Abigail Heringer Talks Disadvantages She Faced On ‘Bachelor’
Abigail Heringer was an immediate fan-favorite on Season 25 of The Bachelor. She made history as the first deaf contestant on the ABC reality show. But she revealed in her new book that filming the show wasn’t as easy as it appeared. Keep reading for more on the disadvantages she faced.
Abigail Heringer Talks Disadvantages She Faced On Bachelor
Abigail Heringer wrote a memoir about growing up caught between the deaf community and the hearing world. She was born with hearing loss, as was her sister. The siblings received cochlear implants at a young age. Abigail revealed during The Bachelor that she never learned sign language. She thought that she didn’t belong in the deaf community because she didn’t know ASL and had a cochlear implant. The hearing devices are a hot-button issue in the deaf community.
She told Matt James a little about what it was like growing up with a cochlear implant. But she felt she had more to share to bring awareness. Abigail Heringer penned a memoir that went into more detail about growing up deaf. She also shared a behind-the-scenes look at filming the Bachelor.
Matt James was moved by Abigail Heringer’s story and gave her the First Impression Rose. However, their connection never really fully blossomed and she was sent home in Week 7. She went on to join Bachelor In Paradise, where she met her now-fiance Noah Erb.
Abigail Heringer shared that the Bachelor filming environment was ideal for her as a deaf person… until it wasn’t.
“It’s so quiet. You’re on set. There’s no background noise. It’s not like a bar or a Top Golf or anything like that. So it was very easy to hear and have a conversation — until you get to the group dates.”
She never had a one-on-one date with Matt. One group date involved the contestants rowing across a body of water. Abigail had to take her cochlear implants out for that, leaving her completely deaf. That made it impossible to communicate with Matt James. “It felt very uncomfortable to not be able to hear anything but then also not participate while those girls are getting that time,” she told Us Weekly.
Why She Couldn’t Practice Self-Care While Filming
Abigail Heringer enjoyed her time getting to know the other ladies. Her Bachelor co-star, Chelsea Vaughn, will likely be in the bridal party for Abigail’s wedding to Noah next month.
However, it wasn’t all roses. Abigail said that it was exhausting and overstimulating because she could never take her cochlear off. “For me with a cochlear implant, the sound of silence, that’s my natural state of being. I enjoy that time. That’s my favorite self-care. And I never really got that on the show.”
Pick up Abigail Heringer’s book to read more about her journey. The Deaf Girl is available now.
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