The showrunners of The Bachelor are set to depart within the newest behind-the-scenes shakeup on the ABC actuality franchise.
Claire Freeland and Bennett Graebner are set to depart their positions, which they’ve held since collection creator Mike Fleiss left the present in 2023. Their exits come within the wake of allegations that Freeland and Graebner oversaw a “poisonous” and “hostile” office on The Bachelor, claims the pair have denied by way of their lawyer.
Warner Bros., which produces The Bachelor, and ABC declined to remark.
The hostile work atmosphere claims in opposition to Freeland and Graebner emerged in a February Deadline story wherein a dozen present and former employees members on The Bachelor accused the showrunners of making a tradition of concern and secrecy on the present and cited incidents of verbal abuse. The accusations got here to gentle quickly after ABC introduced it might not air The Bachelorette in the summertime, resulting in layoffs for the present’s crew. (Deadline was additionally first to report that Freeland and Graebner are set to exit.)
“My shoppers are well-respected professionals with an extended historical past on this enterprise. They’re frankly surprised and saddened by a number of the issues they’re listening to now for the primary time,” Michael Weinsten, Freeland and Graebner’s lawyer, mentioned in an announcement when the allegations had been printed.
In early March, Bachelor co-executive producers Michael Margolis and Keely Sales space departed the present after providing their resignations. Margolis is married to Freeland.
Following Fleiss’ departure, Freeland — who beforehand ran the Canadian model of The Bachelor — was introduced in as co-showrunner alongside Graebner and Jason Ehrlich, who had been with the franchise for many of its existence. Ehrlich left in 2024 after operating the primary season of The Golden Bachelor.