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LOS ANGELES<\/strong> \u2013 ABC\u2019s decision to cancel a completed season of \u201cThe Bachelorette\u201d<\/a> marks the latest controversy in a franchise that has repeatedly faced scrutiny over casting, cultural awareness and the behavior of some of its most prominent figures.<\/p>\n The network pulled the upcoming season starring Taylor Frankie Paul<\/a> after a 2023 video of an altercation with her former partner surfaced. In it, she appears to punch, kick and throw chairs at him as her young daughter watched and cried. The cancellation stands out for the series as it has previously navigated issues in real time rather than shelving an entire season.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a look at other notable controversies from \u201cThe Bachelor\u201d and \u201cThe Bachelorette\u201d over the years:<\/p>\n How diversity debates changed the franchise’s face<\/p>\n For much of its run, the franchise faced sustained criticism over its lack of diversity, particularly in its leading roles.<\/p>\n A 2012 lawsuit alleged that the show excluded contestants of color from becoming the lead, though the case was dismissed. The criticism persisted for years as the franchise continued to feature mostly white bachelors and bachelorettes.<\/p>\n Rachel Lindsay<\/a> became the first Black lead in 2017, a milestone that came after years of public pressure. She later emerged as one of the show\u2019s most prominent critics, pushing for deeper structural change in how the franchise approached diversity on-screen and behind the scenes.<\/p>\n ABC later cast Matt James as its first Black \u201cBachelor\u201d<\/a> in 2020, a move which was widely viewed as long overdue.<\/p>\n More recently, Jenn Tran became the franchise\u2019s first Asian American lead<\/a> in 2024. The Vietnamese American star called the role deeply personal in an interview with The Associated Press, while her season also sparked debate after early criticism that it featured few suitors of Asian descent.<\/p>\n Backlash follows more diverse casting <\/p>\n Even as the franchise expanded its casting, contestants and leads of color have often faced backlash from segments of the show\u2019s audience.<\/p>\n Non-white participants \u2014 including Lindsay and James \u2014 encountered heightened scrutiny and racist commentary online. Tran\u2019s season also sparked discussion around how contestants of color have historically received fewer roses and more criticism from viewers.<\/p>\n The response fueled ongoing questions about whether parts of the audience have evolved at the same pace as the franchise\u2019s casting decisions.<\/p>\n What’s behind the host controversy and cultural sensitivity<\/p>\n One of the franchise\u2019s most high-profile controversies came in 2021 involving longtime host Chris Harrison.<\/a><\/p>\n