Calling all singletons: The Bachelor and The Bachelorette have announced there casting call for 2020 – but there is a difference this time around.
If you click on The Bachelor website you will see an alluring button heading which reads ‘Apply Now’, but the controversial application process seems to have undergone some serious changes.
The Bachelor producers are putting a ban on all men and women under the age of 25, a bold move considering seven contestants from this year – including current finalist 23-year-old Abbie Chatfield – wouldn’t have made it on the show.
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The move will no undoubtedly be a good one, considering 32-year-old astrophysicist Matt Agnew had two women under the age of 25 in his top five, most notably Abbie. A case could be argued that the maturity it takes to appear on a reality show and fall in love in front of Australia isn’t quite there.
This also goes for past contestants such as Cass Wood, who’s innocence and infatuation on the Honey Badger’s season had her branded a ‘stage five clinger’ when really all we were seeing was a young girl in love.
“Are you searching for that special someone but just can’t seem to find them? Well this could be the beginning of your very own love story!” the website reads.
The casting call also states that the new season will film in May 2020 for about 12 weeks.
Young women being allowed into the Bachelor mansion has continuously drawn controversy, with 2019 Bachelor contestant Sogan Mohtat saying of a young Abbie: ‘I think she is very young and I don’t think she understands that some of us are older and can see through the bulls***.”
This article originally appeared on New Idea.