Claire Freeland and Bennett Graebner, the executive producers and showrunners of The Bachelor, are stepping down from their roles. While they are still working on Grant Ellis‘ ongoing season, which is nearing its conclusion, they are in the process of negotiating their departure from the franchise.
This news follows a report from Deadline last month, which revealed allegations of a “hostile” work environment behind the scenes.
After that report, several long-time crew members, including co-executive producers Michael Margolis (Freeland’s husband) and Keely Booth, resigned.
Representatives from ABC, the network that airs The Bachelor, and Warner Bros. Television, its producer, have yet to comment on the matter.
Freeland and Graebner took over as showrunners in 2023, following the departure of The Bachelor creator Mike Fleiss. Fleiss, who created the show in 2002, left after an investigation into allegations of racial discrimination at WBTV. Freeland and Graebner, alongside Jason Ehrlich, who left after the first season of The Golden Bachelor, have managed the series since then.
In February, ABC announced there would be no new season of The Bachelorette after Ellis’ season of The Bachelor. The franchise also includes Bachelor in Paradise, set to return this summer after a hiatus since fall 2023.
Additionally, The Golden Bachelor and The Golden Bachelorette were successful in the past two years, though renewals have not yet been confirmed.
Freeland previously worked on both the Canadian editions of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, serving as an executive producer from 2014 to 2017.
Graebner, who has been part of the franchise since 2008, has contributed to every season and various spinoffs, including Listen to Your Heart, Winter Games, and Bachelor Pad.
