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Why Rachel Lindsay Thinks Matt James' Casting as the Bachelor is the 'Bare Minimum' on ABC's Part

By Mae Harrington O'Neill

Rachel Lindsay speaks out on Matt James' Bachelor casting, says it's ABC doing the "bare minimum."
Rachel Lindsay speaks out on Matt James' Bachelor casting, says it's ABC doing the "bare minimum." / Paras Griffin/Getty Images

As the first and only black Bachelorette, Rachel Lindsay has been outspoken about her embarrassment at the lack of diversity in The Bachelor franchise. However, she believes that Matt James' casting as the first black Bachelor doesn't solve the reality show's glaring lack of inclusion.

According to People, Lindsay spoke with Juliet Litman on her podcast, Bachelor Party, about her feelings on James' casting. While Litman expressed joy over the news, the former Bachelorette had a more realistic take. "Don't get me wrong, it is lovely that there is a black Bachelor. It is great, but let's get in to the but," said Lindsay. "I have been very vocal about the fact that we need a black Bachelor. This is not because of the movement. I always have to say that. I have always pushed for diversity. It's just black voices are being amplified in a way that they have never been before ... and now people are paying attention."

After it was revealed on Good Morning America that James would be the franchise's new leading man, Lindsay congratulated him on social media, calling his casting "a step in the right direction." Her interview on Bachelor Party makes it clear that this is the first step of many.

"The fact that there are a list of things I have requested and this petition that's on Change.org, and the bare minimum was done, which seems to be so simple, right? Just give us a black Bachelor? That's what you do? It's a Band-Aid. It's the easiest thing to me that you can do and I hate that it's in response — or it seems like a knee-jerk reaction to what happened in our society, what happened with George Floyd and the pressure that you're getting from society," Lindsay explaining, adding that it seems as though, "a man had to die in such a gruesome and public way for us to get a black Bachelor."

The fact that The Bachelor franchise had yet to cast a black person as their leading man since the series premiered all the way back in 2002 demonstrates a terrible track record with diversity. Fans of the show can only hope that the show grows exponentially more inclusive as years go on.