Nick Viall and Ben Higgins Join Criticism of 2 Bachelorette Leading Ladies: 'Icky and Unfair'
Brent N. Clarke/FilmMagic; Frank Micelotta/ABC via Getty; JC Olivera/Getty
Two former Bachelors aren't happy with how this season of The Bachelorette is playing out.
Nick Viall and Ben Higgins spoke candidly about the seasons co-led by Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey — including how it may not be working well for ABC.
"I get the spirit of the choice so to speak, but this show is unfortunately set up where it's just impossible to not have them compete against themselves just by default," Viall, 41, told E! News.
"I think it certainly makes for drama, but I think for a lot of people watching it it just feels a little icky and unfair to both Gabby and Rachel," he continued. "I think they're kind of taking away from some of the enjoyment."
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Recchia and Windey stepped out of the Bachelorette mansion on night one to meet the same group of men. Over time, the men chose a side (or "team" — phrasing which also received criticism from viewers.) As the season has progressed, though, the sides haven't been set in stone. Monday night's episode saw a man leave Recchia's team to pursue Windey.
Higgins, 33, chimed in to applaud how Windey and Recchia have handled the season by putting their friendship first. "The reason it's working at all is because of the two leads," he said. "I think they're doing a really good job navigating this."
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Adding that the season is "messy," Higgins spoke to Recchia becoming the underdog when she was rejected by three men in one episode.
"She probably felt more [overwhelmed] than most have ever felt on the show and that would break you," he said. "It would be really hard, then, to try to navigate it and feel confident in your dating relationships."
"As Nick said, I'm optimistic that she will find her confidence and that she will walk forward and have a couple relationships that really push her forward, and I think Gabby will do the same. But right now I still just watch it and I'm like, 'I don't know. It's not hitting me like some seasons were hitting in the past.'"
Craig Sjodin/ABC
Viall and Higgins are far from the first to criticize how ABC handled the two-lead season. Alongside general fan complaints, former Bachelorette (and former temporary Bachelorette host) Kaitlyn Bristowe aired her thoughts on the season via Instagram.
"How do we feel about this?" she asked her Instagram followers of the "Team Gabby" and "Team Rachel" marketing. "I love both of these women. I don't have a team. There shouldn't be teams. There should be connections. I'm asking myself the same thing, why are we branding it this way?"
Added Bristowe, 37: "I want to believe it's all worth it if they are happy. I just disagree with the journey to get there. PS I still love this franchise. It's a weird relationship. Always has been."
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The Bachelorette airs Monday nights at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
