The Bachelorette: Clare Crawley’s cast might get a do-over

Clare Crawley’s contestants for her season of The Bachelorette were released prior to production postponement, and the reaction to the median age was, well, unimpressed. With the filming delay, that all may change.

If you’re a fan of The Bachelor franchise, you’ve likely learned by now that getting your hopes up is a fruitless endeavor. While The Bachelorette pick of Clare Crawley was a mixed bag, as is typical, most fans were at least thrilled to see an older lead take the reigns.

That momentary glee devolved quickly once ABC released the cast list – despite claims that the cast would be of appropriate age, there were multiple 25-26-year-old men, including a 23-year old. Come on. As we know, filming for Clare’s season has been postponed due to concerns about the coronavirus. This gives ABC an unprecedented opportunity for a do-over.

Our future lead herself, Clare Crawley, took to Instagram Live on Tuesday and emboldened hopeful men watching to submit an application. “I’m not saying this personally, but I feel like since we have a break in the show right now, I don’t think it’s too late to submit people,” Crawley appealed to fans watching. “So, submit them, why not? What’s the worst that could happen?”

Clare’s plea was backed by the kingpin of the franchise himself, host Chris Harrison. Chris also hosted an Instagram Live with his girlfriend, ET’s Lauren Zima, noting, “it’s not out of the realm of possibility.”

"The thought that 25, 30, 35 guys – everybody that was able to take time off, then would be able to come back [on The Bachelorette]… we don’t have a set time of when we’re going to come back. So, the idea that everybody’s just going to be able to take off work and do this again? Probably very slim."

Chris Harrison brought up a key point. It’s known that not only are contestants not paid a stipend during filming but that a large portion of them have to quit their jobs to join their respective season. Not all companies offer unlimited PTO. For men that had to leave their occupations, they presumably have to find new work in this undetermined downtime; it’s likely that they won’t be in a position to take time off or leave another job when filming resumes for a 1 in 30 chance at Clare’s heart.

Moreover, Harrison shares the sentiment of unimpressed fans at the average age. “I’m all for casting new guys…is Clare going to date a 23-year-old man? No, she’s not,” he relayed to fans on Tuesday. Like, fetch, “it’s just not going to happen.”

In typical Bachelor riddle fashion, Harrison noted the possibility that there may be some different guys, or new men entirely. “Who knows?” Harrison teased fans. Well, only you do, Chris.

My condolences to the 23-year old who Chris essentially rejected to the public. I mean, really, that casting decision was ridiculous. With that said, if any of you readers know a handsome, SINGLE catch in their 30’s, shoot their shot and nominate them here.

Do you think ABC should seize the opportunity to re-cast Clare’s suitors? Know any single men of age? Let’s help answer Clare’s pleas!