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During the “Hot Topics” segment ofTheWendy WilliamsShowon Friday,Williams, 54, gave her opinionon the ABC dating reality series and its spin-offs, which she called “degrading,” while also coming to Ripa’s defense.
“I’m not a fan ofThe BachelororThe Bacheloretteeither,” Williams said. “It’s so stupid, women parading themselves around. It depends on who you are, what you want to do with your life. For me, it’s degrading.”
“While I don’t care for beauty pageants and shows likeThe BachelorandThe Bachelorettewhere people do that, these days the contestants I believe are a little bit smarter and they end up, well, doing anything that they want. They use us for the ratings,” Williams added.
Despite her feelings about the show, Williams acknowledged that the show is “just entertainment” and “it’s not that serious.” However, she believes creator Mike Fleiss should have refrained from attacking Ripa, 48, and suggesting the show paid her salary.
“Well, if memory serves me,Kelly Ripahas been at ABC … longer thanThe Bachelor‘s been on. She jumped into an already successful show, she continued to keep it an already successful show, so if anybody’s paying anybody’s salary, just saying,” said Williams.
Since 2001, Ripa has been co-hosting morning talk showLive. When she started, it wasLive with Regis and Kellyuntil 2011. Then it wasLive with Kellybefore becomingLive with Kelly and Michaeland now it’sLive with Kelly and Ryan.
“I thought that I was disgusted because I couldn’t stand the idea of 25 exceptional women fighting over one ordinary fella, in my opinion,” she continued. “You know how I feel, ladies: We are too special to be arguing over a guy,” Ripa said.
BothBachelorChris Harrison, 47, and Fleiss clapped back on Twitter,with Harrison writing, “Look out#BachelorNation@KellyRipa is coming after you and your ‘disgusting’ Monday night habit.”
Fleiss, 55,chimed in with, “Easy,@KellyRipa…#TheBachelorfranchise pays your salary!”
The incident came just days before current BacheloretteHannah Brownappeared on the daytime talk show.
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“It seems the fear of rejection runs deep over there. Do these guys really want to bring attention to the fact that people should stop and look more closely at the completely outdated misogynistic nature of this show and its offensive premise of demeaning its participants?” the insider asked.
“Hannah, I’m not sure what they told you backstage … if you blink twice, I will get you out of here,” the host joked before Brown, 24, laughed and said she was happy to be there.
Hannah Brown.ABC/Ed Herrera
“I was glad I had an opportunity to be on the show and talk about my world,” BrowntellsPEOPLE. “Kelly obviously doesn’t have the same opinions about the show that I am on, so it was great for me to be able to share my views being someone that has actually been a part of the show.”
And Brown says despite the critics claiming the show sets a bad example for women,The Bachelorette“has helped me in my life,” she explains. “It has bettered me and empowered me.”
Brown continues: “There are always going to be people who don’t understand or want to say something negative. But ultimately I try to put my focus on the people who have been supportive and loving and encouraging throughout my journey.”
And Brown doesn’t have any hard feelings towards the daytime talk show co-host for stating her opinions.
“I don’t take it personally at all,” she says. “We can agree to disagree.”
source: people.com
