NEW YORK – ABC has named Matt James, its first black “Bachelor” to lead the network's long-running dating competition show.
The casting was announced Friday on “Good Morning America.”James, a 28-year-old from North Carolina, was originally chosen to compete for Clare Crawley's affection on “The Bachelorette,” but filming was scrapped in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. “Good Morning America” says James founded an organization in New York City that finds creative ways to engage children from underserved areas.The show has been under pressure for years to be more diverse and cast a black "Bachelor." A lawsuit filed in 2012 claimed the show was blocking contestants of color from starring roles.