‘Bachelorette’ Stars Kaitlyn Bristowe And Britt Nilsson Deny Twist Is Degrading

When producers of The Bachelorette announced that, for the first time, two women would go head-to-head for the chance to give out roses, many were appalled by the twist. Former Bachelor Sean Lowe called it “degrading,” stating on his blog: “This move transfers the power back to the men on the show specifically designed for the women.”

But Kaitlyn Bristowe and Britt Nilsson, the two women at the center of this season’s Bachelorette, told reporters Wednesday they don’t see the twist that way. According to E!, it never occurred to Nilsson that the twist was anything but a compliment to herself and Bristowe.

“I didn’t see it as degrading, I honestly saw it as compliment, like we’re both so great.”

Bristowe similarly said she did not find the twist offensive, saying she would not have participated if it was. However, USA Today detailed Bristowe’s hesitation to take the plunge with Nilsson. She chewed over the decision for a full week before saying yes.

“It was definitely unexpected, and I was shocked, and I was just beside myself because I didn’t know what to think. I wasn’t excited about it, but I just really had to take a step back and think of the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Nilsson, on the other hand, said “I never had a moment where I thought I wasn’t going to do it, no,” although she did wonder how the twist would play out.

As a previous Inquisitr piece on Britt Nilsson noted, the twist was also used in a 2004 season of The Bachelor.

Perhaps surprisingly, both Kaitlyn Bristowe and Britt Nilsson found support in each other that first night. Nilsson said it brought them closer as friends. Bristowe said any expectation of awkwardness quickly went away.

“I think we expected it to be a lot more uncomfortable, but it was kind of like having a friend beside you and we laughed about it. We didn’t really see too much of each other throughout the night. To be honest it felt like it took the pressure off [us] a little bit, and it was more pressure on the guys.”

Bachelorette host Chris Harrison told Yahoo TV the men seemed more uneasy about the twist than the women.

“They got out of the limos and there were two women they had to get to know and impress. Guys are bad at these introductions anyway.”

The new season of The Bachelorette starts Monday, May 18 on ABC.

[Image: Kaitlyn Bristowe, Chris Harrison and Britt Nilsson by Rick Rowell/ABC via People]