BEHIND THE SCENES: We Were Almost on One of the Biggest Love Reality TV Shows… Almost.
- Artful Bachelorette
- Aug 5
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 6
It was the opportunity of a lifetime.
One of the biggest, most-watched love reality TV shows in the world (yes, that one) called me and asked if The Artful Bachelorette would be willing to do our signature experience live on camera. They wanted the whole shebang: the sketchpads, the champagne, the cheeky nude muse, the unforgettable bonding moment. It would be filmed in a speakeasy-style bar in a city in Texas and air over a year later to millions of viewers. Naturally, I said yes.
So what did we do?
We flew the whole damn team in.
Models, our fabulous art teacher Michelle, our shirtless servers—everyone from Austin, Houston, Dallas—and of course me, flying in from NYC. We rented a giant Airbnb with a pool, all bunked in together, buzzing with excitement. This was major. We signed the NDAs. We packed our signature sexy black outfits. Hair done, makeup on, the guys looked sharp as knives, Michelle and I were cute to boot.
The production crew? Legends. Professional, talented, and seriously hardworking—six to seven days a week, 14-hour days. They were werking. We felt lucky to be in their orbit.
The contestants? Exactly what you'd expect: fit, fake-tanned, and “pretty” in that reality TV way. They were there to draw a gorgeous naked man, and we delivered. Tyler—our main character muse—was chef’s kiss: handsome, chiseled, charming, quietly confident. A dream.
Everyone was miked. Including me. The director warned me: "The mics stay on the entire time." So I did my best to mind my manners (and my mouth—no swearing, Fleur!) even when one contestant leaned in, off-camera but very much still miked, and whispered:
“I have no intention of going through with this marriage.”“I don’t love him.”
Eyebrow raise. Neutral face. Switzerland, Fleur. Be cool.
The goblets of champagne flowed (they used metal goblets for continuity—TV magic!), the drawing class was a blast, and the cast and crew seemed genuinely thrilled with the whole experience. When we wrapped, we invited the crew out with us. They politely declined—more filming, early call times. Some of these shows never turn off.
So we went out without them. We ate, we danced, we rode fake horses at a bar (don’t ask), and ended the night swimming in the hotel pool. The team got paid (by us), but we didn’t get a dime from the show. No matter. If our segment aired, up to 30 million people would see what we do. Worth it? 1000%.
Then came the waiting. And waiting. And waiting.
18 months rolled by. I wasn’t a fan of the show before, but now? We were glued to it. My customer service manager became fully obsessed. She watched every episode the second it dropped and texted me updates. Season by season went by. Our season finally premiered. It usually runs for 14 episodes.Ours? Only 10.And we? Weren’t in any of them. Our episode was… gone. Vanished. Cut.
We were devastated.
After all that anticipation, all that planning, money, excitement—it was like it never happened. And there was nothing we could do about it. Apparently, one of the contestants had a legal dispute with the show, and any scenes they were in had to be removed. Poof. Gone. Nothing to do with us, but the risk was too great. Legal said no. The footage got binned.
And that, my friends, is showbiz.
There are no guarantees in this world. Especially not with reality TV. You don’t know anything until it’s on screen. But hey—we pull our socks up, we move forward. Hopefully more opportunities will come our way.
That’s as much as I can legally share for now. But I hope you're enjoying this little behind-the-scenes peek into the Artful B world. I’m enjoying writing them—remembering these wild, beautiful moments that make this journey so unforgettable.
Until next time.
xo, Fleur Founder & Chief Mischief-MakerThe Artful Bachelorette
Comments