J.P. Rosenbaum, former winner of The Bachelorette and husband to Ashley Hebert, is weighing in on the show’s new format of casting two Bachelorettes.
After Sean Lowe slammed the twist of casting Kaitlyn Bristowe and Britt Nilsson in the role, calling it disgusting, J.P. shared his thoughts on Lowe’s blog.
“I am eternally grateful for all that has transpired in my life over the past four years,” began Rosenbaum’s missive on his good friend’s website.
“I was lucky enough to marry my best friend, Ashley, who has since given birth to our firstborn child, a healthy and beautiful baby boy,” adds J.P., 38.
“I can honestly say that I’ve never been happier. This show has been the catalyst for so many wonderful love stories,” he says, but it’s still just that.
A show. “I think viewers keep forgetting,” J.P. adds, “that above anything else, this is a television franchise and its sole purpose is to make money.”
“Regardless of right or wrong, or who is more deserving, having two Bachelorettes creates a LOT of buzz and that, in theory, translates into ratings.”
“So forget about whether or not you agree with the decision, this change has already begun to do exactly what they had hoped it would do.”
“In the end, it really doesn’t matter,” Rosenbaum concludes, stating the obvious, “because you are ALL going to watch it anyway … as am I!!!”
Indeed, but ABC’s move to cast both Britt Nilsson and Kaitlyn Bristowe in the upcoming 11th season of The Bachelorette was still a polarizing one.
Host Chris Harrison explained following Chris Soules’ Bachelor season finale that Nilsson and Bristowe will begin with a group of men in the mansion.
It’s not clear when, or specifically how, but it’s that group of guys who will ultimately decide which woman they want to pursue this coming season.
That did not sit well with Lowe, a born-again Christian who finished third on Emily Maynard’s season of The Bachelorette, then starred on The Bachelor.
There, Lowe met Catherine Giudici and went on to marry her, and says love stories like theirs – and J.P. and Ashley – give the process a lot of credibility.
This casting move, Sean believes, tarnishes the show’s image considerably.
Rosenbaum, who was awarded Ashley Hebert’s final rose, proposed to the dentist in the finale and married her in 2012, was not one of the vocal critics.
He does, however, have a strong opinion on which Bachelorette he favors.
“#TeamKaitlyn,” he wrote simply, declaring his allegiance to Bristowe.
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