The Bachelor: The announced on Friday, June 12 that it has finally—FINALLY—cast its first-ever Black lead. Matt James will the next Bachelor.Calling James' casting historic is truly an understatement: The Bachelor and The Bachelorette have had 40 seasons combined—24 for The Bachelor alone—and out of that 40, there's been only one Black lead, Rachel Lindsay.
The show's lack of diversity has been a major sticking point for fans over the course of those 40 seasons, so much so that Lindsay has "it's embarrassing, honestly" to still be associated with the series.
This week, a fan-driven petition called was created to demand active anti-racist actions happen, both in front of and behind the camera, from the franchise.James appeared on Good.