The Bachelorette was preempted for a more important rose ceremony on Monday night — President Donald Trump making his pick for Supreme Court nominee — and viewers of the long-running ABC franchise were not pleased.
During the primetime TV announcement, Trump chose Judge Brett Kavanaugh to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy, ending weeks of speculation and debate over a decision that could tip the court to a conservative majority for years to come.
Bachelorette viewers, however, were less interested in the update and took to Twitter to voice complaints about the 20-minute news break, despite the episode still airing in its entirety. The announcement interrupted the ABC reality dating competition at 9 p.m. ET; The Bachelorette, now in its 14th season with lead Becca Kufrin, airs from 8 to 10 p.m.
Franchise host Chris Harrison had warned viewers — who are collectively referred to as Bachelor Nation — about the planned pause in the show ahead of time in a bid to avoid a repeat of last month’s summit episode. Trump’s historic meeting with North Korea leader Kim Jong Un similarly interrupted the June 11 episode of The Bachelorette and viewers were much displeased on social media.
“Here’s my PSA for #BachelorNation,” Harrison tweeted earlier on Monday. “@abcnews will be cutting in at 9/8 ET/CT tonight for SCOTUS announcement. #TheBachelorette will be ‘paused’ and seen in its entirety. Now go have a great day and I’ll see you tonight!”
Though the episode was set to air in full, Harrison added an extra reminder, “To be safe you should extend your recordings of #TheBachelorette tonight by 30 minutes.”
See some of the reactions on social media below.
I’m trying to watch the Bachelorette and instead I’m stuck watching what will probably be the end of my reproductive rights
— Charlotte Wilder (@TheWilderThings) July 10, 2018
If this white man cared about women as much as he says he does, he wouldn’t be interrupting the Bachelorette for so freaking long. #TheBachelorette
— Becca Korando (@BeccaKorando) July 10, 2018
this is the second time the government has interrupted my bachelorette viewing, and I’m about ready to switch to a political science major and run for president so no one else’s monday night will be ruined EVER AGAIN #TheBachelorette
— •Jill• (@JillMurphy0421) July 10, 2018
why the F is trump interrupting the bachelorette right now?!?!? I’m trying to see Blake’s date not ur orange face
— jess white (@jesss_whiite) July 10, 2018
During the next presidential election..the candidate that will get my vote will be the one who promises to “never interrupt the bachelorette” #TheBachelorette pic.twitter.com/pI7NMnzep6
— Anna (@ALL_Anna7002) July 10, 2018
Dear Mr. Trump- I would greatly appreciate if you stop interrupting my Monday nights during #TheBachelorette . Unless you are announcing Peter as the next bachelor I do not care.
— Jelly (@kellyjellyy3) July 10, 2018
Do you think Trump got rejected for being the Bachelor and so he keeps interrupting in order to get his revenge? #thebachelorette
— Gretchen (@GravityStelena) July 10, 2018
trump has 6 other days of the week to announce his SCOTUS choice and he just HAS to do it on bachelor monday?? the man has no class
— sleo (@sarahleo_7) July 10, 2018
Donald Trump you’ve crossed the line!!! You’ve interrupted the Bachelor one too many times this season and the people have had ENOUGH!
— Emily Evangelista (@emevang) July 10, 2018
