Jenn Tran can't stop thinking about being the first Asian American lead in the history of “The Bachelor” franchise — not that she wants to.
“I think about it every day, all the time. I think if I pushed it aside, that would be such a dishonor to me in who I am because being Asian American, that’s me,” the 26-year-old aspiring physician assistant tells The Associated Press.
A Vietnamese American woman reigning over Bachelor Nation marks a significant moment for the reality TV dating behemoth. Historically, fewer roses on “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” have gone to contestants of color. The roses that were handed out often came with plenty of thorns, including racist social media commentary.
Tran's season doesn't debut on ABC until Monday, but it's already received some criticism for having few suitors of Asian descent. Still, Tran — who made it to the final six in the last “Bachelor” season starring Joey Graziadei — is embracing her unconventional search for love as an opportunity to share her bicultural upbringing.
“My mom and I speak a lot of Vietnamese together. And I can’t wait for people to see that. That’s not something that people have seen before,” Tran says.
“The Bachelor” has been a mixed bag when it comes to showcasing Asian cultures. In 2019, “Bachelor” lead Colton Underwood went on a group date over Singaporean street food. The mostly white contestants made gagging noises and Colton, who is also white, made a toast “to weird food.” The outing drew some backlash and even a Washington Post column.
Tran, whose season has already completed filming, assures that the show has handled her Vietnamese identity respectfully.
“There is a small scene in the beginning in my intro package where I talk to my family about leaving as a bachelorette and there they cooked a big, big Vietnamese meal,” Tran says. “I hope ... I’m exposing people to something that’s different than them. And so that can incite change and that can incite acceptance into people.”
Non-white contestants and leads, including Black trailblazers Rachel Lindsay and Matt James, have historically been met with hostility from the majority-white Bachelor Nation audience. Longtime host Chris Harrison left the franchise in 2021, under fire over his handling of a racism controversy in an interview with Lindsay. Rachel Nance, who is Filipino and Black and outlasted Tran on Graziadei's season, tearfully recounted in March getting “hundreds” of DMs and comments using racial slurs for both Black and Asian people. (Some viewers were disappointed that host Jesse Palmer did not call it racism but instead asked viewers to temper their “strong opinions.”)
Tran hasn't been immune to the same treatment. She gets racist comments “every day" on Instagram and TikTok, she says. Her approach is to simply ignore it, though it isn't easy.
“Social media is like this platform for all these people just come at me all at once and it’s a new feeling. It’s overwhelming. And unfortunately, that’s the world that we live in right now,” Tran says. “I hope that people are more open-minded and that they open their hearts up to this truly.”
Tran's star turn has definitely piqued the interest of Asian Americans who don’t typically watch “Bachelor” programming, however. One is Vi Luong, 27, a Vietnamese American social media influencer/content creator who has only watched “The Golden Bachelor.” She's never been interested in the younger incarnations.
“I’d say 90% of my friends are Asian and yeah, they’re kind of like in my boat where they’ve never really cared until now,” says Luong, who is based in Irvine, California. “The bad rhetoric I was seeing was like, ‘Oh, she’s a diversity hire.’ Maybe but, like, I don’t think that’s a bad thing. ... Tapping into a whole different demographic — I think it's a smart choice."
Luong has already received invites to watch parties happening within the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. Luong, whose boyfriend is white, wants to see how Tran and the show handle interracial dating and any culture clashes. She's also looking forward to how Tran's mother handles the boyfriend meet-and-greets.
“This is where I’m like, ‘Oh, this might get really interesting,’” Luong says. “If there’s something you have to know about Vietnamese people, is we are very, very blunt people, very direct people, especially our parents' generation.”
The star herself says her mother has only watched Vietnamese reality TV shows. Tran isn't sure how her parent will react to whatever makes it to air — but her mother wasn't shy during filming, which Tran thinks will make for good TV.
“There are some concerns and things that she brought up because of our Vietnamese culture. So that’s something that I’m excited for people to learn about,” Tran says. “She really was just trying to wrap her head around it all.”
Only a few of the 25 men vying for her affections appear to be of Asian descent, and only one is Vietnamese American. The franchise's dearth of Asian men has been an ongoing gripe: The “Bachelor” universe, which debuted in 2002, didn't have an Asian contestant until the 2016 season of “The Bachelorette.” Jonathan, a half-Scottish and half-Chinese technical sales rep, entered in a kilt and was primarily remembered for a crude punchline implying that his Asian side wasn't as manly.
In response to the lack of Asian men, Asian American production company Wong Fu Productions made two parody “Bachelorette” skits in 2017 and 2018. Collectively, the YouTube videos, one of which features a pre-“Shang Chi” Simu Liu, have amassed more than 9 million views.
Philip Wang, co-founder and video director, plans to check out Tran's journey. He called her casting “a net positive move” but hopes the series avoids any stereotypical tropes.
“Ultimately the bachelor/ette shows are very white leaning/adjacent so it’s an uphill battle to shift that branding/audience...if it’s even worth it," Wang wrote in an email.
In a wide-ranging interview last month with the Los Angeles Times, the showrunners who took over from creator Mike Fleiss last year addressed the franchise's troubling history with race. They acknowledged falling short in responding to concerns of the few non-white leads and online bullying, and acknowledged Tran should have had more Asian suitors.
As for if any of those suitors put a ring on it, Tran will not confirm.
“I can tell you that I'm happy with the way things ended,” she says with a smile.
Besides romance, Tran also feels that she found her voice on “The Bachelor” franchise. She has been candid about wanting to break a streak of toxic relationships. She hopes viewers will see an Asian American woman unafraid to advocate for what she knows she deserves.
"Throughout this journey I really learned to stand up for myself because if you don’t, nobody else will,” Tran says. “I hope that women will see that and will resonate with that and will understand that it’s okay to have a voice and in fact, that makes you stronger in who you are.”
This image released by Disney shows Jenn Tran during the taping of "The Bachelorette," premiering Monday, July 8 on ABC. (John Fleenor/Disney via AP)
This image released by Disney shows Jenn Tran, a contestant on "The Bachelor." (John Fleenor/Disney via AP)
Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EDT. Find the AP’s top photos of the day in Today’s Photo Collection. For up-to-the-minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan in AP Newsroom.
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WEEKEND COVERAGE
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For weekend stories, please click here for the Weekend Lookahead digest.
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TOP STORIES
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HURRICANE HELENE — Nearly 700,000 homes and businesses in the U.S. Southeast are still without power more than a week after Hurricane Helene blew through the region. Most of the outages are in the Carolinas and Georgia. At least 220 people died in the storm, and crews are still trying to reach people who haven’t been accounted for in some hard-to-reach places. By Jeff Amy. SENT: 960 words, photos, video, audio. WITH: HURRICANE HELENE-WATER INFRASTRUCTURE — Helene severely damaged drinking water utilities in the Southeast. Western North Carolina was especially hard hit; FEMA-NATURAL DISASTERS-EXPLAINER — The Federal Emergency Management Agency has been criticized by some residents and politicians; HURRICANE-HELENE-GEORGIA-DEATHS — Twin babies who died alongside their mother in Georgia are youngest-known Hurricane Helene victims; HURRICANE-HELENE-VOTER-REGISTRATION — Civil rights groups ask to extend voter registration deadlines in hurricane-ravaged states; HURRICANE-HELENE-TREE-DEATH — Family plans to honor hurricane victim using logs from fallen tree that killed him; HELENE-DRUM-CIRCLE — The Asheville Drum Circle had its first regular Friday night session since the powerful storm blew in. (ALL SENT).
MIDEAST-WARS — Israel carried out another series of punishing airstrikes Friday, hitting suburban Beirut and cutting off the main border crossing between Lebanon and Syria for tens of thousands of people fleeing the Israeli bombardment of the Hezbollah militant group. The overnight blasts sent huge plumes of smoke and flames into the night sky and shook buildings kilometers away in the Lebanese capital. Thursday’s strike along the Lebanon-Syria border led to the closure of the road near the busy Masnaa Border Crossing. Israel said it had targeted the crossing because it was being used by Hezbollah to transport military equipment across the border. By Bassem Mroue. SENT: 1,130 words, photos, video, audio; WITH: MIDEAST-WARS-THE-LATEST — (SENT).
MIDEAST-WAR-ANNIVERSARY-ISRAEL-MOOD — Across Israel, it can seem on the surface that much of life has returned to normal, but a year of war has cast a pall and is affecting nearly every facet of daily life. At bars and cafes, there’s laughter and life. But even there, pictures of hostages held in Gaza stare down at patrons. And with an escalating front in the north, many Israelis are left feeling depressed, despondent and angry. Uncertainty over the future and worries about war permeate conversations and daily interactions. By Melanie Lidman. SENT: 1,200 words, photos.
IRAN-US-HACKS AND HITS — Iran is under suspicion of trying to hack figures associated with the upcoming U.S. presidential election and plotting the assassination of Donald Trump. The claims come after decades of cyberwarfare both attributed to and targeting the Islamic Republic. By Jon Gambrell. SENT: 1,250 words, photos.
FRANCE-RAPE-TRIAL — A French judge in the trial of dozens of men accused of raping an unconscious woman whose now former husband had repeatedly drugged her so that he and others could assault her has decided to allow the public to see some of the video recordings of the alleged rapes. Friday’s decision by Judge Roger Arata to allow journalists and members of the public attending the trial to see the recordings marks a stunning reversal in the case that has shaken France. Journalists following the case and lawyers of Gisèle Pelicot, who was allegedly raped over the course of a decade, argued the videos were crucial to the full understanding of the extraordinary trial. By Diane Jeantet. SENT: 630 words, photos.
AFRICA-SOLAR-POWER — Companies that bring solar power to some of the poorest homes in Central and West Africa are said to be among the fastest growing on a continent whose governments have long struggled to address some of the world’s worst infrastructure and the complications of climate change. The International Energy Agency says about 600 million Africans lack access to electricity. The often African-owned solar companies operate in areas where the vast majority of people live disconnected from the electricity grid. By Kemo Cham and Jessica Donati. 770 words, photos.
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SPOTLIGHTING VOICES
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UKRAINE-ROSH-HASHANA — Thousands of pilgrims have joined an annual gathering to mark the Jewish new year in the central Ukrainian town of Uman, despite the war against Russia. Uman is transformed for the celebration of Rosh Hashana. The streets are plastered with signs in Hebrew for the pilgrims who come to pray at the tomb of Rabbi Nachman, the great-grandson of the founder of Hasidic movement. Despite Ukrainian and Israeli diplomats warning of the security threat, officials told The Associated Press that 35,000 pilgrims made the journey to Uman this year, the same as in earlier years. By ILLIA NOVIKOV. SENT: 570 words, photos.
EDUCATION-HAIR-DISCRIMINATION — A federal judge denied a request by a Black high school student in Texas for a court order that the student’s lawyers say would have allowed him to return to his high school without fear of having his previous punishment over his hairstyle resume. Darryl George had sought the order to reenroll at his Houston-area high school in the Barbers Hill school district after leaving at the start of his senior year in August because district officials were set to continue punishing him for not cutting his hair. In a ruling issued Friday, a federal judge denied George’s request, saying the student and his lawyers had waited too long to ask for the order. By Juan A. Lozano. SENT: 500 words, photo.
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MORE NEWS
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IDAHO-SENATOR’S-OUTBURST — Tensions rose during a bipartisan forum after an audience question about discrimination reportedly led Idaho Republican Sen. Dan Foreman to angrily tell a Native American candidate to “go back where you came from.” SENT: 830 words, photo.
SOUTH-KOREA-OCTOGENARIAN-RAPPERS-PHOTO-GALLERY — In their 80s, these South Korean women learned reading and rap. SENT: 430 words, photos.
INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA — One of the most photographed events in the world is set to kick off Saturday with a mass ascension of color for the 52nd annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. SENT: 400 words, photos.
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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ELECTION 2024-TRUMP — Donald Trump plans to return to the site where a gunman tried to assassinate him in July, setting aside what are now near-constant worries for his physical safety in order to fulfill a promise, “really an obligation,” he says, to the people of Butler, Pennsylvania. By Julie Carr Smyth. SENT: 580 words, photos. Rally at 5 p.m.
ELECTION 2024-HARRIS — Kamala Harris is heading to North Carolina as the state recovers from Hurricane Helene, arriving there one day after Donald Trump, who has been spreading false claims about the federal response to the disaster. By Colleen Long and Ayanna Alexander. SENT: 410 words, photos. Timing uncertain.
BIDEN-IMMIGRATION — The Biden administration will not extend a two-year program that allows migrants from certain nations into the U.S. if they came by plane with sponsorship. Homeland Security officials said Friday that those at the two-year mark must apply for another type of legal status, depart the country or face deportation. SENT: 280 words, photo.
ELECTION 2024-CALIFORNIA-SAN FRANCISCO-MAYOR — London Breed became the first Black woman elected mayor of San Francisco six years ago. But now she’s in a heated contest for a second term in office with four main challengers who are all fellow Democrats. SENT: 960 words, photos.
ARIZONA-OPEN PRIMARIES — The Arizona Supreme Court cleared the way for voters to decide on establishing open primaries. Proposition 140 already was printed on ballots that were mailed to some voters. The court’s decision Friday makes clear votes on the measure will be counted. SENT: 280 words, photo.
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NATIONAL
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EXECUTIONS-GOVERNORS — Texas rarely grants clemency for death row inmates, but that’s not stopping a group of bipartisan lawmakers from showing their support for a man scheduled to be executed in October. SENT: 890 words, photos.
BIBLES-IN-SCHOOL-OKLAHOMA — Oklahoma’s top education official is seeking to purchase 55,000 Bibles that match one endorsed by former President Donald Trump. The request is part of Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters’ ongoing efforts to require Bibles in every classroom. SENT: 480 words, photo.
OBIT-HURST — Steven R. Hurst, who over a decades-long career in journalism covered major world events as he worked for news outlets including The Associated Press, NBC and CNN, has died. He was 77. SENT: 570 words, photo.
IOWA-WATER-BUFFALO — The owner of a water buffalo that ran loose in a Des Moines, Iowa, suburb for days in August has pleaded guilty for having an animal at large. The owner was fined $105 and court costs. SENT: 200 words, photo.
CALIFORNIA-RV-FINE — A California vineyard owner is suing Santa Clara County after officials fined him for allowing his longtime employee to live in an RV on his property for years. SENT: 350 words.
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INTERNATIONAL
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BRAZIL-AMAZON-DROUGHT — Brazil’s geological service says that one of the Amazon River’s main tributaries has dropped to its lowest level in 122 years, reflecting a severe drought that has devastated the Amazon rainforest and other parts of the country. SENT: 290 words, photos, video.
INDIA-MAOIST-REBELS — At least 31 suspected Maoist rebels were killed in a battle with Indian troops in central India. Police said the fighting erupted on Friday when counterinsurgency troops, acting on intelligence, cornered nearly 50 suspected rebels in the Abhujmaad forest area along the border of Narayanpur and Dantewada districts in Chhattisgarh state. SENT: 300 words.
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BUSINESS
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PAPER MILL FINE — Washington state authorities are fining one of the world’s leading paper and pulp companies nearly $650,000 after one of its employees was crushed by a packing machine earlier this year. The penalty comes after 32-year-old Dakota Cline was killed in March while working on a machine at Georgia-Pacific’s paper mill in Camas. SENT: 230 words.
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SPORTS
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NLDS-PADRES-DODGERS PREVIEW — Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto have been friends going back to their days playing in Japan’s top baseball league. Their next goal is to win a World Series championship together. SENT: 760 words, photo.
NFL-CONCUSSIONS — The NFL saw its fewest number of concussions in the preseason since tracking started in 2015. There were 44 concussions in practices and games, a decrease of about 24% from last year. SENT: 540 words, photo.
OBIT-LANDRY — Greg Landry, the former Detroit Lions quarterback and assistant coach, has died. He was 77. SENT: 320 words, photos.
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HOW TO REACH US
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Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani speaks to reporters in a press conference in preparation for Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series against the San Diego Padres in Los Angeles, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The earth is exposed along the Negro River at the port in Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, amid severe drought. (AP Photo/Edmar Barros)
FILE - An escaped water buffalo on the lam from police looks on Aug. 24, 2024, in the Des Moines suburb of Pleasant Hill, Iowa. (Madison Pottebaum via AP, File)
Park Jeom-sun, 82, leader of Suni and the Seven Princesses, adjusts her hat in a mirror during the opening ceremony of the Korean alphabet, "Hangeul Week" at Gwanghwamun square in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
FILE - Idaho Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Moscow, waits for the State of the State address inside the house chambers at the state Capitol building, on Jan. 9, 2017 in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Otto Kitsinger, File)
FILE - Darryl George stands next to his mother, Darresha George, in front of Galveston County Court House, May 23, 2024, in Galveston, Texas. A federal judge on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024 denied a request by Darryl George, a Black high school student in Texas for a court order that the student’s lawyers say would have allowed him to return to his high school without fear of having his previous punishment over his hairstyle resume.(Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle via AP, File)
Orthodox Jews dance at the tomb of Rabbi Nachman, the great grandson of the founder of Hasidic movement, to mark the Jewish new year in the town of Uman, 200 kilometers (125 miles) south of Ukraine's capital Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
This photo released by Easy Solar shows a large solar panels installation on a rooftop of an office building in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Tuesday Aug. 13, 2024. (Muctarr Bah Mohamed/Easy Solar via AP)
President Joe Biden stands next to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre when Biden made a surprise appearance during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump leaves the stage after speaking at a town hall event in Fayetteville, N.C., Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign rally at the Dort Financial Center in Flint, Mich., Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
FILE - Attorney General Merrick Garland, flanked by Matt Graves, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, left, and Ronald Davis, director of the U.S. Marshals Service, holds a news conference as the Justice Department announced criminal charges against Iranian operatives suspected of hacking Donald Trump's presidential campaign and disseminating stolen information to media organizations, at the Justice Department in Washington, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
A woman plays music at a drum circle Friday, Oct. 4, 2024 in Asheville, N.C., a week after Hurricane Helene upended lives across the Southeast. (AP Photo/Brittany Peterson)
People clean up and burn debris left in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Erwin, Tenn. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
