The Bachelorette has always chosen its leads from previous seasons of The Bachelor, but breaking the mold within the franchise is a big, bold move that will usher in a new era, even with this controversial reality TV star at the helm. While The Bachelor has chosen its leads from obscurity in the past, for over a decade the franchise has worked within its talent pool.
With controversy encompassing The Bachelor and its spin-offs, the franchise has been facing backlash in more area than one. While some have held the show accountable for long-standing issues surrounding racial insensitivity and cast treatment, others have complained about the changes being implemented in the editing and development of the franchise. The Bachelorette specifically has had a tough time finding its footing recently.
Although there have been rumblings of The Bachelorette taking some time off, viewers have been theorizing that the next lead of the series would be announced sooner rather than later. Making their grand announcement on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast, the franchise has chosen a lead for The Bachelorette season 22. For the first time, The Bachelorette isn’t someone viewers know from the franchise.
The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives’ Taylor Frankie Paul Is The Next Bachelorette
She’s Taking On A Brand-New Franchise
After taking the lead on The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives on Hulu, Taylor Frankie Paul will be ushering in a new era of The Bachelorette by becoming the first lead to be cast outside the franchise. Taylor’s time on The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives has been controversial to say the least, but her raw honesty has brought her a huge fanbase.
Taylor’s relationships have been tricky on The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives, especially when it comes to her ex, Dakota Mortensen. Moving forward, Taylor’s journey will certainly look different. While some may be interested in seeing Taylor’s journey unfold on The Bachelorette season 22, her being cast is a major shift for the franchise that may indicate things are changing entirely.
Taylor Frankie Paul Being A Reality TV Star Means The Franchise Is Taking A Risk
She’s A Confusing Choice For A Lead
Casting a reality TV star for a reality TV show shouldn’t be a controversial choice, but it’s a high risk move for The Bachelor franchise. After years of only casting within the same pool of contestants, the franchise has finally taken a bold move in a new direction by choosing Taylor as the next lead. It may or may not pay off.
The directional changes from Bachelor In Paradise season 10 made for a difficult season for the series, and seeing that some viewers may not know much about Taylor’s background, it could be risky for The Bachelorette to bring someone in without establishing them first. Taylor’s casting could be a make or break moment for The Bachelorette as the franchise tries something new.
The Bachelorette season 22 will premiere in 2026.