'The Bachelorette' Was Almost Shut Down Due to...

Harrison sat down for a long interview to talk about the whole Bentley situation. He admits that he (and the rest of the crew) knew that Bentley was a bad guy before he even stepped out of the limo. He claims that he (and production) warned Ashley about Bentley, but she insisted that he be allowed to stay saying, "No, I want to meet him. If I don't like this guy, I'll kick him off." Famous last words.

Harrison stated that he knew Ashley was smitten the moment she laid eyes on him. On the very first night of the show, Ashley called Bentley "one of the frontrunners." In the end, Ashley winds up brokenhearted because Bentley decides to leave the show. But, Chris Harrison warns, his language and vulgar comments about Ashley will be worse than anything viewers have seen from him so far.

Why was this allowed to happen? Chris insists that the show did everything possible to inform Ashley about Bentley. He continues to defend the show by claiming that casting for the season was completed before Ashley was even chosen to be the Bachelorette, so any aversion that Bentley had toward Ashley would not have been apparent.

Here's the thing. The Bachelorette is a reality show, but it's also after big ratings. Huge scandals and intense drama brings in big numbers for the networks. Not only will people tune in to the show in droves to watch Ashley get her heart-broken, but they will also talk about it and blog about it, providing the show with tons of free advertising. Let's face it, the amount of drama Ashley's season has had before episode three is much more than the entire season of Brad Womack's The Bachelor.

So you decide. Do you think that the whole Bentley issue was allowed to continue to bring in ratings, or do you think it played out just as they present it on the show?

As for Chris Harrison, he's just hoping that Bentley returns for The Men Tell All. Not to confront him (or the ratings), but to ask him how he would feel if someone treated his daughter the way he treated Ashley.

You can read the entire interview here. Share your thoughts on this season of The Bachelorette below!

Comments: 7

Linda M. Jun 3, 2011, 4:42pm UTC

I was upset myself when I found out Ashley was the new bachelorette. She was the most boring one there. In one of the final episodes, when the bachelor was asking important questions, trying to visualize their possible future together, she was just eating and staring blankly into space like he was talking about something of no interest to her. I think he was right to leave the show if he wasn't interested, but he shouldn't have been a jerk about it.

Renee Phillips Jun 3, 2011, 7:35pm UTC

I totally agree. I wonder if Bentley doesn't have some kind of ulterior motive for participating in the show. Usually the guys that are not serious about being interested in the girl are hoping to launch a music or wrestling (remember "Rated-R"?) career. But you're right, he shouldn't have been a jerk about it.

I wasn't crazy about Ashley being cast as the Bachelorette either. I guess they felt like they didn't have any other real option? Brad's final 3 was Ashley, Chantal and Emily and I think Chantal was in a relationship when the were casting for this season. Even if they would have picked Gia or someone from the past, that would have been better I think.

Linda M. Jun 3, 2011, 11:21pm UTC

I liked Gia! Wonder what she is up to these days.

Renee Phillips Jun 3, 2011, 11:32pm UTC

I don't know! I liked her too! I know she was dating Wes for awhile, but I think they split up. I follow her on Twitter and I know that she's launching a bikini line soon, but other than that, I don't know what she's up to. Maybe she'll be on the next season of Bachelor Pad! Here's a link to her Twitter account if you're on there!

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Linda M. Jun 3, 2011, 11:37pm UTC

Checked out the link. She's still pretty as ever. One of the prettiest and nicest ones ever on the show.

Renee Phillips Jun 12, 2011, 11:02am UTC

Did you see?! It looks like Gia is going to be on Bachelor Pad again! I wrote about it last night!

I'm glad! I hope she wins!

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Linda M. Jun 13, 2011, 12:26pm UTC

Bachelor pad seems to be a good place for some of the non winners to meet and get together. I have read of several couples who got their start there. Gia is one of the really sweet ones from the bachelor series. Hope she finds happiness!

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'The Bachelorette' Was Almost Shut Down Due to Bentley Claims Chris Harrison

Comments: 7

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