Who is Daisy Kent? Internet calls out 'The Bachelor' star for using her cochlear implant to advance in the game
AGOURA HILLS, CALIFORNIA: 'The Bachelor' star Daisy Kent came under fire for using her hearing issue on the ABC show to advance in the competition.
Critics argued that she constantly brought up her hearing issues, suggesting that she uses the cochlear implant as a prop to portray herself as a "dumb cute girl."
Some even claimed that her entire personality seemed centered around the cochlear implant, urging her not to let her illness define her.
"Unpopular opinion: Daisy uses her issues to play dumb cute girl, but I’m just not buying it anymore, lol. Okay, go ahead and stone me," a user said on Reddit.
"Your 'disability' isn't supposed to define you. Yet it's her entire personality," said another. "I feel like her entire personality revolves around her cochlear implant," added another.
Another Reddit user pointed out that the critics weren't necessarily against cochlear implants but were concerned about Daisy possibly exploiting her deafness to gain influencer status.
They emphasized the distinction between supporting the use of cochlear implants for medical reasons and expressing skepticism about leveraging a personal struggle for social media influence.
"People are annoyed because she has seemingly latched onto this and formed her identity around it as something to use to “promote” herself. Just take a look at her socials'', a critic said.
"She is using 'The Bachelor' and her deafness as a way to gain influencer status in a way that is truly, truly impressive, and just gross. It makes her feel really ingenuous. People don’t have an issue with cochlear implants," the critic added.
Notably, Daisy faced profound hearing loss, finding that traditional hearing aids were not effective for her. Consequently, she opted for a cochlear implant.
She shared her entire journey on TikTok, becoming an influencer and a source of inspiration for others dealing with similar hearing issues.
Why does 'The Bachelor' contestant Daisy Kent wear a cochlear?
Last year, the 25-year-old underwent a cochlear implant after experiencing hearing loss, which she attributes to Lyme disease and, later, Ménière's disease.
Daisy, a contestant on the ABC show, shared during one of her dates that her hearing began deteriorating due to contracting Lyme disease when she was 15.
At the age of 17, she received a diagnosis of Ménière's disease, a disorder of the inner ear. Confirming Lyme disease at 21, Daisy believed it triggered Ménière's disease.
Despite this revelation, Joey was not deterred; in fact, he seemed even more drawn to her. He expressed his attraction by giving Daisy a rose during the date.
'The Bachelor' star Daisy Kent pens heartfelt message on 'International Cochlear Day'
Daisy, holding her children's book titled 'Daisy Doo: All The Sounds She Knew', shared her emotional journey and the challenges she faced in a heartfelt message to her fans on Instagram.
She reflected on how she navigated through the difficulties and poured her experiences into the caption.
"I was told once that God was doing something special with me and that there was no doubt one day my ears would pop and I would hear. Losing my hearing has been the loneliest pain I have experienced", she said.
"I pictured myself in a glass box since I was 15 and I'm pounding on the walls screaming and terrified. People are looking in at me and they can’t hear me. I can’t hear them. I am alone with one of the most dangerous things - my thoughts. I can still go back to the feeling of confusion," the reality star added.
"Losing my hearing taught me how to fall back in love with myself. I’m not going to say it’s okay, because I would be lying. I’m still coping with that and I know it will take time and understanding. Losing my hearing has given me the ability to look at myself and realize how strong I am, how capable I am, how I have the ability to take something difficult and create something beautiful," Daisy stated.
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'The Bachelor' Season 28 premiered on Monday, January 22, 2024, at 8 pm ET on ABC.