Well it took ’em long enough.
After 15 years and 34 combined seasons, The Bachelor US franchise has finally announced its first-ever black lead, Rachel Lindsay.
Honestly, I didn’t know if I’d live long enough to see the day, and I’m fairly young so that’s saying something about the show’s truly shit levels of racial diversity.
You’ve got to see where I’m coming from, though. The show has not had one suitor of colour since it first started dishing out roses in 2002 – not on any of The Bachelor’s 22 seasons or The Bachelorette‘s 12. Not one in 15 whole years. That’s 34 opportunities that they’ve had, and so blatantly passed up.
When EW questioned ABC‘s Entertainment Chief, Paul Lee, a little over a year ago about why there hadn’t been a black Bachelor yet, he replied: “We had a Latino Bachelor, obviously. We’re doing a whole lot of tweaks.” Then, of course, there was satirical show unReal‘s use of a black bachelor in their show, which stirred up conversation around the huge hole in the hit series.
Sure, there’s a few contestants of colour every season, but from the seasons I’ve watched (about five-years straight now, shit), it’s rare that these contestants make the top four and therefore become primo candidates for the next season of The Bachelor / Bachelorette. (The show usually chooses someone who was heartbroken badly as their next suitor, think Sam Frost, Richie etc). It means people are more invested and it makes total sense from a ratings perspective.
But then again, the guy who is currently The Bachelor, Nick Viall, wasn’t even on the last season of The Bachelorette, so we know that’s not the be all and end all of the producer’s decision. Then their was also Juan Pablo for The Bachelor Season 17, a fan favourite who ended up being a horny scumbag, but let’s not go there.
Anyway, my point is that it’s about fucking time.
It’s unfortunate that the historic announcement has been met with a bunch of unrelated hoo-ha. Jimmy Kimmel confirmed the news even though Rachel is still a contestant on the show right now – yep, as far as viewers were concerned, Rachel is still in the running for Nick’s heart. (If you’re not watching, pls catch up on 9Life Tuesday nights, it’s worth it. Promise).
So basically Kimmel ruined the surprise and everyone’s shitty. But whatever you guys, just be glad the next bachelorette isn’t fucking Corinne.
Thank you for finally getting your shit together, producers.
It’s only 15 years overdue.
Photo: The Bachelor / ABC.
