Let's Talk About Chad
Do I like him? No.
Does he say some insanely inappropriate and hurtful things? Yes.
Do I think he is a good guy? Not really.
BUT.... (and there is always a but in the Bachelor franchise)
ABC is almost as big of a villain as Chad is. Now, just hear me out. Yes, I have been guilty of binge watching UnReal, the Lifetime show that explores the world of reality TV, but I could have called this Chad bologna (see what I did there?) before even watching this season of UnReal.
Being a college graduate who specialized my four years in journalism, I have always been intrigued with producing a television show, especially reality ones like The Bachelor, The Bachelorette and of course Bachelor in Paradise. I understand the role of a producer and how they have to constantly be thinking on their feet in situations like these. In fact, part of their job description is pretty much bringing contestants to their breaking points and supplying them with alcohol. And that is why we watch, isn't it? Watching these people come undone makes us feel better about ourselves and our life choices. It also is entertaining, makes great television, and high ratings.
When I saw Chad step out of the limo that first day of JoJo's season of The Bachelorette, I didn't think or feel any differently about him compared to any of the others introduced that night. To me, he was just a normal, typical contestant. In fact, he seemed like one of the more genuine ones, even saying "Hey, what's up?" to her. I never could have anticipated the craziness that was to ensue with him, nor could I have expected the producers to go farther with him than they ever had with a contestent.
For those of you who didn't tune into The Bachelorette this season, Chad was cast as the villian (there is always someone!). But he was one of the biggest villians in the franchise's history, even ripping a guys shirt (eyeroll at Evan who made this a way bigger issue than necessary) and punching a wall. He showed signs of violence a few episodes in and threatened several of the other cast members. So why did ABC even let this jerk stay? Because, it was all too easy. Intead of sending him home the moment he showed signs of violence, they decided to capitalize off of Chad. And that is exactly what they did week after week after week.
Which raises the question, who is the bigger villian, ABC or Chad?
I thought the negative attention on Chad was bad on The Bachelorette, but this summer it got much worse. JoJo finally sent the guy home on a two-on-one date, but she was torn. It wasn't an easy decision for her to make. JoJo didn't know if Chad acted the way he did due to losing his mother, his best friend and his rock, a couple of months before taping the show. People dealing with loss act out in different ways. Which, to me, makes the producers of ABC even more vicious. They should have never taken advantage of him, and more importantly never have invited him to the spin-off show, Bachelor in Paradise, after his volatile experience on The Bachelorette. Why are we celebrating and rewarding him for his ludicrous actions and threats? That was stupid on their part!
But Bachelor in Paradise was just another way for ABC to make even more money off of him. They turned a real estate agent into a reality TV monster. Even worse, as Chad realized that ABC was portraying him as the villian, he accepted the role and molded himself into the monster the network desired. Suddenly, a security guard was present at all gatherings and Bachelorette functions to make sure Chad didn't go off the deep end. They constantly plugged scenes of him acting out and made JoJo's entire season about him rather than her journey to find love.
What makes me the most sad is the producers and directors of the show knew how mentally and emotionally fragile he was and still continued to capitalize off of his actions. Because let's be honest, he did in fact bring in ratings. He is like a bad car accident you can't really look away from. Yet, Paradise brought out the absolute worst in him. And while I am disgusted and in no way accept the things he said (like making fun of disabilities) or did (physically shoving Lace over and over... although she isn't any less guilty), I can't help but think what would have happened if he wasn't invited to the show. He would be back in Tulsa, working at his job and hanging out with his dog. That is it. Maybe, if he was lucky, meeting a girl who would change him for the better.
Instead, his life is changed (ruined even?) because he decided to have one too many margaritas and make a fool out of himself on TV. I think the ABC franchise is somewhat to blame. While they can't take full credit for his actions, like trying to hit Daniel for not being "murdery" enough or disrespecting the resort staff, they didn't try and stop him. What they needed to do was learn boundaries and understand when to stop pushing him. When they saw him getting too drunk, why didn't anyone cut him off? I'm talking to you Jorge! He needed a friend to step in that night and tell him he'd had enough, but instead the staff seemed to say "let's see how dangerous we can make this". I know the critics will say he's an adult who should "know" when to cut himself off, but throw yourself into a situation where you walk in to a house with 10-15 strangers who already have a preconceived opinion on you and constantly pick and pull at your insecurities. Who wouldn't drink a little more than you typically would out of nerves and uncomfortability.
Plus, we can't deny that most of us have been in Chad's shoes. We may have had too much to drink or made some mistakes BUT we didn't have it televised nationally and that is the biggest difference between us and Chad.
One of the more intense scenes was when Chris Harrison ambushed Chad and asked him to leave the island. He was in shock and actually though Chris was kidding. They dragged him all the way to Mexico to only let him stay one night. I would be livid too. But then after being escorted out, Chad made the comment "I've got nothing. I have nothing. I have nothing in my life." Ouch. Those are some dark and extremely depressing comments made by a troublesome man. Yes, he is rude and a bully, but he also lost his mother (and possibly only friend) who he cared for for years.
He should not have been on reality TV and the ABC producers knew better. He needs therapy and a lot of help. Instead, ABC supposedly invites him back to "redeem" himself later on in the season and continues to discuss this on After the Final Rose. Chris Harrison even jokes that Hurricane Chad will be on Bachelor in Paradise which had been filmed weeks beforehand. Chris knows how it ends. Chris has heard Chad's pleas that he has nothing. Yet, Chris laughs as he tells the audience that Chad will be on the show stirring up even more drama. Then sets him up for rejection by giving Chad the floor to ask the live audience for a chance to become The Bachelor. What did the producers think? He would get a standing ovation? Of course not, he was booed by everyone and dismissed by JoJo.
There is only so much a guy can take and ABC continously pushes him further and further to the edge. It's clear to viewers that Chad is angry and lonely, yet ABC continues to let him dominate the ratings and their show. The producers have done some pretty messed up things this season alone, like removing the blanket that Grant and Lace threw at a camera when they were... having an intimate moment. But this is perhaps the lowest they have sank. The show, which was once abut love is nothing more than a rating-whore now. They manipulate the suitors to keep certain contestants around. Like seriously, JoJo was NOT into Evan, yet he kept getting a rose. It was a set up. Bachelorette alum Ali Fedotowsky confirmed on her blog that sometimes the producers have a say in who is kept around another week. Other alums have written books saying such as well.
After this season, I no longer can recognize the show I fell in love with in 2002. Perhaps it is solely that I have seen UnReal and have started to pick up on the negativity and manipulation that goes into creating this show. Or maybe it has just became more obvious with this Chad debacle. But ABC has made it clear that sometimes they simply don't care for the welfare of their contestants. Otherwise they would have recommended a good therapist for Chad to see and not allowed him on the set of another one of their series.
We, as viewers, need to stop applauding and giving Chad the attention he seeks. We need to encourage ABC to reach out and get him the help he so desperately needs. And lastly, we should all take a step back and analyze who the real villian is here.
What do you all think? Who's the villian: ABC, Chad, or the viewers? Does Chad deserve the bad rep he's gotten? Do you agree with ABC's decision to mess with an unstable person in order to make entertaining tv? Tell me your thoughts below.