ABC Casts Its First Black ‘Bachelor’ During Protests and Petitions

ABC may have gotten a little help in making the decision to choose its first African American bachelor after a petition and criticism created by the Bachelor Diversity Campaign.

For the first time in 25 seasons, “The Bachelor” franchise will be led by an African American man, Matt James. ABC made the announcement last Friday on “Good Morning America” just days after the launch of the diversity campaign on June 8th.

Started by fan Brett Vergara, a Change.org petition demanded that the franchise “cast a Black bachelor as the Season 25 lead.” The campaign including other requests, including having a cast of “BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) for at least 35% of contestants each season hereafter.”

Fans and past bachelor and bachelorette contestants are congratulating the network and franchise for taking a step in a more diverse direction, but some are calling the two out for taking so long to make this decision, especially with the current protest against the murder of George Floyd and police brutality.

https://twitter.com/elisefoley/status/1271427219831820288

In all reality, Matt James being named the next Bachelor is a game changer. But it’s sad that it took 18 years and a petition to make it happen. #TheBachelor

— TheBachBabes (@TheBachBabes) June 12, 2020

Do I think they were hoping Matt James would become the bachelor when they cast him for Clare’s season? Probably.

Do I think this early announcement had everything to do with the show getting called out? ABSOLUTELY.

— M (@lRlSPATTON) June 12, 2020

ABC said “and I OOP—“

Congratulations Matt James!! #thebachelor pic.twitter.com/FjhuWBxfkS

— Katie Morton (@hellokatiemo) June 12, 2020

Prior to the announcement, Rachel Lindsay, the first and only female black Bachelorette lead, was also very outspoken on the franchise’s lack of diversity. Last week in a  blog post Lindsay stated that she would disassociate herself with the franchise if they did not make the right changes to diversify the show.

In a series of tweets after the announcement, Lindsay sent her congratulations to James, but also reiterated that the announcement felt as if the franchise was brushing “deeper issues under the rug.”

Congrats to Matt James. I am happy to see that a black man was cast after 18 years and 40 seasons. I believe it is a step in the right direction.

— Rachel Lindsay (@TheRachLindsay) June 12, 2020

I would be remiss to not point out that based on the current climate, it feels like a knee-jerk reaction and a result of societal pressure. This announcement, without any further commitments regarding diversity, sweepingly brushes deeper issues under the rug .

— Rachel Lindsay (@TheRachLindsay) June 12, 2020

Until we see action to address the systemic racism within the franchise, the casting news today is equivalent to the trend of posting a black box on your social media account without other steps taken to dismantle the systems of injustice.

— Rachel Lindsay (@TheRachLindsay) June 12, 2020

I look forward to hearing more about the additional efforts the franchise plans to make towards change.

— Rachel Lindsay (@TheRachLindsay) June 12, 2020

Many fans speculated that is was Lindsay’s comments that pushed ABC to choose James as the lead, but in an interview with Variety, ABC’s top unscripted executive, Rob Mills said that James was always a front runner for the shows lead.

James was supposed to be a constant on Clare Crawley’s upcoming season of “The Bachelorette”, but production was shut down indefinitely due to the Coronavirus. When this happened, ABC execs decided to present James with the opportunity of being the lead of “The Bachelor.”

Though many fans feel that this decision is too little too late they are excited to see James take on this role and hopefully see the franchise diversify.

In an interview with “Good Morning America” James said, ” In my opinion, I don’t think it is ever the wrong time to do the right thing. Too little too late for me is this happening, and you can’t have change until you put that first foot forward and that first foot forward for ‘The Bachelor’ franchise is having a black lead so I’m excited to take that role.”