Like countless other shows, both reality-based and scripted, The Bachelorette has halted filming as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It's a real shame, because had all gone according to plan, we could have been looking at a season premiere very soon.
Clare Crawley is a refreshing choice for leading lady, in part because of her age and maturity.
But now, a growing number of people are suggesting that the season should be canceled altogether.
Are they ageist opportunists using the pandemic as an excuse, or do they kind of have a point?
1. 2020 was supposed to be Clare's year
Clare Crawley is 39 years old. She's a favorite within the Bachelor Nation and has been part of the Bachelor Fam for years.
2. Clare's claim to fame is telling off Juan Pablo
She made it nearly to the end of Juan Pablo's season. The dude was infamously the worst Bachelor in history, but it made for an entertaining season -- and Clare was seen as a real hero.
3. That wasn't the end of her story
Since then, Clare has appeared on Bachelor in Paradise, but she didn't fare much better there -- unless befriending a raccoon counts, in which case she had an AMAZING time.
4. Then there was 2018
Clare was one of the contestants on The Bachelor: Winter Games, where she ALMOST got her happily ever after. Alas, it was not to be.
5. Her announcement was thrilling
Leaked at the last minute via email (surprising even Reality Steve), Clare's casting was seen as a breath of fresh air.
6. It's not just about her age, but ...
After Peter's hot mess of a season and the way that Hannah Brown's season was derailed by a cheater, viewers were looking for stability and maturity. A 39-year-old who is serious about finding not just love, but an actual husband, was the answer that people wanted.