Does The Bachelorette finale have to lead to proposal? Not so, says Chris Harrison
On some level, it does make sense to wonder the question, especially in the context of what Arie Luyendyk Jr. chose to do with Becca Kufrin at the end of this past finale — clearly, it was a decision that he was not in the right mind to make, but he went ahead and did it anyway. Why? Maybe it was the knowledge and the history of the show. Any series lead — well, any other than Juan Pablo Galavis — is aware of the fact that the show tends to end every season with a proposal. It’s something that, at this point, many people crave. It’s what they look out for week in and week out.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, show host Chris Harrison confirmed that the show doesn’t force its contestants into anything when it comes to making a proposal. They have the power of choice, and production doesn’t try to force any of the guys to get on one knee on either The Bachelor or The Bachelorette:
First and foremost, people need to know that nothing is guaranteed. There is no contract and there isn’t pressure from the cast or crew. The pressure that Arie succumbed to was his own pressure. It’s his own internal issues. I like the fact that the show promises nothing. We ask nothing and we promise nothing. It’s all up to you. It’s free will. It’s a scary way to produce a show. All shows have a beginning, middle and end. Well our show doesn’t promise that. You don’t have to. You can walk away.
Of course, with this said we have a good feeling why few leads would ever do that — America would almost certainly hate whoever decides to walk. They did that with Brad Womack and, more than likely, they would do that again today — heck, it would probably be worse in the age of social media. If you are signing on to be a star on one of these shows, your public image probably means a lot to you. That’s why we don’t imagine many contestants in the future having the guts to run away at the end.
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