pointed out, 'I notice you're not wearing your ring,' it felt like a sigh of relief, as if I could only express the truth completely ... I struggled to find the right words to convey that this decision was not mine to make."

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Trista Sutter

During an interview on the "LadyGang" podcast in November 2020, the original Bachelorette shared insider details about her televised bachelor and bachelorette parties with her now-husband, Ryan Sutter, which took place at Le Meridien Resort on the island of Saint Martin in 2003.

She revealed that during the festivities, a producer accidentally left their binder behind. One of the attendees found it and gave it to them. Inside, they discovered detailed information about each person's character and storyline, including bios and possibly interviews. The binder even categorized individuals with titles like "the villain" or "the sweetheart". While she acknowledged that this practice has been ongoing since her season, she recognized that it is a necessary aspect of producing a compelling TV show. The editors need to understand the participants and their experiences in order to select relevant clips for the episodes. She noted that the show has evolved over the years, becoming more focused on its role as a television spectacle.

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Blake Horstmann

Following Rachel Lindsay's plea to Bachelor Nation to cease the act of bullying towards contestants on Peter's Women Tell All special in March 2020, the participant from season 6 of Bachelor in Paradise expressed their thoughts on Twitter.

“Last night's message from Rachel was truly inspiring! It’s disheartening to witness the prevalence of such messages. It's frustrating to see individuals from BIP and producers behaving as if they had not subjected me to bullying for an entire season,” he expressed in a now-deleted tweet. “I was repeatedly told hurtful things, such as being referred to as a ‘terd that won’t flush’ and being called ‘ugly.’ #practicewhatyoupreach.”

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Rachel Lindsay

In her season 14 finale blog for Us in 2018, the Bachelorette from season 13 expressed her dissatisfaction with how her 2017 finale and engagement to now-husband Bryan Abasolo were portrayed on the show. She felt that the series focused too much on her breakup with runner-up Peter Kraus and neglected to show Bryan's excitement to propose and her own eagerness to accept. She believed that she was denied a happy ending on camera, while Becca, the following Bachelorette, received protection. Instead, she felt that she was put on display for three hours and unfairly labeled as an angry Black female. This unfair portrayal has left a lasting stigma on her finale, as she believes that when truth is distorted by misinformation, perception becomes reality and everything is lost.