CLEVELAND, Ohio — After 33 combined seasons of “The Bachelor” franchise, ABC has cast its first black lead.
Rachel Lindsay, 31, will hand out the roses on the next season of “The Bachelorette.”
“We’re a couple weeks out from filming, we’re ready to get started, so I’m ready to find love, find a husband,” Lindsay, an attorney from Dallas, told Jimmy Kimmel on his show Monday night.
“If you know anybody out there who needs to apply, go ahead and sign up,” she said.
The announcement was a major spoiler for the show’s fans, as Lindsay advanced Monday to the final four on the current season of “The Bachelor.” News of her casting, however, was leaked by notoriously accurate “Bachelor” blogger Reality Steve, forcing ABC’s hand.
“I am looking for someone who is ready for what I am ready for,” Lindsay said. “At this point in my life, I’m 31, I’m ready to find a husband, someone who’s ready to start a family.”
That person is obviously not Nick Viall, the current “Bachelor” and previous two-time loser. The couple appeared to have real chemistry together– he gave her the first impression rose on the first episode. On Monday’s show, they shared a chill, but romantic date on Bimini. When Viall decided to send two other women home, Lindsey became the first African-American to make it to the hometown-date round on either “The Bachelor” or “The Bachelorette.”
What happens to their relationship will be resolved during the three remaining episodes of the season.
Lindsay’s casting on “The Bachelorette” is, frankly, a jolt of diversity the franchise needs. She’ll be the only second non-white person to lead ABC’s signature reality show. Venezuelan soccer player Juan Pablo Galavis starred on the 18th season of “The Bachelor” in 2013.
“This coveted role is always reserved for a fan-favorite from the previous season, and Rachel is no exception and has been the fans’ choice since she exited the limo,” ABC executive Robert Mills said in a statement. “She is an accomplished, confident and beautiful woman who knows what she wants in life. We all look forward to joining her on the joyous journey as she looks for that one special man.”
ABC has been criticized before for the predominantly white casts on “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette.” The shows’ practice of selecting previous cast members to lead the next season has limited the field of potential leads and provided a built-in excuse not to be more diverse.
The notion, however, that people aren’t attracted to and can’t fall in the love with someone of a different race is an antiquated one — especially at the level of attractiveness “The Bachelor” operates. The network tried switching it up by including an unprecedented eight non-white contestants on this season.
The strategy worked as both Viall and the audience fell for Lindsay. Her season of “The Bachelorette,” which will probably begin in May, should bring the most diverse cast the franchise has seen and open up opportunities for people of all races and ethnicities on the shows.
It’s about time.
Meet the new Bachelorette! @TheRachLindsay #TheBachelorette @ChrisBHarrison #BachelorNation pic.twitter.com/0gyfvjFOVv
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) February 14, 2017
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