catrice2

Yep. I am even more annoyed that families are involved when I learn that Ivan's father is so high risk and put his health in jeopardy just to participated in this highly produced farce. I wonder if she knew about his father when she chose him as final four because I believe she already knew then that he was not the one. Can you just have a final 3? Also, has Tayshia slept with anyone on fantasy suites before? I honestly can't see Brendan wanting to actually sleep with her....not in a bad way, I just think it would be too meaningful to him to do it without knowing if he was the final one...Zac looks like he would be a disappointment......Ben is just strange... Ivan is not sure about her and he knows he's leaving so I wonder how he is going to handle that.... Is Ben the only one who really hasn't said much about his parents...at least not on camera? If family is that important to her and any of this is real, I would have cut him too. He clearly has family issues, whereas the others are obviously super close to their family and can talk about. All Ben talks about that I've seen (and I mostly watch clips) is his sister and has alluded to issues in his childhood.

I am the queen of useless information. Yes. I think she is a great cook based upon her appearances on television, but would love to taste it to confirm! I still think this show needs more lighthearted music....music makes everything better! I too blame the show for Ben being here. Ben may be a good person, but my BS detector is UNMATCHED in the real world. I have friends and family that run so many things by me and my accuracy is pretty good. Something about Ben is off, and it is not just PTSD and depression. Although I don't think people with mental health struggles should be discriminated against, especially if they disclose them, I do wonder if this was the right place and time for him. I do think he was being used for ratings to some extent, because they had the option to edit out some of what was shared. Clearly they edited out a lot of other interactions. Just saw the clips and the way that was edited it is obvious Ben will come back, she'll have some realization and she will let him stay. Ben strikes me as someone who wants to excel at things and he approached the relationship as proving himself that he could do something and be the best at it..... If I understood correctly unless he told her that night Ben's sister did not know about the suicides at the time of the hometown, unless that is something producers would have told her prior to coming so she would know. I don't think turtleneck boy is ready. It could be that they just agree to date if she chooses him. But as a part time model.....I can see her focusing on that. He just seems to be too fragile and passive. Zac- is not her real type and will never work. She strikes me as someone who is desperate to make a relationship from this franchise to work, but she also wants someone who will fit her new lifestyle. Tayshia seems to be very aware of how things look, and she will want someone who can look good on Instagram with her. I don't think he will play along. I have a problem with Zac just now going back to thank the bank teller who "saved his life." For 10 years she has been working in the same bank.....I would think doing that would have been part of some type of program. I know they sometimes encourage you to make amends with those you've wronged, so why take 10 years to thank someone who helped you....only after you have been on national television with your story..... But I hear she mentioned wanting to move to New York, so he could be convenient for a while. She seems to have convinced herself that what she needs is an older more settled man and Zac makes sense to her. Ivan- Ivan knows that Tayshia needs to find herself first. Ivan likes her a lot, but I think Ivan knows he has no shot, but will ride it as long as he can. He really is too mature for her...and he also does not fit wit the lifestyle she has chosen for herself. Their goals do not align. After hearing him on a podcast I hope he benefits from this connection, but moves on from this world. He really is the total package. I also think a lot of their "lack of chemistry" is him being reserved because he knows she is not as into him and he doesn't want to put himself out there and the he fact that he knows she does not date men of color and she is not used to it. He is trying to build trust with her. It is also why she is more reserved with him....she is more comfortable with her usual type. Tayshia needs someone to challenge her. Now that I understand she was in a 7 year relationship, then went into this franchise and has been trying to find a match within this artificial world I don't think she is really ready. If she had been dating in the real world for 3 to 4 years between her Bachelor appearances that would be one thing, but she's been pretty in it consistently...so I don't think she knows what she wants. She seems to be forcing it with all of them IMO, but maybe that is what the show is always like. I think coming in how she did she is feeling pressure to make it work. I think she will chose Zac or Ben ( who is 100% coming back at least to talk to her?) and really want Brendan. I also think she is going to choose someone that the viewers will be "understanding" when it does work after a few months. I will have more respect and belief in the "process" if there is no engagement at the end of this show.

Hmmm I remember her on Top Chef, but mostly as Heavy D's girlfriend and mother of his child. See, that's what I wish for the Bachelor...some musical breaks. Can you imagine at the After the Final rose or whatever they call it busting out some Heavy D..."Now that we found love what are we gonna do with it?"

Who said either was wrong? Don't try to interpret what I am saying or how I feel. I honestly wish there was never a black lead on this show....I am just saying I don't like ABC pretending and trying to be something they are not. What I am saying is that they are not trying diversity" for the right reasons," and they are doing it in a certain way to protect their wider audience and base, that is all I am saying. I am the snark watcher so pay me no mind. There are larger and more important battles than diversity on a dating show.

No, I didn't think you were referring to his backstory at all. I don't jump to conclusions on here

Which is yet but another reason that she and Matt were chosen. They are worried abt ratings and do not feel their base will watch if it is two black people in love. They technically could have chosen another POC but based on the info they had on them they knew it was a low probability. ABC is virtue signaling and playing a game. Did Tayshia have any Hispanic men on this season? They were to busy worrying abt how the response to BLM would be perceived l. All just my opinion.

I am not an idiot of course I realize that .my point being that for the 1st black bachelor hes getting short changed and she is too. They were virtue signalling and trying to quiet down people because of the protests and jumped into finding the 1st franchise friendly black man that they could think of that is mixed race. They have waited all these years they could have waited longer.

@Arkay the other thing about it is that since they now mine from previous shows many people come on and act in certain ways to be considered for Paradise or being a lead. If that was off the table you might get more authentic reactions instead of people trying to make an impact to grow their business or social media. Also, I don't think the wardrobe department knows how to dress her casually. When it comes to evening looks she is fine, but if it is a casual look just looking back at clips every one of those outfits have been questionable.

Yes, he creeps me out too, but that was before I knew his backstory. He talks about his great support system and how far he has come in therapy, but shares something like this on national tv with someone he barely knows. If he was so settled with it he would have shared it with others before. I am not creeped out by his personal traumas, I have respect and empathy, I just think something is off about him and that he is not the great catch just because he is battling illnesses. Most people are of one kind or another. Mental Health is real...from what I've seen there are quite a few guys there bravely fighting something... I just hope they provide aftercare for several months for the contestants.

@Arkay Please don't get me started on how calculated I think his choice as the first Black Bachelor is....and how safe, because of those ties to the franchise. In fact, the only thing I knew about him was he was TYLER's friend, and that he wants a women just like his mom! They have done everything they can to virtue signal, yet play to their core audience. Honestly both Tayshia and Matt are not getting the exotic location, etc., and with her she even got leftover men.....I have no doubt his franchise friends will be featured on his season...ugh!

Wow, I didn't know you could have sex on this show.

Yeah, the Youtube clip was him saying something about intimacy, not wanting kids, and that she keeps bringing it, that he told her he was unhappy and that he cheated. I have since learned from comments from others that he said something about her making more mistakes than him, or a lto of mistakes, or something. Yes, who in their right mind thinks she did everything right, but honestly who cares? I am concerned about people who go through the prior histories of these people (unless it is something criminal) and would bother to comment on it to him, but I even more concerned about why he would care? Supposedly it was her idea...the person he is dating. Sounds like they both have issues. Sure he is entitled to speak on it, my question is what he expected from doing so? No wonder she seems to think you have to suffer in a relationship or have a tragic past. I have to question her if she was with this man for seven years!! Also, does he not realize that saying there was an intimacy problem makes him look bad? The problem may have been him! If this is how he is I would have had a hard time with intimacy too!

This picture explains some of her choices...and why she is so happy that the men on the show are in shape. She has a type for sure.

So agree. I confess to watching a Youtube video without actually listening to the whole thing, just excerpts, but I can't imagine anything he said in the actual interview made a difference. Someone in another thread also said she was the one who encouraged him to do it, so she sounds like she has problems of of her own. The clip actually played him talking and he just sounded whiny. At one point he said something about he told her he was unhappy, as if the fact that he told her he was unhappy before he cheated somehow made the cheating ok.....YIKES! Also he is a grown man. He knows they edit these shows to death. He has no way of knowing if she owned her part in what went wrong off camera...but the bigger question I have is why would he care what people he doesn't know think about what happened in their relationship? That's strange. You don't want attention, but here you are giving an interview!

That is a personal preference and different people feel a different way. I know plenty of people who watch and are excited for Matt's season because he was not on a previous season and have hated other seasons because they feel like they already know too much, good or bad, about the person from their previous appearances and they can't let go of whatever that impression was and enjoy them as the lead. And I know people who don't watch who plan to because he was not a part of a previous show, and others who watch not because they care about the lead..whom they don't know...and their journey, but either to snark and hate watch or for some of my older friends they admit it is out of habit and most of the the time they don't like the lead, or don't like them by the end of the show. Some people are just going to watch no matter who the lead is... And unless someone mislead me they did make a change....they cast older men and an older Bachelorette in Claire, and this board keeps saying they are showing more meaningful conversations...and that the men are more mature....soooooo.......and yes, they heavily promoted in interviews and articles that this season would be different with an older Bachelorette....even I didn't miss that without looking for it.

I think they all should be. I remember when it started and they were not mining from previous shows. They all should be new people the audience doesn't know and doesn't have the time to develop. Since I don't watch the franchise and she give nothing away , I can't honestly say I am investing in her journey, I honestly just watched because ABC was making all these promises about "change" and all they did was trade locations from trauma... and threw in a few more people than normal that never stood a chance...

Such a dumb interview with her ex husband. He has to be smart enough to know that shows are edited a certain way and that the people have limited control over how it is edited and NONE over how the wider public will receive it, process it and act on it. Bottom line, he did cheat. Whether it was once or multiple times. No one with a brain believes that all breakups are the fault of one person, nor does he know if UNAIRED she did take responsibility for her part. I am way more interested in why he didn't want to have children with her? This is why they need to air certain conversations. Even though they had been together for some time, perhaps in the end he could not see himself being the father of a bi racial child. Not saying that is it, but it has happened to a few friends of mine, one Asian one Hispanic. Their boyfriend/fiance in the end did not want what they perceived went along with raising a child and trying to incorporate all backgrounds. I am sure there were other things, but that was the main reason they gave my friends. Yes, I am sure it is hard for the family, friends and ex's of people who go on national television because people are kooks. Leave the man alone....but by the same token he surely does not expect her to pass up opportunities because they were once married and there are stupid people in this world?

I can't unsee it and I agree. I've been looking for a description for him and you nailed it.

I just think that it is a mistake to assume that Ben is a great catch just because he has been through something and spoke about it on national television. Zac either for that reason. Although it is admirable, it says nothing about how he is within a relationship. He mentioned a lot of concerns within his story that had nothing to do with eating disorder or suicide attempts that were some serious red flags. Now I see calls for him to be the Bachelor or talk about what a great person he is. We don't know that any more than we know that about any of the other men. A lot o women are saying it made him more attractive to them! It is at the point now people are rating trauma and trying to decide whose story is most tragic and inspiring. Weird. Of the men that I've seen the only ones that come close to attractive are Spenser? and maybe Ivan. This does not include physical attributes because I give that to Kenny? Hands down. But the few episodes I've seen in the Bachelor franchise and the pictures, videos new stories, there have only been an handful of men that were attractive to me....they do a much better job finding attractive women. I looked up Tyler Cameron because I heard him mentioned so much and I was SOOOO disappointed.

Yes, another reason I don't really watch the show. All of a sudden someone you wouldn't look twice at in your real life becomes EVERYTHING. It is annoying and insulting. I respect the guys more who don't even try and just wait to go home than the ones that pretend.

I am only talking about this season because this is a thread about this season. I can't comment on other seasons or leads because I don't watch this show. If this is directed at me, I think it is a conversation that should be held by all, when appropriate. Had I been watching when Claire was on I would have said the same thing. Besides I have been told she may be part Hispanic, Claire not Tayshia, so I would think that would have been of interest to her as well. In fact, I asked my dates, no matter what color, if they had a diverse group of friends, and valued diversity because that is something that was relevant and important to me. I need to know how someone feels about all people before I can make a commitment to them. I feel like production more than anyone else should not put people in a situation where they have no chance, so the leads as well as the contestants need to be honest when answering this question during screening, but if we are talking going to hometowns , meeting the family and getting engaged, not only does it need to be a conversation, but it needs to be a conversation that is aired... By the way I am only assuming that during screening they ask them if they would be open to being in an interracial or interfaith relationship...they may not. I am also assuming that they do psychological screening and a background check, but I've been informed that a sex offender was on a previous season...so maybe I am asking too much.. I don't know how the BLM conversation happened because I only saw clips, but hopefully it was not in a way where it felt that someone felt that they had to bring it up. I also don't think only a MOC could have broached that topic to her or anybody else. It, along with COVID, was a significant thing that happened this year and could have affected many lives in many ways, even if it was only to reflect on your own actions. I actually think it would have been more impactful if someone other than a POC had spoken with Tayshia about it. In general I would have appreciated a conversation with anyone about how the past several months have affected their lives because that is real, and it has caused people to make changes, no matter if it was work related or personal.

This! And it is why I generally don't enjoy reality tv. All the manufactured drama. Clearly Bennett would have support of the crew to even get back on set, the random props that show up (or people like on Rachel's season with Demarcus or whoever he was with the girlfriend) , the unnatural phrases, "here for the right reasons," "on my journey," showing up for me," and tons I am sure I don't know. "Real" people don't speak like that. The dramatic crying scenes.....and now a fake lie detector test to go along with cheesy dates. You don't get a feel of any of the people because they edited and "direct" scenes so much you have no idea what is real and what is not. Also, with social media I would imagine more people come on now for the "wrong reasons" than for the right and it is just a game. By the time you get to the final 3 or 4 you already know the one or two that have a chance and the rest is for show and to follow the process, yet families are involved.

Don't watch all the time, but from what I've seen and reading these boards I agree with this 100%. I am always curious why viewers think they know people from edited footage from a show that has producers....the one thing I would say is that guys are savvy enough to know that while they may get backlash for some things, there will be way more people excited by the fact that they were on national television and giving them attention, opportunities and offers of "companionship." I'll bet Ben is getting a lot of love, but he knew it was a calculated risk.

Even if they did, I don't think they care. I think for some it is the opportunity to be on TV or build their brand and social media presence...and if I happen to like the girl, then great. In the middle of COVID where you can't travel, some are out of work or work is slow, etc. I think a lot of people would have come on no matter what.

That is a point and maybe true but it has nothing to do with them knowing if SHE likes a person of color and what that means for taking them home to your family. Regardless of who they prefer, they are men of color so that would be information they would need to know to tell if they may be wasting their time or at the minimum be a new experience for her where she may have some pre conceived notions. I married into an interracial relationship and dated a variety of men and that is just something that you ask....period...and yes, I asked Black men if they liked Black women...I want to know the dating history....tall, short, funny, smart, serious? Professional, stay at home, close to family distant from family... religion .and these days where they land on the political spectrum and where their family lies on that as well especially if marriage is on the table. Besides, I don't think I ever specified that she ask only the non minority men about dating a POC. If I did that was a mistake.