Heartbreak is one thing, having to dissect it on television for entertainment is another.

During the live final on September 3rd of The BacheloretteIt was announced that lead actress Jenn Tran had chosen Devin Strader and proposed to him – for the first time. However, their happy ending was short-lived. In tears, Tran told viewers in a 15-minute phone call that Strader had broken off the engagement a month ago because “he regretted getting engaged.”

Not only did Tran, the first Asian-American Bachelorette, have to recap the recent breakup in front of ABC’s cameras – next to the man who broke her heart – but she also had to watch the proposal again live on TV, next to him. The “historic” proposal was played with a livestreamed interlude of Tran crying, which fans of the show – and a former Bachelor – called “cruel” and “unnecessary” on social media.

What happened in the final?

Yes, it really was one of the most dramatic finales of all time.

In Hawaii, Tran’s family members and a friend met her last two suitors. Strader showed up with gifts and explained how much he loved Tran and that he had no doubts about their relationship and future. She said goodbye to her second suitor, Marcus Shoberg.

In a series premiere, the Bachelorette said she wanted to make the choice herself, so she planned to propose to Strader and picked out a ring for him. Before the proposal aired, host Jesse Palmer interrupted to say that Tran needed to share what had happened since Hawaii.

In the live segment, Tran let her emotions flow — there were sobs — as she recapitulated how Strader became emotionally distant after their engagement. They planned a visit to reconnect, but he backed out at the last minute and called her to end the engagement over the phone. He said he regretted the engagement and wanted to move on.

Strader was brought out and Tran was forced to confront him about the mess, saying she didn’t want to make it public. He said his feelings for her were real, but his feelings had changed. (Here’s all his blah blah.) Strader said he showed up to the live finale to make sure Tran was OK. She seemed tormented by the whole thing and barely looked at him, just wiping tears from her eyes the whole time.

While that sounds like good timing for production—the heartbreak was captured!—Palmer then told Tran that they would watch the proposal together. She replied, “Do I have a choice?” and the answer was clearly no, because they played it back. But it seemed incredibly mean to have a live camera pointed at her, catching every tear and sniffle as the former couple watched the proposal together.

What was the reaction from Bachelor Nation and beyond?

Ben Higgins, who appeared in season 20 as The Bachelor after his appearance on The Bachelorettewrote on X: “Jenn should have stood up in the middle of the engagement show and flashed everyone the peace sign. Leave the studio and never turn around again.”

He called it “absolutely cruel and unnecessary to force them to watch this again. I can’t believe it.”

Former Bachelorette Rachel Recchia demanded “justice for my girl.”

An account called Bach Rants asked, “WHY does the show make Jenn watch this proposal WHILE SHE IS SITTING NEXT TO DEVIN? This is really cruel. This feels mean. We easily could have seen this offstage. Why are the producers treating her like this?”

Fans turned to X to point out how Tran was unnecessarily exposed – seemingly all for the ratings – especially afterThe Bachelor Producers Claire Freeland and Bennett Graebner gave an interview about their attempt to do better after previous failures when it comes to protecting their lead actors of color.

A spokesperson for the show did not respond to Yahoo Entertainment’s request for comment on criticism of the finale.

This couldn’t come at a worse time for the franchise

This season of The Bachelorette was groundbreaking because Tran played the first Asian-American lead role.

During the Television Critics Association winter press tour in February, the show’s executive producers spoke about their efforts to make the show more diverse in light of the racial issues that have accompanied the franchise throughout its history.

This season, however, drew immediate criticism because there were almost no Asian-American contestants during Tran’s season. Additionally, some contestants said they signed up thinking the Bachelorette would be someone else entirely. Tran said she wished there were more Asian men, calling the oversight “unfortunate” in a July interview.

In an apparent attempt to right the wrong, producers announced in August that a new black Bachelor, Grant Ellis, would star in the next season and began casting earlier to reach a larger pool of candidates.

In the finale, Tran’s proposal to Strader was meant to be an empowering moment. She asked him, made history. That it was then twisted like that – that you had to watch it just to capture her emotional reaction – seemed like a cruel twist of fate.

There were calls on social media to “cancel the entire franchise” because of the way Tran was treated.

What’s next for Truffle?

She appeared on Good morning America To September 4, saying she was relieved it aired and the world now knows, giving her a “clean slate” to “move on with my life.” She said last night was the “closure I finally needed.”

Tran talked about how Strader was a different person off camera – something she realized almost immediately. She doesn’t regret her proposal and hopes to find love again.

Part of the move will include Trans’s participation in the new season of ABC’s Dancing with the stars. This is also an ABC show, so there was no criticism of GMA of the finale.