Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: The Bachelor's unedited breakup "crossed a line that shredded the fantasy we were all willing to agree to"

The Hollywood Reporter

The NBA legend and pop-culture critic says of Arie Luyendyk Jr.'s uneidted, split-screen Bachelor breakup with Becca K.: "This may not be sexual harassment, but it definitely appears to be emotional harassment encouraged by the producers. Go means, Go! Worse was Chris Harrison’s campaign of damage control as the host tried to justify the show’s bad behavior. He didn’t seem to understand that what they did crossed a line that shredded the fantasy we were all willing to agree to — against our rational thinking — that the show’s ultimate goal was to give love a chance. But those scenes, and Chris Harrison’s unbridled glee in declaring this was 'reality television history,' revealed a malevolence and disregard that shocked and embarrassed us. Instead of being on a romantic journey together, we had tossed one of our own into the gladiatorial arena to be devoured for our amusement. But we were not amused."

ALSO:

• From Juan Pablo to Arie: Bad bachelors beget great bachelorettes
• Bachelor Nation author thinks contestants suffer from Stockholm Syndrome