The showrunners of The Bachelor are set to depart in the latest behind-the-scenes shakeup at the ABC reality franchise.
Claire Freeland and Bennett Graebner are set to leave their positions, which they’ve held since series creator Mike Fleiss left the show in 2023. Their exits come in the wake of allegations that Freeland and Graebner oversaw a “toxic” and “hostile” workplace on The Bachelor, claims the pair have denied through their attorney.
Warner Bros., which produces The Bachelor, and ABC declined to comment.
The hostile work environment claims against Freeland and Graebner emerged in a February Deadline story in which a dozen current and former staff members on The Bachelor accused the showrunners of creating a culture of fear and secrecy at the show and cited incidents of verbal abuse. The accusations came to light soon after ABC announced it would not air The Bachelorette in the summer, leading to layoffs for the show’s crew. (Deadline was also first to report that Freeland and Graebner are set to exit.)
“My clients are well-respected professionals with a long history in this business. They are frankly stunned and saddened by some of the things they are hearing now for the first time,” Michael Weinsten, Freeland and Graebner’s attorney, said in a statement when the allegations were published.
In early March, Bachelor co-executive producers Michael Margolis and Keely Booth departed the show after offering their resignations. Margolis is married to Freeland.
Following Fleiss’ departure, Freeland — who previously ran the Canadian version of The Bachelor — was brought in as co-showrunner alongside Graebner and Jason Ehrlich, who had been with the franchise for most of its existence. Ehrlich left in 2024 after running the first season of The Golden Bachelor.