The Bachelorette Just Made Elimination History [Spoilers]
Warning: SPOILERS for The Bachelorette
Fans of The Bachelor know that there are few brands of scandal or controversy that the producers won't court or capitalize on, but The Bachelorette just made history. Not only did star Hannah Brown see a suitor eliminated from competition after accusations were made about "misogynist" behavior--but it took place completely off-screen, without a second of footage to show for it.
Viewers watching last night's episode may have actually missed the news that Tyler G. had been removed from the show completely. When fans realize that Tyler G. was the recipient of what might just be the best first one-on-one date in recent memory, they'll want to know why he was eliminated, apparently by production. But the greatest mystery of all... is why his removal wasn't shown, or seemingly even filmed.
For the record, Tyler G. is actually Tyler Gwozdz, a 28-year old Clinical Psychologist student whose chemistry with Hannah on the season's first solo date had him emerge as a frontrunner, if not an odds-on favorite. Yet before Hannah's solo date with Connor S.--spent in bed recovering from a visit to the hospital--the Bachelorette casually mentioned that she had "found out Tyler G. had to leave, and that's upsetting because I really enjoyed my date with him and felt like our relationship was at a really good place and I wanted to explore where that could go."
The exact reason for Tyler leaving, or apparently being removed by production, and not Hannah's request, is yet to be officially released. For now, Reality Steve had the early word on the alleged reasons Tyler G. had to go:
While the guys were out on this (group) date, production came to the mansion and removed Tyler G. from the show. They had been given some information about his past relationships and told him it wouldn’t be good for him to remain on the show and he needed to leave immediately. If you search hard enough on the internet, you can find out what was said. I don’t believe any of the women have come forward publicly with their names attached to it yet that I’ve seen, so while we don’t know if there’s receipts and proof of anything, the accusations were disturbing to say the least and production and legal for ABC thought it was serious enough to remove him from the show.
We'll spare readers having to go searching hard enough, since several sites have now latched onto a Reddit thread posted by people claiming to be former classmates of Gwozdz, citing objectionable or worrisome history with women. For now, the accusations of "extreme misogynist" behavior, and one account of him spitting on a girlfriend, are purely rumor. As Reality Steve notes, it seems that the producers and ABC, whose job it is to investigate such claims, determined there was reason enough to have him leave the season.
There is still a chance that the departure will be worked into the plans for Hannah's season--perhaps held off for a more high profile segment on the Men Tell All, or After The Final Rose broadcast. But for now, the show has made history--not by having objectionable men make it through casting, only to be ambushed by past or current girlfriends, or have online messages reveal they're on TV "for the wrong reasons." In reality, those are reliable for at least one per season (the premiere already said goodbye to Scott Anderson under just those circumstances). But this season, accusations were made about a suitor's past treatment of women... which led to him being quietly brushed aside, and not given another moment on the spotlight as reward.
Have ABC and The Bachelorette crossed some unseen Rubicon, no longer granting air time to accused misogynists or emotionally unhinged men? Or did production find something that even they couldn't make work as an on-air scandal? We'll have to wait and see if these rumors are corroborated, or Tyler Gwozdz speaks out. For now, we along with the rest of Bachelor Nation have a week to get over the shock.
The Bachelorette airs Mondays @8pm on ABC.
Source: Reality Steve, Reddit