Reality dating shows seem to be getting more creative and popular, and there is always a new addicting show that pops up, such as Netflix’s “Love Is Blind.” All of these dating shows share the common plot of creating strong connections and chasing love, but they also have another thing in common, all of their cast looks relatively the same.
The ever-evolving dating shows are still lacking diversity amongst their cast and crew. Looking at cast photos, for example, from shows like “The Bachelor,” “The Bachelorette,” “Love Island,” and “Love is Blind,” the cast is majority white with a couple of people of color and ethnic minorities.
Shows like “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette,” which notably has the biggest following, are taking steps to become more inclusive by making the next bachelor an African-American man. After having the first African-American Bachelorette, Rachel Lindsay, in 2017, Matt James, will be the first in 25 seasons. Since Lindsay’s season, there has been no other bachelorette of color.
Lindsay’s season of “The Bachelorette” has been confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter to be the most diverse season in the franchise’s history and remains so today, three years later. In 2017 Casino.org collected data to show the diversity amongst the cast and the winners within the last 10 seasons.
The data showed that the common winner of “The Bachelor” is always Caucasian with blonde or brown hair. “The Bachelorette” average winners are 90% Caucasian with brown hair and brown eyes.
ABC Network and the franchise already has faced backlash for their lack of diversity from fans and past contestants, especially Lindsay, which is believed to be their reasoning in choosing James. Fans have noticed and organized online campaigns, such as the Bachelor Diversity Campaign, to demand changes.
List of the Bachelor Diversity Campaign’s demands for ABC/WB
The “Bachelor”/”Bachelorette” franchise has the largest following and has been on the air longer than a majority of dating shows, so if the network and producers are serious about diversifying the cast past this season this franchise could become an example for other shows to do the same.
“Love is Blind” only has one season and created an inclusive environment to create relationships based on emotional connections rather than physical, but it can always do more by adding more racial and ethnic minorities to its cast.
With the current climate of the country in regards to the protests for the murder of George Floyd and the growing identification of systematic racism, it would be more problematic if the current shows did not identify their lack of diversity and not do anything about it.
ABC, Getty Images, WireImage, FilmMagic
Entertainment
Where is the Diversity in Dating Shows?
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Reality dating shows seem to be getting more creative and popular, and there is always a new addicting show that pops up, such as Netflix’s “Love Is Blind.” All of these dating shows share the common plot of creating strong connections and chasing love, but they also have another thing in common, all of their cast looks relatively the same.
The ever-evolving dating shows are still lacking diversity amongst their cast and crew. Looking at cast photos, for example, from shows like “The Bachelor,” “The Bachelorette,” “Love Island,” and “Love is Blind,” the cast is majority white with a couple of people of color and ethnic minorities.
Shows like “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette,” which notably has the biggest following, are taking steps to become more inclusive by making the next bachelor an African-American man. After having the first African-American Bachelorette, Rachel Lindsay, in 2017, Matt James, will be the first in 25 seasons. Since Lindsay’s season, there has been no other bachelorette of color.
Lindsay’s season of “The Bachelorette” has been confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter to be the most diverse season in the franchise’s history and remains so today, three years later. In 2017 Casino.org collected data to show the diversity amongst the cast and the winners within the last 10 seasons.
The data showed that the common winner of “The Bachelor” is always Caucasian with blonde or brown hair. “The Bachelorette” average winners are 90% Caucasian with brown hair and brown eyes.
ABC Network and the franchise already has faced backlash for their lack of diversity from fans and past contestants, especially Lindsay, which is believed to be their reasoning in choosing James. Fans have noticed and organized online campaigns, such as the Bachelor Diversity Campaign, to demand changes.
List of the Bachelor Diversity Campaign’s demands for ABC/WB
The “Bachelor”/”Bachelorette” franchise has the largest following and has been on the air longer than a majority of dating shows, so if the network and producers are serious about diversifying the cast past this season this franchise could become an example for other shows to do the same.
“Love is Blind” only has one season and created an inclusive environment to create relationships based on emotional connections rather than physical, but it can always do more by adding more racial and ethnic minorities to its cast.
With the current climate of the country in regards to the protests for the murder of George Floyd and the growing identification of systematic racism, it would be more problematic if the current shows did not identify their lack of diversity and not do anything about it.