Chantal O'Brien - Bachelor 15 - Discussion

After getting a look at the life that Chantal leads -- the amazing support system she has, the obviously very comfortable, stable family she comes from, her prospects for a bright future -- I don't blame her at all for backing away from the spotlight. I'd want to keep it all to myself, and savor every minute. I feel like we're lucky she did even one season of the Bachelor and we were allowed to get to know her, however briefly and relatively superficially. She got what she wanted from it -- a jump start on a new beginning. Now she's making the most of it, whether she stays with Jeff or not. I'm happy for her.

Have we seen other F2's out there, after the show, determined to prove they are happy? Other than Melissa, that is, who technically was the F1 but ended up the F2. No.

You're right, this is tit for tat. Fact of the matter is, the final couple and the "winner" of the series gets the majority of the media coverage after the show, and the onus is on them to either make it or not as a couple. There is no onus on the F2 or the F3 to prove anything, to anybody, IMO.

Pipsqueek wrote:

I honestly don't think there is a difference if you are the bachelorette or not. She was F2 so there is an interest out there. I think she is avoiding the press and that is suspicious to me. If she was that happy I would think she would flaunt it. JMO

Mainly because half the people I was with believed it until I explained it to them...

Pipsqueek wrote:

ironcat wrote:My question is, where would you expect these photos to be? Chantal doesn't have twitter, does she use facebook, or does Jeff? Where else would they post them? I doubt any paparrazzi are following her activities in Seattle at all, as, unlike Brad and Emily, she and Jeff are not the Bachelor couple 'of record'. If she was (like a lot of them) trying to get her picture in the press, she probably could, but it sure doesn't look like that is her plan. And whether she's still blissfully in love with Jeff or not, it doesn't appear that she thinks it concerns anyone but the two of them. "Shocking" I know, but I say good for her.

I honestly don't think there is a difference if you are the bachelorette or not. She was F2 so there is an interest out there. I think she is avoiding the press and that is suspicious to me. If she was that happy I would think she would flaunt it. JMO

There are honestly people out there who are just as sincerely interested in keeping themselves out of the limelight as there are people getting themselves out there. I would never, ever want my life out there. There is nothing suspicious about it. Chantal may have had more than her fill with her 15 minutes and might want to move on.

northernviewer wrote:For me, Chantal refusing the role as Bach'ette and then deleting her twitter account says that she had her fun and is going back to living a normal, press free life. Good for her but I hope she does give us updates now and then through people like Ashley S. She was the highlight of the season and I wish the girl well, regardless of where her future takes her

completely agree - closing her twitter acct is a reflection of wanting her private life to remain private. I love her and wish the best for her, and hope we do get updates from time to time.

I don't recall a F2 ever getting so much post-season press/attention (prolly has a lot to do with the false spoiler of being F1 and being 'slapgirl'). Out of curiosity I've wondered about a lot of F2s and contestants - and yet the ones who looooove the camera/attention/media are the ones I have the least interest in - oh, except for Alberto!!!

anders wrote:

northernviewer wrote:For me, Chantal refusing the role as Bach'ette and then deleting her twitter account says that she had her fun and is going back to living a normal, press free life. Good for her but I hope she does give us updates now and then through people like Ashley S. She was the highlight of the season and I wish the girl well, regardless of where her future takes her

completely agree - closing her twitter acct is a reflection of wanting her private life to remain private. I love her and wish the best for her, and hope we do get updates from time to time.

I don't recall a F2 ever getting so much post-season press/attention (prolly has a lot to do with the false spoiler of being F1 and being 'slapgirl'). Out of curiosity I've wondered about a lot of F2s and contestants - and yet the ones who looooove the camera/attention/media are the ones I have the least interest in - oh, except for Alberto!!!

I think Chantal getting the press after the ATFR aired was because the producers were trying to deflect the attention from Brad and Emily, due to the on/again off/again state of their relationship since they finished taping the FRC in SA.

Since Brad and Emily decided to not do press, I was happy to see Chantal do it - it has been customary for F2s to do the rounds as well - at least on Ellen. I remember Tenley doing Ellen and Bonnie Hunt. Ooooh, Bonnie would've been great to have on the air for this season, and you know she would've had Chantal on!!!

If Chantal wanted to extend her 15 minutes of fame she would have accepted the offer to become the next Bachelorette. It seems she was asked and turned it down.

I think Emily, Chantal, and Brad have for the most part avoided the limelight. The only press Chantal did was what I believe most contestants are obligated to do once their season ends.

The other media they have done are interviews for friends (Ashley S. blog) Emily has shared her love of fashion (P's fashion blog)

IMO even if they did give multiple interviews or decided to stay in the spotlight I wouldn't hold it against them.

Good point, Love_me. It also was apparent that Chantal helped out ABCand the Producers, by agreeing, at the last minute, to go on Regis and Kelly.

The F1 and the lead always go on Jimmy Kimmel and Regis and Kelly as soon as the possible after the AFRC. Instead, ABC and Producers had Ashely H go on Kimmel to announce her a the new bachelorette, and they sent Chantal to NYC to discuss the show, in lieu of B & E, who cancelled already scheduled Media appearances. Chantal was not looking to go on media appearances and hasn't since. Speaks for itself.

And Shawntel tweeted she's visiting Chantal this coming weekend in Seattle ~ so happy they remained friends, love both of them! :D

Pipsqueek wrote:

ironcat wrote:My question is, where would you expect these photos to be? Chantal doesn't have twitter, does she use facebook, or does Jeff? Where else would they post them? I doubt any paparrazzi are following her activities in Seattle at all, as, unlike Brad and Emily, she and Jeff are not the Bachelor couple 'of record'. If she was (like a lot of them) trying to get her picture in the press, she probably could, but it sure doesn't look like that is her plan. And whether she's still blissfully in love with Jeff or not, it doesn't appear that she thinks it concerns anyone but the two of them. "Shocking" I know, but I say good for her.

I honestly don't think there is a difference if you are the bachelorette or not. She was F2 so there is an interest out there. I think she is avoiding the press and that is suspicious to me. If she was that happy I would think she would flaunt it. JMO

I support her staying out of the media just like I support Emily and Brad staying out of it. This is their private lives. They don't owe a single person anything fans or otherwise. They don't have to give a play by play to the general public of every single relationship move they make. And good for all of them for not doing that.

It doesn't look remotely suspicious to me. When I date people, for example, and get into relationships it takes me a long time to do something as simple as change a facebook relationship status. Half the time I don't even bother to mention it to a ton of people. I like to keep my stuff to me. Not everyone has to run around and shout their personal affairs from the roof tops or be engaging in public displays of affection or doing the out on the town "take pictures of me" thing.

You know, I think social media has changed, in a BIG way, the way we follow these people after their show has ended. When Trista and Ryan got engaged, I seem to remember buying the tabloid magazines with their smiling faces on the front, because I was hoping for more info on their romance and wedding plans. I searched for them via the internet and of course, I had just joined FORT around that time so talked about it online.

Now we get minute by minute updates and photos from people in a never ending barrage of information, real time, current, etc. I still remember when Twitter first came out, thinking "Wow, a real live celebrity is talking to normal everyday people online, that's just crazy!" We live for the moment right now, and it can work in both good and bad ways. We rejoice when someone snaps a surprise intimate photo of Brad/Emily at lunch and say "see, they are in LOVE!" and then we over-analyze a random tweet that doesn't mention a significant other and say "see, they aren't doing well" - it's the nature of the beast being a 3rd rate reality tv "celebrity" these days!

I get a little creeped out by fans snapping pictures of these folks when they're out in public. I think technology as well as social media has changed things. More people have the technology to take a picture of another person with out that person noticing.