The show, its fans, and the former contestants have no vested interest in divesting from whiteness as a central construct of the show. Problematic white contestants will continue to get screen-time, and mediocre white contestants will still actively take opportunities from contestants of color.
Progressive fans and content creators will continue to pander and post on social media that a contestant of color should be the lead without actually meaning it. What actionable steps are behind your message, or do you want likes? Why do you choose a different contestant of color to champion every week? What do you know about them beyond their race? Do you follow, engage, and share their content? Or do you just use their popularity to increase your engagement?
Colorism plays a central part in the dynamic of contestants of color deemed palatable by the franchise and fans. It also factors into which contestants of color are allowed to be the main character and which are relegated to the sidelines.
Villains or young Karens are part of the franchise's fabric, and no one will ever call out their behavior for what it is. In fact, the show and your faves need this villain so they can be the hero and hoist themselves up to a lead position over the women of color, who are often the target of microaggressive behavior. This tired trope is never called out but instead celebrated.
Bachelor archetypes are just glorified stereotypes. When women and men of color act contradictory to these societal standards, they are punished by the show and the fans for eternity.
Popular contestants of color are not interchangeable, yet the show will continue to use their popularity to their advantage while giving them less favorable opportunities and positions; the fans will eat this up and not question the status quo.
The two most recent white leads resulted from whitelash following the most recent seasons with Black leads. Beyond the conservative fan base, many "progressives" have openly welcomed the return to normal by calling the show light and fun again.
The show has proven that it cannot consistently portray Black contestants and other contestants of color thoroughly with the depth and nuance deserved. Fortunately, said contestants have used their platforms to change the narrative and offer an alternative glimpse into who they are beyond this franchise.
Until white contestants actively acknowledge how they perpetuate inequities by accepting roles over contestants of color, the plausible deniability they cling to will continue to be used as a justifiable excuse for their behavior. Then, as an afterthought, after they have received the benefits from an opportunity, will they campaign for a person of color to be given a chance.
Who you consume content from matters. Like contestants of color, people of color content creators are less followed, shared, and supported. Despite having thoughtful and riveting content to engage with, people continue to only listen to voices that echo their own.
If this sounds like something I've written before, it's because nothing has changed. It's been a year since Matt's season, and the whitelash has made the show feel like 2002 all over again. While many viewers care about this regression, most still just want to talk about shrimp. We just came off the heels of Michelle's season. I see a couple who listens to the music I do and laughs at the memes that I find funny. For a moment, I didn't have to view the show through the construct of whiteness, but for now, it's back to our regularly scheduled programming.
I now understand the need to distance myself from the franchise more than ever before. For me, the show is about the community I've built and the beautiful people I've met. It's so much more than what we see on Mondays; however, the current celebration of mediocrity and the elevation of gross behavior as entertainment has been complex for me to rationalize. I want to escape reality with reality television for two hours every Monday too, and I think we can have a diverse and still fun show. I'm just worried that my breaking point will happen before that's true again. We had it with Michelle and look how the fans responded. Whoever they select for the following lead will be very telling, and it might be a good indication of how long my toxic relationship with this show will last.
Ashley