Before we head out on the second group date for what would normally be considered episode #3, they make sure to show us an ITM of Sydney already saying she’s getting bad vibes from Alayah because before the date card came, Alayah was clearly tipsy in the kitchen, wearing Peter’s pilot’s hat, saying she has a wild side to her, then says in an ITM she’d absolutely join the Mile High Club with Peter. For the first two episodes, we haven’t heard word one about Sydney having any issues with Alayah, Alayah having any issues with Sydney, or anyone really having issues with Alayah. So for them to MAKE SURE we all saw Sydney’s feelings towards Alayah pre-group date, was purposely done. Not to mention, it was also purposely done that these two ended up in the finals against each other, which was clearly pre-determined by production. “How do you know Steve?” Because I have a brain.
Also, is that really that big of a deal that Sydney has such a disdain for Alayah. Hell if I know, I wasn’t there. We can only go off what was shown. But I’ve seen, oh I don’t know, 50 contestants on this show before be disliked by others for stuff WAY worse than apparently what Sydney dislikes Alayah for. It was bizarre. Like, almost as bizarre as Hannah Ann calling someone being pissed at her in the moment “bullying.” It just made zero sense for Sydney to react that way because Alayah was a little tipsy in the kitchen? Huh? Maybe other stuff went on, but to me, this is clearly as case of, honestly, production having absolutely NOTHING for drama this episode and creating it on their own. From Victoria’s 1-on-1 date on, the only thing we heard about the rest of the episode was Alayah, how she acts different in front of the cameras, and she was fake. First off, if that was the case, we’ve seen that said about contestants numerous times in the past. And secondly, doesn’t everyone act a little different when they go on this show KNOWING they’re on a television show and they have a mic pack strapped to them pretty much at all hours of the day? What I’m saying is it’s basically impossible to completely be your true self 100% of the time during filming. Not saying you’d be doing something opposite of how you really are at all times (even though some have), but of course most people will be more animated and boisterous if that’s in their personality. Alayah has been in pageants for what, 8 years? We don’t think she knows how to act in front of a crowd or camera? And that sets Sydney off? I don’t get it.
Sydney also said in her ITM that “Alayah is not the type of girl I associate myself with,” but then never gave a reason as to why. Then during the pillow fight group date, gave yet another ITM saying, “people like Alayah just win in this world.” Ok, this is where Alayah is pretty much dead on in her assessment of Sydney. This is all Sydney’s opinion. Which is 100% is allowed to have. We all are. But Sydney’s opinion of someone, literally 10 days into filming at that point, is just that – an opinion. But yet in Sydney’s mind, it’s a fact. That’s just how Alayah is and I won’t think any different. It would’ve been great if she could’ve provided an example. Alayah “just wins in this world?” Because she won Miss Tx? Victoria P won Miss Louisiana the same year. What am I missing? Such a blanket statement to make with nothing to back it up. Remember, Sydney specifically told us when she received the group date rose last episode that she didn’t have the greatest upbringing, she was bullied, made fun of for having mixed parents, and always had to fight for things. Seems to me this behavior from Sydney in regards to Alayah comes more from a place of insecurity. Do I expect every woman to get along in the house? Of course not. They never do. And I’m sure things Alayah did really did bother Sydney. But to spend a whole episode on it and build a whole storyline around it when, again, it’s nothing we haven’t heard 100 times in the past with other contestants in other seasons. Just seemed like drama for the sake of drama.
What was super interesting to me was the fact that at the pool party when Peter went around asking women about Alayah, 5 women spoke negatively of her: Sydney, Kelsey, Natasha, Lexi, and Victoria Paul. Outside of Kelsey (even though I think she might’ve originally in the “group” but then wasn’t), those are all the “cats” this season. Those 4 were all together hanging out watching the premiere in NYC together on Jan. 6th, so clearly the four of them are close. Do you find it all suspicious that those happened to be the same four we see report negatively to Peter on how they felt about Alayah? You should. Especially since Alayah seemingly got along with others in the house based on what was shown last night. On the group date when Sydney said her name in front of everyone, and Alayah asked if anyone else felt that way, no one said anything. At the pool party, we see her talking with Hannah Ann and Mykenna most of the time, then later Jasmine and I believe it was Shiann. We even hear Hannah Ann defend her. So it wasn’t lost on me that the ones who spoke negatively to Peter at the pool party were the “cats,” minus Kelsey.
And honestly, Peter didn’t have himself a good episode at all in my opinion. He went to Alayah at least twice, might’ve been three times, to tell them they were good in their relationship, only to be swayed by the “cats” opinions of her. I get that they needed to show it was more than just Sydney who had negative opinions about her, but, are you telling me those are the only people Peter talked to at the pool party about Alayah? Never pulled Mykenna or Hannah Ann over, the ones who seemed fine with her? No. I’m sure he did. But their narrative was to paint Alayah in a certain way, so to do so, they had to make sure to show only the ones who spoke negatively of her. And that’s producer manipulation and somewhat brainwashing their viewers. And IF Peter only talked to those five women (who all had negative opinions), then shame on him. Although I doubt he did.
It just seemed awfully childish of him to keep bringing Alayah to a point where she felt fine, even saying at one point “I believe you,” then taking it back minutes later because of another conversation he had with a “cat.” Look, I get that pageant girls have stigmas already. We saw it last season with Caelynn and Hannah Brown. And some people, no matter what, aren’t gonna like them and think they’re fake. Sydney clearly felt that way about Alayah. It just seems like Sydney’s constant opinion was something that yeah, maybe she felt, but because production went with it as a storyline, she played up worse than it was. I guess only Sydney truly knows the answer to that question. But if she’s being honest with herself, my guess is she played it up for story purposes. Maybe I’m dead wrong on this one, but when seriously NOTHING else happens in an episode, I get the sense that this was more of a producer driven storyline than anything else. Remember, and I know a lot of people don’t want to believe this or accept this, but it couldn’t be more true: this show absolutely, positively, 1000% – no matter how much they claim to be behind women’s empowerment and showing women in a positive light – behind the cameras are promoting women to hate on other women. That’s not an opinion, that’s fact. They’ll never cop to it because it makes them look horrible, but you can mark my words this is what they promote privately. You think they were bothered by women shit talking other women last night? Of course not. Over what? “She acts different when the cameras are around.” Great. So did Demi. And Krystal. And numerous others before them according to other castmates. This isn’t a big deal and the show made it one. And oh yeah, this is a show that also forced the women to dress in lingerie (or linger-y as Kiarra called it) and whack each other with pillows all in the name of “bringing you back to your childhood.” Verrrrrrry progressive, ABC.
I will have more thoughts on this tomorrow before we get into “Reader Emails” because there is another major issue I had with the show last night which kinda goes into my last point of what they truly promote behind the scenes. In addition, I’m really curious about this Peter/Victoria P. conversation they had at the pool party, in particular the part where she said she’s spent “maybe 3 hrs with Alayah even at Miss USA” because that’s not at all what I’ve been told for the last 4 months. Do weekends in Vegas only last 3 hrs? Because I’ve heard about that trip. So something is definitely off there and, unfortunately, I think Victoria P. got dragged into something she shouldn’t have by production to help their storyline. Nothing I’ve been told in the last 4 months has said these two only spent “maybe 3 hrs together total.” Unfortunately, that’s a flat out lie. The question becomes why’d she say that?
Told you we’d be a bit shorter today. The spoilers for next week’s episode are in the navigation bar up top by just going to “Spoilers,” “Bachelor 24 Peter,” then “Bachelor Peter Spoilers.” Or you can go on my IG account (realitysteve) and they’re in my feed and IG stories, as well as my Highlights under “Rose Ceremony #4 Spoilers – Cleveland, OH.
Send all links and emails to: steve@realitysteve.com. To follow me on Twitter, it’s: www.twitter.com/RealitySteve. Instagram name is “RealitySteve,” or join my Reality Steve Facebook Fan Page. Talk to you tomorrow.
