Rachel Lindsay says she’s ‘excited’ for Matt James to be the first black Bachelor though she hates ‘the timing’
Rachel Lindsay has been vocal about diversity in The Bachelor and Bachelorette franchises.
The former Bachelorette star spoke out again about the recent casting announcement making Matt James the first black man to command a season.
Speaking to Andy Cohen and Senator Corey Booker, on Wednesday’s episode of Watch What Happens Live, Lindsay said while she is excited about the choice she wishes it came at a different time.
Bittersweet: Speaking to Andy Cohen and Senator Corey Booker, on Wednesday’s episode of Watch What Happens Live , Rachel Lindsay said while she is excited about the choice for the first black Bachelor, she wishes it came at a different time
‘I’m excited that there’s a Black Bachelor,’ she said. ‘But I hated the timing of it because it does seem like a reaction to what is happening in our country.’
Lindsay was referencing the surge in Black Lives Matter protests and activism since the broadcasted death of George Floyd in the custody of Minnesota police.
Saying: ‘Did a man have to die in such a public way on a national stage for you to say now is the time for us to have a Black Bachelor?’
In 40 seasons of The Bachelor and Bachelorette, Lindsay is the only black lead.
Timing: ‘I’m excited that there’s a Black Bachelor,’ she said. ‘But I hated the timing of it because it does seem like a reaction to what is happening in our country’
National conversation: Lindsay was referencing the surge in Black Lives Matter protests and activism since the broadcasted death of George Floyd in the custody of Minnesota police. Saying: ‘did a man have to die in such a public way on a national stage for you to say now is the time for us to have a Black Bachelor’
She felt his casting announcement was ‘taking away from this moment,’ and that it also took away from James’ spotlight.
Lindsay felt the announcement of his season should have been delayed so he was recognized as the ‘right man chosen’ rather than ‘just for this time.’
After ABC’s announcement of James, Lindsay penned an emotional blog post making suggestions for diversity in the franchise.
She told Cohen that ‘[ABC] told me they heard me and they’re wanting to do more and make changes.’
First: Matt James was announced as the first black man to be The Bachelor, earlier this month, Lindsay is the only black lead in 40 seasons of the show thusfar
Missing moment: She felt his casting announcement was ‘taking away from this moment,’ and that it also took away from James’ spotlight
Right man: Lindsay felt the announcement of his season should have been delayed so he was recognized as the ‘right man chosen’ rather than ‘just for this time’
Lindsay said while filming her season in 2017 she experienced racism from the audience, ‘more so when it came to picking the men.’
And that since choosing, her now husband Bryan Abasolo who is Colombian, that they experienced racism being in an interracial couple.
She did speak out on having a ‘racist contestant,’ on her season and said she is ‘fighting’ for casting of the show to do a better job ‘vetting contestants’ and argued there needed to be a person of color in the casting room.
Booker chimed in and seconded Lindsay’s plea for better vetting of contestant and asking if the show felt having tension with a racist contestant, though she was not sure.
Struggle: And that since choosing, her now husband Bryan Abasolo who is Colombian, that they experienced racism being in an interracial couple
Ratings? Booker chimed in and seconded Lindsay’s plea for better vetting of contestant and asking if the show felt having tension with a racist contestant, though she was not sure