Is ‘smokeshow’ a compliment or insult? The Bachelorette fans debate after new episode
By FS staff
As the old saying goes, beauty is only skin deep. And as a more recent saying goes, the latest Bachelorette is a “smokeshow.” But is that a compliment or insult? Bachelor fans can’t seem to decide.
On Reddit, one Bachelorette fan asked, “Smoke show—would you take it as a compliment or be insulted?” The response was notably mixed and frankly, everyone seemed a bit unsure. Many claimed that while it is obviously intended to be a compliment, it actually isn’t when you think about it.
What is a smokeshow?
Urban Dictionary defines a “smokeshow” as someone who is “so hot” that “you basically see smoke coming off of them.” Wowzers. Similarly, Wiktionary describes a “smokeshow” as slang for an “extremely physically attractive individual.”
So sure, it
sounds
flattering. At first glance, that is. After all, no one is arguing against the fact that
is drop-dead-gorgeous.
However, fans online say that all the focus on her looks is part of the problem, explaining that there’s more to Tayshia than being “so hot.” So if anything, declaring her a “smokeshow” on the surface is selling
very, very short.
A few fans have also noted that perhaps the person who gave her the compliment should simply try a little harder when “labeling” season 16’s leading lady. As everyone should.
One user responded, “As a one-time initial compliment, I would love it but anytime else just come up with something better man.” Another said, “I never heard of smoke show and thought it meant that she’s smoke & mirrors / fake.”
And a pretty hefty chunk of people agreed that when it comes to the term “smokeshow” as a potential compliment or insult, we must always consider the source. Or as one fan puts it, “depends on who said it.”
Why does Chasen call Tayshia a smokeshow?
For those who watched the most recent episode of The Bachelorette, you know where the “smokeshow” debate originated. It’s not hard to see that it definitely was intended as a compliment, whether it was one or not.
Basically, contestant Chasen was accused by Ed of using similar adjectives to describe both Clare Crawley and Tayshia, which led to Ed suspecting that perhaps he wasn’t there for the right reasons. Was Chasen being fake, or was he just nervous and bad with words?
In any case, Chasen then decided his new word to describe Tayshia would be “smokeshow,” something he said multiple times throughout the episode. Good intentions or not, it got cringeworthy.
In a recap of sorts, someone else on Reddit chimed in with:
"It’s, like, fine. But I don’t know why Chasen thought it was worth a big, proud unveiling to the entire group. The way he framed it was as if this would be THE word for Tayshia for the entire season. Strange and embarrassing but not necessarily insulting."
Overall, the verdict on how flattering “smokeshow” really is seems to be that it’s “not necessarily” insulting, nor is it “necessarily” a compliment. In other words, it just depends on who said it, how they said it, and if that’s all they had to say. Because there’s more to all of us than our exteriors. And there’s definitely more to Tayshia Adams than just being “extremely physically attractive.” Perhaps that’s the point, friends.
Case closed! For now.
Next. Will Wells Adams become the next Chris Harrison? Bachelor fans seem to think so. dark