[11][12][13][14] For the first time since the second season of The Bachelorette in 2004, the dates and travel would have to take place entirely within the United States because of growing concerns about the COVID-19 due to the ongoing pandemic.

Filming was scheduled to begin on March 13, 2020, at the traditional Villa de La Vina mansion in Agoura Hills, California and had been planned to conclude in mid-May in time for the original premiere date of May 18, but with the aforementioned pandemic growing rapidly, the season was forced to suspend production and filming was postponed to a later date.

The initial destinations for the season including visits to Chattanooga (Tennessee), Reykjavík (Iceland), Rome (Italy) and Hvar (Croatia), but were called off by the production crew due to factors of the worsening outbreak, omitting international travel.

[15][16] On June 17, 2020, it was announced that the season was scheduled to premiere in fall 2020 as COVID viral transmission cases had gradually started to decline.

Contestants were to have tested positive from COVID-19 that is either a subject of not being permitted on the show or having to wait an indefinite delay to join the cast.

Due to enforced quarantine restrictions, all of the dates would be taking place entirely at the resort limits to reduce public interactions.

[18] Due to the concerns surrounding in the current pandemic, the typical Men Tell All conducted in a remote format with Harrison hosting from Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, Pennsylvania via video chatting and the eliminated contestants had invited at a secluded private house in La Quinta Resort, the typical After the Final Rose special did not take place.

The season begins with Clare receiving the news that she would be the Bachelorette and preparing for the role in March 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic halted production prior to filming commencing.

Four months later, Clare's journey finally begins at La Quinta Resort & Club near Palm Springs after weeks of quarantining and testing, where she meets thirty-one men.

Jason arrives with a pregnant belly; Kenny wears a shirt with Clare's dogs on it; Mike brings Clare a pair of sandals; Tyler C. drives a station wagon filled with his belongings; Bennett arrives in a Rolls-Royce Phantom; Eazy runs through a "your future husband" banner; Chasen wears a suit of armor; and Ed rolls in a bubble.

During a group date on Week 2, 10 of the men played a game of strip dodgeball and during each round, the contestants were asked to remove a layer of clothing.

[78] J.P. Rosenbaum, winner of season 7 of The Bachelorette, wrote on Twitter, "I realize this 'date' is gonna have a lot of critics, but can you imagine the flak the show would get if this was [The Bachelor] and the girls were stripping down to their underwear?"

Bachelor franchise podcast host Juliet Litman stated, "If it was women in that position, it would be completely unacceptable, absolutely scandalous and there would be this huge outcry.

Contestant Yosef Aborady admitted that if he was invited to the group date, he would not have played the dodgeball game, stating, "Number one value is to have respect for myself and my daughter.