'Bachelorette' Contestant Slammed for 'Transphobic' Comment on ABC Website

A contestant on the forthcoming season of ABC’s “The Bachelorette” is under fire for a statement the LGBT community is calling transphobic.

While the hit series does not premiere until Monday, “The Bachelorette’s” ABC website is already loaded with full bios and Q&A’s with all 31 contestants vying for bachelorette Rachel Lindsay. Firefighter Bryce Powers has stirred up social media with his.

“What’s your biggest date fear?” a boiler plate questionnaire asks. “The chick is actually a dude,” Powers answered.

Also Read: ABC Casts Rachel Lindsay as First Black 'Bachelorette'

“This comment does not reflect the views of ABC, Warner Horizon or bachelorette Rachel Lindsay,” an ABC spokesperson said in a statement to TheWrap. “We have removed it from ABC.com.”

“Bryce from the Bachelorette’s biggest fear is trans women who are attempting to conceal their birth sex. I see why yer single, douche bag,” wrote “RuPaul’s Drag Race” winner and performer Sharon Needles.

“Dear Bryce, on behalf of trans women I can assure you: none of us want to date your bland preppy 1980’s teen movie villain rhombus ass,” said writer Jen Richards.

ABC did not respond to TheWrap’s request for comment. Powers has yet to address the feedback on Twitter. See more reactions at Queerty, who site a cohesive argument about what statements like Powers’ mean for the trans community.

“Careless statements like his only serve to further alienate the trans community. They continue to perpetuate our society’s popular, yet wildly incorrect assumption that trans people are simply ‘men disguised as women,” the statement said.

The perceived transphobia comes at a time of peak inclusion on the massively popular ABC franchise. In February, the “Bachelor” spinoff cast its first-ever African American bachelorette in Lindsay.

Also Read: 'SNL' Lampoons First Black 'Bachelorette' Season in Sketch Cut for Time (Video)

TV’s most successful dating series has long been criticized for years for its lack of diversity among both the leads and the contestants who vie for their affection.

As TheWrap reported last year, even when non-white contestants are cast, they seldom go very far. In fact, no black contestant has ever made it past Week 5 in the first 20 seasons.

Bryce from the Bachelorette's biggest fear is trans women who are attempting to conceal their birth sex. I see why yer single, douche bag.

— Sharon Needles (@SHARON_NEEDLES) May 19, 2017

I'm going through these Bachelorette profiles and I just wanna say one thing loud and clear: FUCK Bryce pic.twitter.com/IW7SF0b0KI

— Trent (@BarstoolTrent) May 18, 2017

Dear Bryce, on behalf of trans women I can assure you: none of us want to date your bland preppy 1980's teen movie villain rhombus ass. xo https://t.co/VbcN4bya4s

— Jen Richards (@SmartAssJen) May 19, 2017

'Bachelor' and 'Bachelorette' Villains Ranked From Bad to Worst (Photos)

As the end of "The Bachelor" Season 21 nears, let's take a look back at the long-running ABC reality show's infamous troublemakers. Here is our ranking of both "Bachelor" and "Bachelorette" villains, from bad to worst:
ABC
Nick Viall, "The Bachelorette," Season 10, Season 11; "The Bachelor," Season 21

This season's current bachelor did his time as a bad boy in two past seasons of "The Bachelorette." He isolated himself from all other contestants and also made a surprise, unwelcomed appearance on a season in which he wasn't even cast.
ABC
Tierra LiCausi, "The Bachelor," Season 17

From several meltdowns to a hospital trip, LiCausi (left) fit the bill of nemesis perfectly, complete with her own evil laughter.
ABC
Rozlyn Papa, "The Bachelor," Season 14

Not a traditional "Bachelor" villain, Papa was booted off the show for allegedly having an affair with one of the producers.

Also Read: ‘The Bachelor’ Makes History As African-American Contestant Moves Past Week 5
ABC
Olivia Caridi, "The Bachelor," Season 20

Olivia’s mouth, toes and aggression left viewers both cringing and laughing. Her transition from fan favorite to villain was rapid, and her legacy on the internet will remain for years to come. (And if you don't know what we're talking about, look up the now infamous meme.)
ABC
Michelle Money, "The Bachelor," Season 11

Michelle was aggressive with both pursuing her season's Bachelor and attacking fellow contestants. Money’s rivalry and ultimate confrontation with nemesis AshLee Frazier will go down in the show's history as one of the most heated.

Also Read: Ratings: ‘The Bachelor’s’ Hometown Dates Episode Scores Season Highs
ABC
Chad Johnson, "The Bachelorette," Season 12

Chad’s obsession with working out and threatening fellow contestants made him a foe to remember. While many disliked him for his brash nature, his insults were wittier than most villains before him.
ABC
Corrine Olympios, "The Bachelor," Season 21

In the short span of the last two months, Corinne has established her legacy as one of the most entertaining villains in "Bachelor" history. From her dependence on her nanny Raquel, to napping through several events, fans were both relieved and sad to see her ousted toward the end of the 2017 season.
ABC
Kelsey Poe, "The Bachelor," Season 19

She used her story of being a widow to garner sympathy and screen time, and openly admitted to manipulating her season's Bachelor with her husband’s death. She is also remembered for having a panic attack before a rose ceremony, and then immediately joking about how host Chris Harrison couldn’t eliminate her.
ABC
Bentley Williams, "The Bachelorette," Season 7

This contestant was dubbed one of Chris Harrison’s least favorite suitors of all time. Williams purposely set out to make his Bachelorette cry and faked many of his interactions with her.
ABC
Courtney Robertson, "The Bachelor," Season 16

With her own book “I Didn’t Come Here To Make Friends,” Robertson clearly prides herself on achieving supervillain status. Mocking other contestants, lying to the Bachelor and sabotaging dates, Robertson cemented herself as one of the most hated of the entire series.
ABC
Juan Pablo Galavis, "The Bachelorette," Season 9; "The Bachelor," Season 18

Between making crude comments to his contestants, to being openly homophobic, Galavis tops this list of ultimate villains from the reality series.

Also Read: ‘The Bachelor': 9 Most Awkward Hometown Dates (Photos)
ABC

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Here are the baddies who have kept viewers hooked over the years

As the end of "The Bachelor" Season 21 nears, let's take a look back at the long-running ABC reality show's infamous troublemakers. Here is our ranking of both "Bachelor" and "Bachelorette" villains, from bad to worst:

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