Bachelor Contestants & The Need For Social Media Reviews Before Casting
Have you ever wondered where ABC finds their Bachelor contestants to compete on national television to find their one true love? In the digital age that we’re living it, casting agents and directors have turned to social media platforms as one of their key resources for discovering potential contestants. It’s no secret that social media screenings have become a routine part of the hiring process when interviewing for a job, and Hollywood is no different.
Becoming a reality TV star is no longer a stranger picked off the side of the street. Casting agents and directors now turn to social media to gain insights on potential talents. In fact, the Bachelor application requires adding your social media handles for their viewing.
Just like every other employee, contestants are a representation of the network they work for, so it only makes sense they would want a respectable figure as the face of the show. “You’re representing the brand in the end, [that] is how they’re looking at you. If you’re a known jerk online, that’s not going to work out for the brand.” says Casting Director, Laurie Records in a recent interview.
According to Records, her client is looking for offensive content such as provocative photos, offensive comments, and extremely political references. “Almost all the time while we’re in callbacks, there is some client somewhere sitting on their computer, searching for the actor who’s in the room. They’re searching their social media. They’re searching them on the internet and seeing what comes up. Of course, they’re looking for anything that might be concerning.”
In season 25 of The Bachelor, producers overlooked crucial details on a contestant’s social media page, triggering a severe backlash for the franchise. Allegations emerged regarding contestant Rachael Kirkconnel, including her attendance at an Old South, antebellum-themed party and disputed claims of high school bullying related to racial issues. The public uproar intensified, leading to the resignation of the show’s long-time host, Chris Harrison, as a consequence of the unfolding situation.
Reality TV fans never shy away from expressing their opinions online by exposing a contestant’s problematic old tweets or blasting a network for a contestant’s behavior. This is why an in-depth social media background check is now a common process for casting agencies.
In a Variety article, former casting director for CBS’s “The Amazing Race,” Lynne Spillman, uses social media as a cross reference for accuracy on a candidate’s tape. “I look at their room. I look at their house. I look at all the things they’re not expecting me to.”
If you’re looking to star in the next season of your favorite reality TV show, maybe it’s time to try LifeBrand’s Social Media Cleaning Tool to make sure your social media platforms are camera ready!
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