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ABC announced today that Matt James will be the next lead on their hit show ‘The Bachelor.’
James will be the first black bachelor in the show’s 24-season run. The 28-year-old was originally meant to be a contestant on the next season of The Bachelorette, which was put on pause due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This decision comes as pressure has been applied to corporations to face their diversity shortcomings. In their release ABC made the following statement:
“This is just the beginning, and we will continue to take action with regard to diversity issues on this franchise. We feel so privileged to have Matt as our first Black Bachelor and we cannot wait to embark on this journey with him.”
Back in 2017, the franchise’s sister show, “The Bachelorette,” had its first Black woman lead with Rachel Lindsay.
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Matt James is a North Carolina native and operates ABC Food Tours, a program that exposes kids from underserved neighborhoods to different restaurants, teaching them about nutrition, and wellness.
There has been no word on when the new season of either “The Bachelor” or “The Bachelorette” will air.
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