'The Bachelor': ABC Named the First Black Bachelor

ABC announced on Friday, June 12, 2020 that The Bachelor is having its first black lead after 18 years. The popular reality show has long been criticized for its lack of diversity. Now Matt James is making history after 40 seasons that the show has not had a black bachelor.

If all goes well with production, the 25th season of the popular reality show will begin filming in January 2021.

Why a Black Bachelor Was Selected

The selection of a black lead is like a breath of fresh air for viewers. Usually, the lead bachelors and bachelorettes have been those rejected from previous seasons, and all of them were white with the one exception of Rachel Lindsay. The 35-year-old lawyer from Texas was the first black lead of The Bachelorette after being on the air for 14 years. Lindsay's season aired in 2017. She chose Bryan Abasolo, a white chiropractor, and they have been married since 2019. Rachel has been speaking out about the lack of diversity since her season.

Rachel said she wants to see producers of color. She is excited about James being selected as the first black bachelor, but she believes it is putting a band-aid over the situation shortly after so much talk about diversity following the death of George Floyd. The outspoken attorney believes selecting James as the next bachelor is the bare minimum.

Previous participants on the show have also made statements suggesting that ABC should show more diversity. More than 80,000 people signed an online petition that the franchise should reflect racial diversity by casting at least 35 percent of minority contestants in upcoming seasons.

Why Matt James was Selected

Matt James will be a fresh face on The Bachelor. He had never been on a season before. However, he had been originally cast as a contestant on Clare Crawley's next season of The Bachelorette that had to be postponed because of COVID-19.

Karey Burke, president of ABC Entertainment, said in a statement that producers became familiar with Matt when he was originally slated to be on Crawley's season. After producers got to know him, they agreed to offer him his own season. Burke assures viewers that this is just the beginning to what the network will do to further address the franchise diversity issues.

About Matt James

Viewers found out some things about Matt James when he was interviewed on Good Morning America. He is a 28-year-old real estate broker from North Carolina. The new lead is 6'5" who played wide receivers for Wake Forest University’s football team and for a short time in the NFL.

James is a Christian and doesn't mind speaking out about his faith. He gives back through his organization, ABC Food Tours. He started the non-profit organization with Tyler Cameron after he moved to New York. The organization serves underserved elementary school students.

Another thing we found out about the upcoming bachelor is that he can keep a secret. He has known for a while that he was going to be the lead of the next Bachelor season. Even though James is close to his mother, Pat, she didn't know until it was announced on ABC's Good Morning America. James admitted he is better at keeping secrets than his mother. He knows a lot about diversity because he was raised by his single mother who is white.

James said it was an honor to receive the role. Even though he has never participated with the franchise, he is no stranger to Bachelor Nation. He is a friend of Tyler Cameron and Hannah Brown, both of Season 15 of The Bachelorette.

During his interview, James says he is looking forward to meeting the different women who will step out of the limo when his season begins.

James has been in lockdown in a Florida house with a group that includes two Bachelor Nation alumni, Tyler Cameron and Hannah Brown. The group calls themselves "The Quarantine Crew." Because James has a social media presence, you can keep up to date with him on his Instagram posts and his TikTok videos.