The Bachelor announced that Matt James, 28, will be newest Bachelor, making him the show's first black male lead. This announcement comes after Bachelor nation called for diversity amid the Black Lives Matter movement.
It's Official!
Good Morning America announced James' groundbreaking role with a statement from ABC:
"Privileged to have matt. 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."
James was originally cast to be a contestant on Clare Crawley's upcoming season of The Bachelorette, but production halted in March due to coronavirus. James is known to many in Bachelor Nation for being best friends with Tyler Cameron, who starred on Hannah Brown's season of The Bachelorette.
The Announcement
FIRST ON @GMA: The new @BachelorABC is Matt James. Season 25 of “The Bachelor” is scheduled to premiere in 2021.… https://t.co/niRczhd8aR— Good Morning America (@Good Morning America) 1591964050
Prior to the announcement, fans and former stars of the series have called out the show's lack of representation. The Bachelorette'sRachel Lindsay, the franchise's only black Bachelorette, has been extremely vocal on this issue that the series is long due for a "diversity makeover."
We are so excited to watch James' journey to find love. Season 25 of The Bachelor is scheduled to premiere in 2021!
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