Long running ABC hit reality show The Bachelor has faced backlash for years over the show’s lack of diversity.
While The Bachelorette welcomed their first black bachelorette in 2017 with Rachel Lindsay, The Bachelor had yet to stray from their norm — a caucasian male.
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Now, the franchise has announced their first black bachelor and lemme tell you, he’s the whole dang package.
Matt James is a 28-year-old N.Y.C.-based commercial realtor by day, and a philanthropist by night.
Matt and Tyler Cameron — who was a contestant on Hannah Brown’s season last year — run the charity organization ABC Food Tours together.
I KNOW, RIGHT?!
The news comes after a petition, signed by more than 84,000 people, called for the reality show to include more diversity in their casting.
In a statement to Good Morning America , the show expressed their excitement to welcome Matt as their next bachelor, “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,” the statement read.
“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.”
I cannot wait for the new season of The Bachelor , set to air in 2021!
