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Jennifer Lind-Westbrook
Contributing Writer, BuddyTV

 

The latest brainchild of the Bachelor franchise is The Bachelor Winter Games, which mixes al l the usual drama, hookups and breakups of Bachelor in Paradise with contestants competing in winter sports. For two weeks, sexy singles from the American and international versions of The Bachelor have been exploring foreign relations and diplomacy in a whole new way. Overall, the show has been vastly entertaining and what fans would expect from the world's most famous reality dating show. But things took an oddly disturbing turn at the last Rose Ceremony when the remaining seven couples were forced to engage in a kissing contest with the lowest-scoring couple sent home. While viewers expect to see lots of lip locking when it comes to the show, this gratuitous display of forced PDA was a new low for the franchise.


Ghosts from Dating Past

For a show that has emphasized its intent to make lasting love connections, determining which couple should go home based strictly on one intimate act taking place in the most public of circumstances certainly undermines this goal. And to further sensationalize the contest and ensure the entire event was even more uncomfortable, the couples who participated were judged by previous Bachelorettes JoJo Fletcher, Rachel Li ndsay and current Bachelor Arie Luyendyk Jr. This meant that Bibiana, Luke, Dean and Josiah had to suck face with current romantic interests while the people who dumped them sat by and watched, adding to the pressure and awkwardness of the situation. The wounds were really fresh for Josiah who had only kissed one other woman since Rachel -- his Winter Games' sweetheart, Ally.

The Winter Games contestants had no choice but to sell out their integrity to extend their 15 minutes of fame (if any of these couples are truly falling in love, leaving the house might make things more difficult moving forward, but it shouldn't be a dealbreaker), but why would JoJo, Rachel and particularly Arie, who's still very much in the spotlight, ever agree to this sideshow?

PDA Isn't A-Okay

Some couples embraced the challenge, like Lesley and Dean who performed some type of dating-ritual dance before she wound up with her legs wrapped around his neck in preparation for their kiss. This left everyone speechless and for all of the wrong reasons. Lesley, clad in a little black dress, stuck her private parts in Dean's face. It was so raunchy, Rachel said to Dean, "I thought you were going to kiss her in a different spot." It was a dog and pony show, pure and simple. This wasn't about chemistry, it was about showmanship (which was an epic fail.) If Arie thinks you're doing something right, it's ti me to reconsider your life choices.

Not only were these couples front and center while kissing, but it's like they were animals breeding in captivity.... As Kevin kissed Ashley I., JoJo pointed out when the hunky Canadian moved his hands to Ashley's "booty" and even jumped up to get a better look. Ashley -- a favorite among fans and her peers who has been incredibly open about her virginity -- received the type of praise and encouragement usually reserved for someone who accomplishes something actually noteworthy. At this rate, she'll lose her virginity while America streams the act live.

Just Say No

Not everyone was okay with this contest. Ally felt so nervous, she got physically ill. Nothing anyone does on a reality dating show should make them throw up, unless it's partaking in a few too many cocktails or eating bad seafood. And although Josiah did his best to comfort her, he wasn't about to let a little vomit get in the way of staying at a luxurious resort in Vermont. After he determined Ally wasn't on death's door, Josiah immediately questioned if she was still up to the task. Ally didn't even stop and think that her reaction was a pretty normal one and instead was consumed with regret that Josiah had to kiss her after she was sick and making sure everyone knew she'd brushed her teeth.

Russian beauty Stassi really took one for the team. This type of exploitation didn't sit well with Stassi, but she did it for Luke because she didn't want to be "selfish." In the m idst of women coming forward to tell their stories of sexual harassment and abuse, a woman compromising her sexuality under any circumstances should be discouraged and not applauded.

It's part of the Winter Games for people to go home, but there were so many other ways the show could have determined who really has a shot at something beyond a two-week fling other than ordering them to manufacture chemistry on the spot. Why not a Newlywed Game-style Q&A or even just sitting down with each couple and finding out what they like about each other? And if all else failed, it could have come down to a vote. All this kissing competition did was leave a bad taste all of our mouths, especially Ally's.


Did you think the kissing competition crossed a line? Was this the best way to determine what couple went home? Should Luke and Josiah have pushed Stassi and Ally to participate? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

The season 1 finale of The Bachelor Winter Games airs Thursday, February 22 at 8/7c on ABC. Want more news? Visit our Bachelor page on Facebook.