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If you watched the “Women Tell All,” you know that Greer’s blackface and racist tweets before The Bachelor 2023 were a main topic of discussion.
Greer Blitzer was one of 30 contestants on The Bachelor season 27 with Zach Shallcross, a 26-year-old tech executive from Anaheim Hills, California, who now lives in Austin, Texas. Zach was a contestant on The Bachelorette season 19 with Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia, where he was Rachel’s contestant and self-eliminated in the final three.
Greer was eliminated in seventh place on The Bachelor season 27 after she missed a week of filming due to testing positive for COVID-19. (Zach tested positive for COVID-19 a week before Greer.) “While my journey on the Bachelor has come to an end, I am grateful for the unforgettable experience and the lifelong friendships I have made,” she wrote in an Instagram post after her elimination. “Being part of something so unique and special is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I am thankful for the memories that will stay with me forever. This experience has taught me that just because something feels right at the beginning, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s right for us in the end. Sometimes people and situations come into our lives for a reason, a season, or both.”
She continued, “I feel incredibly lucky to have been part of such an amazing group of women, and I’m excited for each of them to find the person they deserve. @bachelorabc thank you for the lessons, the friendships, and the memories. I am excited for what’s next in my journey, and I am confident that the right person is just around the corner. ❤️”
Greer’s time on The Bachelor season 27, however, wasn’t without controversy. Read on for what we know about Greer’s blackface and racist tweets before The Bachelor 2023 and her cast mates’ reactions to the posts.
Image: Courtesy of Penguin Books.
Image: ABC/Ricky Middlesworth.
What were Greer’s blackface and racists tweets before The Bachelor 2023? Four months before The Bachelor season 27 premiered, Greer came under fire after a Reddit user posted a series of tweets from her in 2016 defending an incident of blackface. The incident involved a photo taken of a white teenage girl in blackface at an off-campus party. The girl was a sophomore student at Lamar High School in Houston, Texas, a local high school near Greer’s hometown. The photo showed a white teenage girl with black paint o her face wearing a T-shirt featuring tupac. The party was organized by a secret social club called Wichaka, according to KPRC. “I thought it was blackface and I was immediately offended,” senior student Ogechi Anene told KPRC at the time. “She was supposed to be Tupac. If you were to impersonate a Black person even as a costume I don’t think it’s appropriate to wear black paint on your skin.”
In a series of since-deleted tweets posted on Reddit, Greer defended the student. “The students involved didn’t even know what black face was so my point exactly. It wasn’t an intentional racist act,” Greer wrote at the time. “She did not paint herself black because she felt superior to black [people]. Putting white powder on your face isn’t okay either. That didn’t make the news did it? I apologize if this offended you but you must understand it was not initially supposed to be perceived that way at all.”
After The Bachelor season 27 premiere, Greer apologized for her past tweets in a series of Instagram Stories. “The journey to love is filled with lessons and these lessons are also made on our journey of growth. In my past, I have made some uneducated, ignorant and frankly, wrong comments on my social media accounts,” she wrote. “In particular, I used misguided arguments on Twitter to defend a student who dressed in Blackface as Tupac for Halloween.”
She continued, “I am deeply sorry to those I have hurt, especially those within the Black community, not because these screenshots have resurfaced, but because I ever shared these harmful opinions at all. Time and age do not excuse my actions, but this is not a reflection of who I am today.” She concluded, “I do not stand by or condone the damaging opinions and behaviors I share during that stage of my life and will forever regret making those offensive remarks.”
Greer also apologized for the blackface tweets at The Bachelor season 27 “Women Tell All” in March 2023. “I’ve been wanting to address this. I don’t want to sweep this under the rug. I will say, I am nervous right now to talk about it but I really do want to address it,” she said. “What I failed to mention in my apology was that happened was racist. It’s not about the intent. It’s about the impact. This acquaintance of mine that I knew, performing blackface, was racist. Me defending it was racist. My ignorance was racist. I’m so ashamed. I’m deeply sorry that I hurt the Black community. I can’t go back in time. All I can do is try to be better now and try to be better in my future.”
Greer also explained what she learned from Dr. Kira Banks, the founder of Institution of Healing Justice and Equity, who was invited to the “Women Tell All” special. “After meeting with Dr. Banks, she brought to my intention that it’s so important to be open-minded. It’s so important to question things and ask and not do without thinking,” Greer said. “Before you do, think. Before you say something you could say something that could hurt someone, hurt someone else. Do your research. I looked up lectures. I really wanted to dive into the history of blackface and understand why it was wrong, why it was offensive. The research I was able to do, I realized it was a symbolism for dehumanizing the Black community. What I said was wrong, what I said defending that girl was racist. I want to take that accountability. I don’t want to excuse it.”
After the “Women Tell All” special, several of Greer Bachelor season 27 co-stars responded to her blackface apology. “You know, this is one of those things where as much as it’s like a relationship, it’s also almost a social experience. I got to meet Greer without social media. I didn’t look up her Instagram or anything for that fact. I only knew the person that she brought, and she was nothing but the utmost of respectful to me,” said Aly Jacobs, who came in eighth on The Bachelor season 27. “I saw her be very respectful to other girls. Her and I bonded a lot and got to know each other. We’re from the same city, we have the same birthday, so we were cool.”
Aly told People that it was “hurtful to hear and see the things” Greer tweeted about, however, she “respected” the fact that Greer” always faced it head on.” She continued, “She didn’t wait for things to come out, she told us immediately when we got back what it was. And you know, I respect and appreciate that she could have the conversation that she had tonight because I’m sure that was very difficult. I respect and appreciate that she could also acknowledge that she’s not the same person that she was seven years ago, and I hope that that’s like, courage for someone else to instead of hide behind your mistakes, call them out. Say what it is and move past it. That just leaves room for a lot of growth and maturity.” She added, “I just think we all have a lot more learning to do and clearly, she’s on the journey to do that. And so I have a lot of respect for her — at least the person that she is today — and glad that she can look back and say that’s a different person and not recognize them.”
Kylee Russell, who was eliminated in week five on The Bachelor season 27, told People that she believed Greer “owned up to her actions and what she’s done.” She continued, “She even took it upon herself to have the conversation with the doctor,” she said. “I think it just starts with taking that first step, and she did. And that’s all we can ask. Do I hope her mindset has changed and she is more conscious in the future? Absolutely. Do I know that’s gonna happen? Not necessarily, but I’m glad she took that first step.”
Host Jesse Palmer also told People that he respected Greer for addressing her blackface tweets “head-on.” “Look, nobody on the show condones any of those tweets that she had,” he said. “But I think everybody on the show is really proud of her for taking it head-on and wanting to have the opportunity to address everything, and we’re also really, really thankful for Dr. Banks too for helping guide that conversation and in helping with that as well.”
Image: ABC/Ricky Middlesworth.
After The Bachelor season 27 premiered, a source told The Sun in February 2023 that Greer made an “offensive” comment toward Lekha Ravi, a 29-year-old financial advisor from Miami, Florida, during night one of The Bachelor season 27, which was filmed but didn’t make it on air. “Lekha was talking to the women about how she wanted to do something different for her first impression,” the insider said. “She wanted to present Zach with a flower garland, which is tradition in her culture. “Greer then said to her, ‘Oh, you’re Indian? I thought you were white. You look white.’”
The source noted that Lekha was “shocked and thrown off by the comment.” The insider continued, “She didn’t know what to say back to Greer.” Lekha, who was born in Chennai, India, and moved to the United States when she was seven years old, confirmed she wanted to give Zach a flower garland in an Instagram post before The Sun’s report. (The limo entrance that was filmed was her licking Zach’s ear.) “I am totally over the lick, and don’t regret it,” she wrote. “But initially what I wanted to do was that in my culture, you put a garland of flowers over each other’s neck, when the couple gets married and the flowers represent beauty, happiness, and excitement.” She continued, “I wanted to put it on [Zach] and have him put it on me. I felt like I did what I could. You know it’s a first step forward to, our community being represented more.”
In another post, Lekha reflected on her time on The Bachelor. “Obviously things didn’t turn out anything quite as expected and I had no idea what I signed up for, but I took a chance and leap of faith and I’m glad you guys got to see my personality and character shine through on screen,” she wrote. “I left with no regrets because of that and I’m proud of staying completely authentic and true to myself in this entire process.” After The Bachelor season 27 “Women Tell All” special, Lekha posted on her Instagram Story, “Shout out really to those of us who stuck to our values and decided maybe not to sell our soul to some franchise for clout or fame.”
Who is Greer from The Bachelor 2023? Greer Blitzer is a 24-year-old from the Bellaire, Texas and Houston, Texas, Area, who now lives in New York City, New York. Her Instagram handle is @cheerio_greerio. “Does this count as a hard launch? 🌹 #TheBachelor premieres January 23 on ABC #TheBachelor#BachelorNation,” she captioned an Instagram post of her Bachelor headshot in January 2023, announcing she was on Zach’s season.
Read Greer’s Bachelor 2023 biography and fun facts ahead:
“Greer is a bold, hilarious woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind. She was born and raised in Houston, Texas, but took a risk and moved to New York City, where she loves living life to the fullest. Greer is loyal and confident and is looking for a partner who can keep up with her quick wit and big personality. She is a hopeless romantic and is a sucker for forehead kisses. Zach, take notes! Will Greer and Zach have the love story of a lifetime?
Fun Facts:
• Greer loves to shop at flea markets.
• Greer says she is never embarrassed.
• Greer can tell a lot about someone by their sushi order.”
Greer and Gabi Elnicki, a 25-year-old account executive from Pittsford, Vermont, were also sorority sisters in Pi Beta Phi at the University of Mississippi, according to Reality Steve. Gabi graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing in 2019, while Greer graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing.
What does Greer from The Bachelor 2023 do for a living? Greer listed her job on The Bachelor as a “Medical Sales Representative.” According to her Linkedin, Greer worked as an Account Executive at InMode from December 2020 to August 2022. Before that, she worked as a Sales Executive at Tom James Company and an Account Executive at Hitch Media. She graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing in 2020.
What happened to Greer on The Bachelor 2023? Greer received Zach’s First Impression Rose on Night One of The Bachelor season 27. She didn’t receive a one-on-one date on Zach’s season and was eliminated in week seven before Hometown Dates, according to Reality Steve.
Zach explained In an interview with People in January 2023 why he gave Greer his First Impression Rose. “With Greer, she had this calming effect on me. I’m back at the mansion and there’s the cameras and I’m meeting 30 new women, and it’s a lot to take in,” he said. “And so when you meet someone that can bring that comfort level and allow you to not be so caught up in your head — it was very relaxed with her.”
Image: Courtesy of ABC.
Who is the Bachelor 2023? The Bachelor season 27 is Zach Shallcross, a contestant on The Bachelorette season 19 with Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia. Zach was Rachel’s contestant and self-eliminated in the final three. He was announced as the season 27 Bachelor at The Bachelorette season 19 “After the Final Rose” special in September 2022.
“As we know plans can always change last minute, and it won’t be “official” until next Tuesday on the ATFR, but I feel confident in reporting that the next Bachelor is going to be Zach Shallcross,” Reality Steve tweeted in September 2022 before Zach’s announcement. Reality Steve also wrote in a blog post before his confirmation about how Zach was the only contestant from The Bachelorette season 19 that he could see being the season 27 Bachelor after another frontrunner turned the role down. “It means we’re moving on to somebody else. I don’t know who from this season outside of maybe Zach,” Reality Steve wrote in a blog post in September 2022. Variety also reported in September 2022 that Zach was ABC’s top choice to become the next Bachelor, with two sources confirming the news. Zach will be announced as the season 27 Bachelor at The Bachelorette season 19 finale on September 20, 2022. Reality Steve also tweeted a video at the time of Zach filming his introduction for The Bachelor. “But from what I’ve been told, it’s going to be Zach. And here is footage I was sent today from this past Saturday of Zach filming his intro video in Austin,” he tweeted. Page Six also reported in September 2022 that Zach was a frontrunner to become the next Bachelor. “He’s been a frontrunner for a while,” the insider said at the time. “There’s no denying that the audience loves him.”
Zach is a 25-year-old tech executive from Anaheim Hills, California, but lives in Austin, Texas. His Instagram handle is @zachshall. According to his Bachelorette 2022 bio, Zach describes himself as an “old-fashioned romantic” who loves three things in his life: his mom, his dogs and football. Read Zach’s Bachelorette 2022 biography and fun facts ahead:
“Zach is an old-fashioned romantic. He loves his mama, his dogs and football but promises he has more love to go around! He’s charismatic, personable and has a huge heart that he is so ready to share forever with the right woman. Zach’s perfect woman is compassionate, kind and ready for romance because Zach is excited to lay it on thick. He loves to plan thoughtful surprises, and nothing makes him happier than seeing the look of excitement on his partner’s face when his meaningful gifts are appreciated. Zach is serious about finding a love that will lead to marriage, so whatever grand romantic gesture it takes for him to get there, he’s ready to go!
Fun Facts:
– Zach would love to be Spiderman for a day.
– Zach doesn’t like breakfast. Eggs don’t agree with him.
– Zach loves beach volleyball and is a master of the ‘Top Gun’ high-five.”
Zach listed his job on The Bachelorette as “Tech Executive.” According to his Linkedin, Zach worked as a Senior Cloud Technology Account Executive at Oracle, where he’d worked for three years, at the time he was on The Bachelorette. He was promoted to his current position in September 2021 and had also held roles like Cloud Technology Account Executive and Cloud Technology Consultant. He also worked as a Supervisor at the California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles, California, and a Sales Operation Assistant at Gavel Group in Lake Forest, California. He graduated from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo in 2019 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. Zach played Collegiate Division 1 football for Cal Poly for five years. “My role consists of strategically helping business in Houston enhance, extend, and leverage their current software, platform, and infrastructure while educating them on what Oracle’s portfolio has to offer,” Zach’s Linkedin bio read.
Before Zach was confirmed as the season 27 Bachelor, Reality Steve reported on his podcast in September 2022 that Nate Mitchell, a contestant on The Bachelorette season 19 with Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia, was offered the role but declined. “In regards to the Bachelor, obviously we’re about three weeks away from any announcement being made, I’m assuming it’s going to be made on the After the Final Rose, if not, within a day or two of that on GMA like they usually do. But after poking around a little bit, asking around, what I can tell you is: I don’t know who the Bachelor’s going to be, but you can cross Nate off the list. I have heard it is not him,” Reality Steve said. “I usually can’t get any details to stuff like that. I have heard, I have no idea if it’s true or not, but I have heard he rejected it, he doesn’t want to do it.” A source also told E! News in August 2022 that Nate was the frontrunner to become the next Bachelor.
The reports also came after Nate was photographed holding hands with a woman at a grocery store in Chicago, Illinois, in August 2022, weeks after he cried over his breakup with Gabby on The Bachelorette season 19 “Men Tell All” special. “Spotted Nate and another girl in Chicago today,” an anonymous source sent to the Instagram account @bachelorettewindmill along with a photo. “They were both holding hands so could be dating?”
While Nate wasn’t the Bachelor 2023, Gabby told Entertainment Tonight in August 2022 that he was her number-one choice as the next lead. “Nate. 100 percent Nate, Nate, Nate!” she said. “He knows how to treat women. He’s so smart, he’s old, he has a great job, he spends his time reading—not reading social media, reading actual books. He has a daughter, so he knows what it’s like to have responsibility. He’s a real, true definition of a man.” Host Jesse Palmer also voted for Nate. “Nate is a standup guy. He’s an amazing person. He’s mature, he has an incredible emotional maturity, he’s vulnerable, he respects women, and he’s a great dad,” Jesse said. “I there’s there’s very few negative things I can say about Nate.” Jesse also had another choice for the next lead. “Are we still saying Pete Davidson? Is that still a choice?” Jesse said. “… I wanna ride that train. Wanna talk about a wild Bachelor season? That would probably be it. We might have to change some of our parameters.”
Gabby and Rachel also voiced their support for two Bachelors like how there were two Bachelorettes on season 19. “We loved each other for it, and loved having one another by one another’s side,” Gabby said of her relationship with Rachel. “I don’t know if men would feel the same, it depends on their relationship, but I think there’s a lot of good to come out of our season.” Rachel added, “I think ultimately if the Bachelors supported each other and loved each other to the extent that Gabby and I do, it could be incredible as well, but they would definitely have to be on the same level as us. Lots to live up to, of course!”
Image: Courtesy of ABC.
Who’s in The Bachelor 2023 cast? See below for a full list of contestants on The Bachelor season 27.
- Viktoria Eichner, 29, Vienna Austria – Nanny
- Victoria Jameson, 30, Keller, Texas – Professional Makeup Artist
- Vanessa Dinh, 23, Farmington Hills, Michigan – Restaurant Marketer
- Sonia Sharma, 29, Jericho, New York – Project Manager
- Olivia Miller, 25, Delphos, Ohio – Stylist
- Olivia Lewis, 24, Churchville, New York – Patient Care Technician
- Mercedes Northup, 24, Bloomfield, Iowa – Nonprofit Case Manager
- Madison Johnson, 26, Fargo, North Dakota – Business Owner
- Lekha Ravi, 29, Miami, Florida – Financial Advisor
- Kylee Russell, 25, Charlotte, North Carolina – Postpartum Nurse
- Katherine Izzo, 26, Tampa, Florida – Registered Nurse
- Kaitlyn “Kaity” Biggar, 27, Kingston, Ontario – ER Travel Nurse
- Jessica “Jess” Girod, 23, Winter Springs, Florida – E-Commerce Coordinator
- Holland Parsons, 24, Boca Raton, Florida – Insurance Marketer
- Greer Blitzer, 24, Bellaire, Texas – Medical Sales Representative
- Genevie Mayo, 26, Baltimore, Maryland – Neonatal Nurse
- Gabrielle “Gabi” Elnicki, 25, Pittsford, Vermont – Senior Account Executive
- Davia Bunch, 25, Roebuck, South Carolina – Marketing Manager
- Christina Mandrell, 26, Hendersonville, Tennessee – Content Creator
- Charity Lawson, 26, Columbus, Georgia – Child and Family Therapist
- Catherine “Cat” Wong, 26, Chevy Chase, Maryland – Professional Dancer
- Cara Ammon, 27, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – Corporate Recruiter
- Brooklyn Willie, 25, Mineola, Texas – Rodeo Racer
- Brianna Thorbourne, 24, Jersey City, New Jersey – Entrepreneur
- Becca Serrano, 25, Burbank, California – Nursing Student
- Bailey Brown, 27, Brentwood, Tennessee – Executive Recruiter
- Ariel Frenkel, 28, New York City, New York – Marketing Executive
- Anastasia Keramidas, 30, Baltimore, Maryland – Content Marketing Manager
- Alyssa “Aly” Jacobs, 26, Smyrna, Georgia – Healthcare Strategist
Image: ABC/John Fleenor.
Who is The Bachelor 2023 host? The Bachelor season 27 host is Jesse Palmer, who was the season 5 Bachelor in 2004 and was the youngest Bachelor in Bachelor Nation history at 24 years old. Jesse hosted his first Bachelor franchise show in 2022 with The Bachelor season 26 with Clayton Echard. During The Bachelor season 5 finale, Jesse gave his Final Rose to Jessica Bowlin, but didn’t propose to her. Jesse and Jessica continued to date, but ended their relationship a few weeks after the finale of their Bachelor season aired. In June 2020, Jesse and his girlfriend, Emely Fardo, married in an intimate wedding in New York City. Jesse told Us Weekly in November 2021 that he and Emely planned to marry in Provence, France, before the current health crisis cancelled their wedding date. “We had originally planned a wedding in Provence, France, for summer 2020, which was postponed until summer of 2021 due to the pandemic, but we didn’t want to wait any longer,” he said at the time. “So, we had a small, private and intimate ceremony with close friends who lived in New York City.”
Jesse graduated from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played football for the Florida Gators, in 2001 with a bachelor’s of arts degree in political science and a bachelor’s of science degree in marketing. After graduation, Jesse was drafted by the National Football League to play for the New York Giants. He played with the team for four seasons from 2001 to 2005 as a quarterback. After the New York Giants, Jesse was drafted by the Canadian Football League to play for the Montreal Alouettes. He played with the team until 2005 when he was signed by the San Francisco 49ers. He then resigned with the Montreal Alouettes in 2006 before he retired from football in 2007 to pursue a broadcasting career. Since his broadcasting career started, Jesse has worked with networks like Fox, NFL Network, ESPN, ABC and SEC Network. He’s also guest starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and made guest appearances on shows like Recipe to Riches and Good Morning America, and hosted the Food Network’s Spring Baking Championship and Holiday Baking Championship.
Jesse was announced as The Bachelor season 26 host in September 2021. “For more than 20 years, The Bachelor has brought the world dozens of unforgettable love stories, including at one time, my own,” he said at the time. “Falling in love is one of life’s greatest gifts, and I am humbled by the opportunity to return to the show as host this season to offer the newest Bachelor advice gained from firsthand experience and I am grateful to play a small part in his journey.” The announcement came after Chris Harrison, the former host of Bachelor Nation, confirmed in June 2021 that he had retired as the franchise’s host after 19 years. “I’ve had a truly incredible run as host of The Bachelor franchise and now I’m excited to start a new chapter,” he wrote in an Instagram post at the time. “I’m so grateful to Bachelor Nation for all of the memories we’ve made together. While my two-decade journey is wrapping up, the friendships I’ve made will last a lifetime.”
Deadline reported at the time that Chris received a mid-range, eight-figure settlement as part of exit plan with ABC, the network that airs the Bachelor franchise, and Warner Bros. Television, the company that produces the Bachelor shows. The magazine also reported that Harrison’s settlement included a nondisclosure agreement. Chris’ decision to retire as Bachelor Nation’s host came after he was slammed for his response to season 25 Bachelor contestant Rachael Kirkconnell’s racism scandal in February 2021. Rachael, the winner of Matt James’ season, faced backlash at the time when photos resurfaced of her at an Old South Antebellum-themed party at Georgia College in 2018. Before the pictures went viral, Rachael was already under controversy after her former high school classmate accused her on TikTok of bullying her and other students for dating Black men. Other TikTok users then exposed Rachael for liking social media photos of her friends in culturally insensitive costumes and with Confederate flags.
Chris came under controversy after he was interviewed about the scandal by season 13 Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay on Extra. During the interview, Chris asked fans to give Rachael “grace” and explained that he didn’t find the Antebellum party photos offensive because they just looked like pictures a college student takes at a party. Harrison also questioned whether the photos would be considered racially insensitive in 2018 when they were taken. After the interview, many fans slammed Harrison and accused him of excusing Rachael’s behavior.
ABC confirmed in March 2021 that Chris wouldn’t host season 17 of The Bachelorette and would be replaced by Tayshia and Kaitlyn. “Chris Harrison will not be hosting the next season of The Bachelorette,” ABC said in a statement at the time. “We support Chris in the work that he is committed to doing. In his absence, former Bachelorettes Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe will support the new Bachelorette through next season. As we continue the dialogue around achieving greater equity and inclusion within The Bachelor franchise, we are dedicated to improving the BIPOC representation of our crew, including among the executive producer ranks. These are important steps in effecting fundamental change so that our franchise is a celebration of love that is reflective of our world.” He officially retired as the Bachelor Nation’s host in June 2021.
The Bachelor airs on Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC and is available to stream on Hulu. Here’s how to watch it for free.
Image: Courtesy of Penguin Books.
To get more of an inside scoop, check out Los Angeles Times writer Amy Kaufman’s book, Bachelor Nation: Inside the World of America’s Favorite Guilty Pleasure, for a deep dive into the Bachelor franchise. The book uncovers the secrets of Bachelor Nation, from how much the Bachelor and the Bachelorette are paid to the rules contestants have to follow, that producers don’t want fans to know. It’s a must-read for any Bachelor Nation member.
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