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Fans of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette have witnessed an array of significant moments during the franchise’s 22-year journey. From unexpected endings to historic milestones, the show has continually evolved.
One of the earliest surprises came in Season 1, when Bachelor Alex Michel opted not to propose to Amanda Marsh, leading to their split a year later. The series also introduced notable firsts, such as Sean Lowe becoming the first virgin Bachelor in 2013 and Clare Crawley stepping into the role of Bachelorette at 38 years old in 2020.
The franchise has spawned several spinoffs, including Bachelor in Paradise, a lively dating competition set on the beach, and The Golden Bachelor, which caters to a senior audience, truly making it a groundbreaking franchise.
Amid these historical moments, some critics are questioning the delay in featuring an Asian American lead. Jenn Tran, a 26-year-old aspiring physician assistant, made her debut as the lead for Season 21 of The Bachelorette on July 8.
“It’s about time,” expressed Madelyn Chung, founder of the RepresentAsian Project, which advocates for Asian representation in media. “It’s 2024. We shouldn’t be celebrating these firsts. While it’s great to recognize them, we look forward to a time when they are merely the norm.”
Tran’s announcement sparked excitement among fans. One user expressed their joy on social media, celebrating the unprecedented moment for representation in the long-running series.
Troublesome Racial History on Show
Upon Tran’s casting announcement, culture writer Jada Yuan highlighted in the Washington Post that the absence of an Asian lead had become a recurring topic among fans.
“It’s so long overdue that the podcast Game of Roses ends each episode with a countdown: ‘It’s been 8,037 days without an Asian Bachelor,'” Yuan noted.
In the series, the Bachelor or Bachelorette dates multiple contestants over several weeks, narrowing them down to select one. Having a Vietnamese American woman at the forefront represents a meaningful shift in the show’s dynamics. Historically, contestants of color have received fewer roses, often accompanied by negative social media reactions.
However, Tran’s season has already faced scrutiny over the limited representation of Asian suitors, a concern she has acknowledged. “It’s unfortunate there weren’t many Asian men this season,” she remarked in an interview with Glamour.
The franchise has previously struggled with its portrayal of Asian cultures, with episodes eliciting backlash for insensitive comments and reactions. Chung remarked on the franchise’s predominantly white cast and noted that non-white leads, like Black pioneers Rachel Lindsay and Matt James, faced challenges from a largely white audience.
While The Bachelorette did not feature an Asian contestant until its 2016 season, Tran’s position as the first Asian Bachelorette is both groundbreaking and fraught with potential judgement based on her decisions.
An Important Moment for Representation
Despite progress in representation, a significant portion of onscreen characters remains white. Recent reports indicate that although the number of Asian characters in films has surged, their overall inclusion in blockbuster roles remains limited.
According to a 2021 study by the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, while the percentage of Asian leads in original Netflix content has risen, only 16 percent of characters in top-grossing films from 2007 to 2022 were Asian.
Similarly, a 2022 screen audit revealed that Asian actors comprised less than 10 percent of main roles in major Canadian television networks.
Tran’s role as the first Asian Bachelorette holds significant weight for representation, according to Chung. “If I had seen an Asian Bachelorette when I was younger, I might have believed I was a desirable woman,” she stated.
Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour’s senior beauty editor, also echoed this sentiment, remarking that watching Tran express her disbelief in being the first choice was both saddening and uplifting. “We’ve historically been cast in supporting roles, and Tran’s visibility challenges that perception,” Yaptangco highlighted.
Source
www.cbc.ca