'Bachelorette' scandal highlights the trouble with 'toxic' casting

NPR | By Steve Inskeep

Published March 27, 2026 at 4:41 AM EDT

"The Bachelorette" scandal isn't just about one bad casting decision. It's a case study in how reality TV motivates networks to elevate "toxic" personalities and how that dynamic can backfire.

Steve Inskeep

Steve Inskeep is a host of NPR's Morning Edition, as well as NPR's morning news podcast Up First.

See stories by Steve Inskeep

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