ABC’s cruelty and betrayal in the finale of “The Bachelorette”

The troubled Bachelor franchise is known for its overuse of the word “dramatic.” It’s called “the most dramatic rose ceremony” or “the most dramatic season ever.” But in the case of Monday’s finale of The Bachelorette, that word really applies.

We wish that were not the case.

The problem is not only that Jenn Tran doesn’t get her fairytale ending, but that the live broadcast of the finale is staged in a way that magnifies her torment for entertainment. The show begins like many others, with host Jesse Palmer in front of a live studio audience — including rejected “Bachelorette” suitors and new Golden Bachelorette Joan Vassos — gathered to watch which of two men would propose to Jenn Tran, the first Asian-American leading lady in franchise history. The decision rests with military veteran Marcus Shoberg and freight company owner Devin Strader.

The audience watches as the men get to know Jenn’s family, with Devin saying all the right things and Marcus expressing his doubts about his love for Jenn. Her final date with Devin in Hawaii seems significant, as they hold a ceremony to release their burdens from the past so they can create their future together. Devin even gives her something he got from a Maori shaman on their first one-on-one date in New Zealand. All good.

Unfortunately, Marcus still shows some ambivalence, and Jenn confronts him in a painful conversation. Although Marcus eventually admits he loves her, it’s too little, too late. She rejects him; there’s no final date. It seems like she’s made her decision, and it’s solidified when she later tells Jesse that she plans to propose to Devin. This not only fulfills what the show has been hinting at all season—that Jenn would do something no other Bachelorette has done before—but also Jenn’s insistence on taking control of her relationships and not passively allowing a man to call the shots.

And then things get messy… well, messier.

Jenn Tran and Devin Strader on “The Bachelorette” (Disney/John Fleenor)Just when we’re expecting Jenn to make her historic (for the franchise) proposal, Jesse chimes in and tells the audience, “You’re not going to see the proposal. Because of what happened that day in Hawaii, we’ve decided it’s not appropriate for anyone to see it until we hear from Jenn.”

Jenn breaks down in inconsolable tears and reveals that her fairytale romance with fiancé Devin has turned into a nightmare. Devin has promised her all season long that he would never abandon her like her parents did to them. Unfortunately for Jenn, Devin’s promises are as empty as The Bachelor franchise’s countless attempts to create change by diversifying its main cast. Just before the couple left for a secret trip together, Devin called her to break off their engagement, saying he regretted their engagement because he no longer loved her.

In a deeply uncomfortable conversation, Jenn and Devin try to work things out, but nothing productive comes of it. Jenn accuses Devin of following girls on Instagram after their breakup, namely Maria Georgas, last year’s fan favorite on The Bachelor. His response is textbook: “I’m not here to tell you that you can’t feel the way you feel. Obviously, I’ve let you down.” He scoffs at her when she accuses him of not taking their breakup seriously and instead preferring to go clubbing with his coworkers.

Finally, Jenn breaks her composure and says, “Every Monday night my heart is broken and you don’t give a shit. You post that the show is having a great time and my heart is broken every Monday night watching these lies.”

Jesse interrupts the back-and-forth between the couple to get them on track so he can make the worst move yet – airing the previously unseen proposal for Jenn to see during the live show. The host stresses to a whimpering Jenn that she has shown America “what a strong and powerful woman she is.” He adds, “No one can ever take that away from you. I know you haven’t seen it yet. What do you think? Should we all watch it together?”

With tears in her swollen eyes, Jenn shakes her head in disbelief. She laughs sheepishly and says in disbelief, “Do I have a choice?” Of course she has no choice. Her pain is there for consumption and entertainment. Those in power are changing their story in real time, as if it were a story of empowerment.

ABC is showing the proposal in picture-in-picture format as the audience watches Jenn relive one of the most painful moments of her life – another heartbreak. She sobs and sobs – and it’s absolutely relentless.

Jenn Tran on “The Bachelorette” (Disney/John Fleenor)For The Bachelor franchise, however, being the author of heartbreak is nothing new. During Rachel Lindsay’s season, they allowed a person with a racist social media past to be a suitor. During Matt James’ season, they forced him to have an awkward on-screen conversation with his absent black father. In a scene that will go down in Bachelor history, the show also filmed the heartbreaking post-season breakup between engaged couples Arie Luyendyk Jr. and Becca Kufrin. At the time, ABC claimed the scene was “the first completely unedited scene in reality television history” – as if that was something to be proud of.

To be fair, anyone involved in Bachelor Nation — whether as a contestant or a viewer watching from home — knows that heartbreak or a bit of train-wreck chaos is part of the deal. There’s no way to hold a competition for love without someone getting hurt. Usually, though, the engaged couple can hold on long enough to split up by the time the show is completely over. Rarely does a split happen before the finale.

Perhaps The Bachelorette learned something from that backlash, since Devin had conducted his breakup over the phone rather than on camera. Small favors. But watching Jenn witness Devin’s cocky proposal live was not only brutal, it was confusing. Even if the show was contractually obligated to show the scene—perhaps business with the jeweler or even tourism in Hawaii required it to air—Jenn didn’t have to be in it. She could have been let go to lick her wounds backstage while her loved ones supported her. So it was a conscious decision to create and then televise the grim spectacle of Jenn’s pain and suffering. This is the height of sadistic showbiz.

As with most reality shows, viewers love to name the show’s villains. Previously, it seemed that suitor Sam M. – who tried to “keep things simple” – had the title for himself. Then came Devin, with what seemed like the longest con of all. But neither of them should claim the crown of cruelty. Instead, the biggest betrayal of all lies with ABC.

Throughout the season, one of Jenn’s stated main goals is to take control of her story. She’s had enough of controlling, toxic, gaslighting exes, thank you very much. It’s also one of the reasons she proposed to Devin. However, Jesse’s question about whether she’s ready to watch their romantic proposal scene is the height of vicious farce. Even her media training can’t stop her from eventually losing it. As she practically whines, “Do I have a choice?!”, it’s clear that she was never in charge. The “Bachelor” machine was and always will be in charge of her narrative, of the most dramatic betrayal of all time.