NEWSBachelor Controversy Brews Over NASCAR Date
Jan. 27 2011, Published 3:43 p.m. ET
There's controversy brewing about The Bachelor and this time it's surrounding the show's brass. Next week's episode will feature Brad Womack with eight women on a group date at a speedway for the NASCAR Racing Experience. The only glitch? One of the bachelorettes, Emily Maynard, lost her fiancé in a plane crash. He was a former NASCAR driver!
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According to Entertainment Weekly, Emily previously told Brad a vague version of the story that she was supposed to be on the fatal flight but didn't go because she felt sick and found out later that week she was pregnant. Although she didn't mention her fiance's name or that he was a NASCAR driver, she indicated he "worked in racing."
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During the episode, according to Entertainment Weekly, he can tell she's forcing a smile. Later in the conversation she explains the date is the location where her fiancé crashed and suffered a career-ending shoulder injury to which Brad responds, "I feel like a jerk."
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Although some fans are already outraged over the insensitivity, an ABC spokesperson told the publication to watch the show instead of pre-judging it. "The only thing we can say is that viewers need to watch and make up their own minds about the date."
What do you think? Was it insensitive to have the NASCAR date given Emily's personal ties or was it simply much ado about nothing?
