The Bachelorette season 21 star Jenn Tran is making history as the first-ever Asian American Bachelor franchise lead, but the lack of Asian American men in her cast proves that the producers don't care about her. Jenn, a 26-year-old physician assistant student who's originally from Hillsdale, New Jersey, but currently living in Boston, Massachusetts, got her start on Joey Graziadei's Bachelor season. She made it to his Top 6 women, but he eliminated her right before his hometown dates.
Now Jenn is ready to continue her journey to find love during The Bachelorette season 21. On premiere night, she met the 25 men who could be her future husband at the Hummingbird Nest Ranch. Jenn made some connections, including with Sam McKinney, who received her first impression rose and her first and only kiss of the night. However, the lack of Asian American representation in the cast proves that the producers don't have her best interests at heart.
Jenn Tran Admitted That The Bachelorette Season 21's Lack Of Asian American Men Is 'Unfortunate'
Thomas Nguyen Is The Only Fully Asian American Bachelorette Season 21 Contestant
It's shocking that Thomas Nguyen was the only fully Asian American man cast in The Bachelorette season 21, especially since the producers have made such a big deal out of Jenn being the first Asian American lead. On premiere night, Jenn bonded with Thomas about their Vietnamese culture, proving that more Asian American men in the cast would have been good for her. In an interview with Glamour, Jenn admitted that she wished that there were more men in her cast who came from her same culture and background.
"I can’t really speak to the casting process and the decisions that were made, but it is unfortunate that there weren’t a lot of Asian men this season."
Jenn said, "I can’t really speak to the casting process and the decisions that were made, but it is unfortunate that there weren’t a lot of Asian men this season." Jenn continued, "Asian men haven’t always seen themselves in this position, and I am hoping that me being here and Thomas N. being there, that the both of us can inspire other Asian men to realize that they can do this too if they want. They can be in this position as well. I’m hoping that it inspires them."
For years, Bachelor Nation has hoped for more Asian American representation in the franchise. Jenn becoming the star is a step in the right direction, but the fact that the producers finally cast an Asian American lead with only one contestant from her background is inexcusable. Jenn should have had more Asian American men in her cast, and her comments about the casting process prove that it wasn't her decision to exclude them from her cast.
The Bachelorette Season 21 Producers Confessed That They Made A Mistake
There's No Excuse For The Lack Of Asian American Representation In The Bachelorette Season 21 Cast
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, The Bachelorette producer Bennett Graebner took responsibility for the lack of Asian representation in Jenn's cast, confirming that it wasn't Jenn's choice in the process. He said, "That's on us. We didn't do what we needed to do. Our hope is that they will see Jenn and realize this is a safe space. We're not saying it will solve and fix everything. But it is a step."
"That's on us. We didn't do what we needed to do."
While it's true that Jenn being cast in the lead role is important for Asian American representation in the franchise, it should've been obvious to the producers that the contestants that they were casting didn't include enough Asian men. Bennett's comments make Jenn's casting appear like a box being checked to meet a quota, rather than a sincere attempt to represent an Asian American love story on television. Some fans have speculated that these men were originally cast for a different lead, including runner-up Daisy Kent, who turned down the role. However, it doesn't matter. Once Jenn was cast, the group of contestants should've been adjusted for her.
The Bachelorette season 21 producers really dropped the ball when it came to casting Jenn's season. While her 25 contestants might be wonderful, there should've been more Asian American men in the cast. Premiere night showed that some of the men might not be there for the right reasons, so their casting proves even more that the producers cared less about Jenn and more about casting men who would create drama and buzz. The producers were wrong for casting Jenn in her history-making turn as the first Asian American star of The Bachelorette season 21, but then excluding Asian American men from the cast.
