Statement On Matt James As First Black Bachelor
Good Morning America announced Matt being selected as the new Bachelor, People reports. A statement from ABC followed, with the network saying they are privileged to have him in the history-making role.
“We know we have a responsibility to make sure the love stories we’re seeing onscreen are representative of the world we live in, and we are proudly in service to our audience. This is just the beginning, and we will continue to take action with regard to diversity issues on this franchise. We feel so privileged to have Matt as our first Black Bachelor and we cannot wait to embark on this journey with him.”
Bachelor Nation Petition Demanded Diversity
Fans of The Bachelor created a new petition that demanded ABC and executive producer Mike Fleiss cast more people of color on the reality show. The network heard what viewers were saying and decided to oblige. The petition had more than 84,000 signatures and stated that the franchise’s lack of diversity is “unacceptable.” They also noted that in the 40 seasons of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, Rachel Lindsay has been the only black lead.
Mike Johnson was a contender last season. However, Peter Weber, who is half-white and half-Cuban ended up getting the spot.
The Bachelorette: What About Clare Crawley?
Matt was supposed to be one of the men that would try to win Clare Crawley’s heart on The Bachelorette. As we previously reported, when COVID-19 shut down production, host Chris Harrison explained that some recasts might have to be done. People who were originally available to film might not be available when production was given the green light. It is not clear if this happened with Matt or not, though.
When Will The Bachelor Season 25 Air?
Matt will be The Bachelor for season 25, which is scheduled to premiere in 2021. We will keep you updated with any new developments or updated information. As for how fans are responding, the majority who commented on Facebook seems to be quite excited about it!
What do you think of Matt James being the first-ever Black Bachelor? Are you looking forward to watching him when season 25 premieres next year?
Be sure to catch up on everything happening with Matt James right now. Come back here often for The Bachelor spoilers, news, and updates.
It's official…your next Bachelor is Matt James!
Posted by The Bachelor on Friday, June 12, 2020
The Bachelor – It’s official…your next Bachelor is Matt James! | Facebook
https://www.facebook.com
So happy for Matt!