ABC
Cosmopolitan Won’t Post Cover of ‘Bachelor’ Contestant Victoria Fuller Due to Her Controversial Past
Fans watched as Peter Weber and Bachelor contestant Victoria Fuller modeled for the cover of Cosmopolitan together after she won the challenge during week 4’s group date on February 3. However, the publication revealed that they will not be releasing the photographs on their digital site due to the Virginia Beach native appearing “in an ad campaign wearing White Lives Matter attire.”
Other outlets reported that the fish logos on the clothing represent the White Marlin Conservation, where the slogans “white lives matter” and “blue lives matter” refer to the overfishing of white and blue marlins. However, the “nature of the organization” still didn’t align with Cosmopolitan’s views, editor-in-chief Jessica Pels explained in a statement posted to Cosmopolitan‘s website, titled “Why We’re Not Publishing the Cosmo ‘Bachelor’ Cover.”
“Both phrases and the belief systems they represent are rooted in racism and therefore problematic,” Pels explained.
The photo shoot had already been printed in their March issue, but after a “long discussion,” their team decided to cut the images from the digital site. “The White Lives Matter movement does not reflect the values of the Cosmo brand,” Pels added. “We stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter, and any cause that fights to end injustices for people of color.”
Victoria and Peter seem to be progressing on the show, but the contestant has received a lot of backlash off-screen. Besides the controversial modeling photos, rumors have circulated about Victoria’s dating life back home, which may have included a few married men, according to Reality Steve.
The reality contestant released a statement via Instagram on November 22 addressing the criticism she had been receiving. “The RUMORS you are hearing are FALSE. There will be a time [and] place where I can defend myself, but for now I choose to wait,” she captioned a photo of herself cuddling her dog.
Victoria noted that she was experiencing a lot of “bullying” as a result of the show, and it wasn’t “fair.” She accused the negative fans of “casting judgment and basing opinions upon pure speculation, assumptions and LIES.”
She continued her post by gushing over the loyalty of her dog, Buxton, but ended with a very cryptic message. “Life will throw you curveballs … we may not always know the WHY, but we can rely on the fact that there is a reason,” Victoria wrote. “A reason to keep pushing forward wherever we may be in life. A reason that is a lot bigger than us. I trust that God [and the Universe are showing me the way.”
It’s unclear if Victoria will air her truth later in the season, during Women Tell All or after the show wraps. “Just remember … we all have a story,” she warned.
