Brooke Jowett Has Criticised The Bachy Franchise For Its Lack Of Diversity
The Bachelor has only just begun but it is already receiving criticism, this time from Locky Gilbert’s Australian Survivor spooning pal, Brooke Jowett.
Back in 2019, Brooke revealed that she was “blindsided” when Locky was announced as the 2020 Bachelor, as they had plans to go to Bali together. And now she’s taken aim at the Bachy franchise and its startling lack of diversity. “I believe we still have a long way to go in television and media in regards to celebrating diversity but I think the shift is happening,” Brooke told HuffPost Australia.
Brooke’s comments come after viewers tweeting out their frustrations about the show, with fans over seeing the same kinds of contestants (aka blonde white women) year after year.
give us more woc!! i’m so sick of the same blonde white girls 😭 #thebachelorau
— 잘자 우리 종현아. / 사랑하자 ♡ (@jackcallahans) August 19, 2020
Ok i swear they're reusing some of these blonde women in different series and just giving them different names #TheBachelorAU pic.twitter.com/TW2I2vmGDL
— Rose Callaghan (@operation_rosie) August 12, 2020
The only non-white contestants on this season of The Bachelor are Areeba, Juliette, Leilani, and Charley (who is Indigenous), proving that the series’ casting continues to move at a snail’s pace when it comes to showcasing a more diverse range of contestants. It didn’t help matters that the premiere focused on a white contestant complaining about being discriminated against for her red hair. You can’t make this shit up.
So to summarise: The Bachelor got criticised for lack of diversity and responded by going “rEd hAIreD dIsCriMiNaTiOn” #TheBachelorAU pic.twitter.com/sspM2NOr79
— Niamh Brazil (@NiamhBrazil2) August 12, 2020
Lord, give me the confidence of a privileged white woman claiming discrimination based on hair colour #TheBachelorAU pic.twitter.com/vWBQfuIAwD
— Jerome Doraisamy (@JeromeDoraisamy) August 12, 2020
Brooke, who is Australian-Sri Lankan, recalled receiving a few racist comments from viewers during her time on Australian Survivor. “I have had a few mean tweets about my colour which astounds me,” she said. “I can’t believe some people are still so behind.”
But ultimately, Brooke said that she found solace in the messages of support she was sent. “The greatest thing to come out of my appearance on Survivor, is the fact I have become a role model for younger women,” she said. “I have received many messages from younger culturally diverse girls who have said ‘I’m Sri Lankan too!’. I love sharing that sense of pride with them.”
Last month it was revealed that sisters Elly and Becky Miles would be Australia’s 2020 Bachelorettes — news that was met with a lot of eye-rolls over casting another blonde Bachelorette at the helm. Brooke said she hoped that next year she “would love to see a culturally diverse Bachelorette for 2021.”
Hopefully, this is Brooke low-key putting in a bid for Bachelorette and we wholeheartedly support her.
