Bachelor franchise leaders negotiate exit over workplace accusations

The Bachelor franchise is reportedly negotiating the exit of showrunners Claire Freeland and Bennett Graebner after accusations of a "toxic" work environment. They have denied these allegations through their lawyer. Freeland and Graebner took over in 2023 after an internal investigation into racial discrimination complaints. Their departure follows ABC's decision to pause The Bachelorette, which led to significant crew layoffs. The franchise has faced criticism, particularly after a controversial season finale where Bachelorette star Jenn Tran was made to rewatch her proposal despite ending the engagement. Warner Bros. TV has denied the allegations against Freeland and Graebner.