A major shakeup could mean two Bachelorettes this season

Just when you thought you’d seen everything on a season of The Bachelor or The Bachelorette, the franchise is reportedly pulling off one of its biggest twists yet: switching up its lead halfway through filming.When Clare Crawley’s season kicks off this fall, it won’t just be her season, according to reports. Rumours began to swirl this weekend that the 39-year-old hairstylist was actually replaced midway through filming. Why? Word is she fell in love with contestant Dale Moss early on (he supposedly nabbed the first impression rose) and then she refused to keep filming. In fact, Reality Steve (who always offers up reliable Bachelor scoop) hints that the pair may have started talking before production began, and that they may even be engaged. And so reports are now saying that another Bachelor alum, Tayshia Adams, has scored the leading lady gig.

But Clare has definitely moved on with Dale in some capacity, we don’t have confirmation they were talking pre-show but we assume they were, and her story will be shown when the season airs in September. That’s where we’re at right now. Will update as I hear anything more.

— RealitySteve (@RealitySteve) August 3, 2020

At time of press both ABC and production company Warner Bros. TV have not commented on the reports, but insiders with knowledge of such things confirmed to Variety that while not all the reports are accurate, there is some “validity” to the rumours that Crawley could be out and Adams could be in as season 16’s lead. So what does that mean? According to the publication, Crawley and her dramatic storyline could continue throughout the season even as Adams is being introduced. “It’s shaping up to be a very interesting season creatively with lots of twists and turns,” a source revealed."The producers have [said] that the season will still lead with Clare and her short-lived journey, and will show Clare falling in love with one of her suitors," another insider told E! News. "Clare will then conclude her journey and announce that Tayshia is the lead."As Variety points out, contractually a contestant like Crawley would not be able to leave a series midway through unless production believed it would benefit the storyline. Meanwhile, adding to the speculation was the fact that Crawley reportedly “liked” a post announcing the switch before “unliking” it on Twitter, which would only have been possible if the contestant had her phone on her—something contestants are not allowed to do. As for Adams? Supposedly texts were not going through to her phone over the weekend, and her last post on social media was on July 30.

 

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“The eye is always caught by light, but shadows have more to say”✨?

A post shared by ––––––– TAYSHIA ADAMS ––––––– (@tayshiaaa) on Jul 30, 2020 at 7:29pm PDT

If the rumours are true, Adams, a 29-year old former phlebotomist, would bring needed diversity to the series as the second BIPOC lead featured on-air following Rachel Lindsay’s year in season 13. (The franchise also announced its first Black Bachelor earlier this year when ABC confirmed Matt James had been upgraded to leading man status after originally being announced as one of Crawley’s suitors.) Bachelor fans will recognize Adams, who is mixed-race, from her time as a contestant on Colton Underwood’s season, and from the sixth season of Bachelor in Paradise where she was romantically linked to John Paul Jones until their breakup last October.The current season of the female-fronted series was originally supposed to return on May 18, but when the coronavirus pandemic halted productions across North America the series went on hiatus. Production on the newly imagined season is now roughly a month in, and has moved from the famous Bachelor mansion to a resort in Southern California where the cast and crew have quarantined in a bubble to keep everyone as safe as possible.When the plan for the new season was first announced, 42 men were revealed as contestants in order to rotate in alternates if needed in case anyone tested positive for COVID-19. “Talk about most dramatic season ever! In all seriousness, Everyone’s health is the most important priority at this time, and as I’m sure you’ve heard, we are pressing pause for now on filming The Bachelorette,” Crawley wrote on Instagram at the time. “We are taking it day by day and even hour by hour as this is so unpredictable. All I know for sure is that my heart is so full from all the love and support this far, and am still so excited for my journey to begin! I’ve waited 38 years for these moments, what’s a little bit longer, right!”[video_embed id='2007453']Before you go: Portia de Rossi breaks silence on Ellen scandal[/video_embed]