Last April, I eagerly clicked on the zoom link labeled “Hamilton House Call with Tyler Cameron & Matt James”. Tyler Cameron was a beloved final contestant on season 15 of
The
Bachelorette
, while his friend Matt James was initially cast as a suitor on Clare Crawley’s upcoming season of
The
Bachelorette
. For the next hour, about 200 students and I watched Tyler and Matt gracefully do pushups and high knees across their kitchen, while urging us to “be active” and to “workout with them.” At the time, I did not know that I was on a call with a candidate for the upcoming
The
Bachelor
season. Several weeks later, Matt James was announced as the bachelor for 2021 and more importantly, would be the first black bachelor in 24 seasons of the show’s production.
I am not ashamed to admit that I am an avid watcher of
The Bachelor
,
The Bachelorette
and
Bachelor in Paradise
. Watching 30 contestants fight over one love interest in the hopes of getting married is too enticing to not watch. However, I am ashamed of my own ignorance regarding the sexist undertones, sexual misconduct and lack of diversity that has plagued the show for over 18 years. For me, Matt illuminated the blatant lack of racial, economic, cultural and social diversity in one of the most popular reality shows in the United States.
Diversity, or lack thereof, has always been an issue in
The
Bachelor
world. Rachel Lindsey, the first black bachelorette from season 13, called the show “whitewashed” and “embarrassing to be affiliated with” during a
Deadline
interview. Moreover, a petition on change.org that went live in early 2020 demanded change by calling on ABC and Warner. Bros to cast BIPOC for at least 35% of contestants each season, cast a black bachelor, and actively support BIPOC cast members, among other actions. This petition has over 162,000 signatures as of Sept. 10, 2020. Martin Hilton,
The
Bachelor
executive producer, recently stated in an
ET
interview that “inclusivity and diversity are at the forefront of their minds but they want it to happen ‘in an organic way.’” Not only does Hilton’s stance reveal the discrimination in the show, but it also acts as a representation of the systematic racism that exists in this country. Diversity can never happen “in an organic way” as it implies the abuse of privilege and power. The Black Lives Matter movement has made it clearer than ever that change happens through the productive use of education, unity, and perseverance.
Thus, as the new season of
The Bachelor
/
Bachelorette
dawns upon us, I urge the Hamilton community to be thoughtful about the messages and influence that the show presents. While casting the first black bachelor is a step in the right direction, the industry needs to continue to respond to criticism and present a show that accepts people and relationships of all sorts. While it is disheartening to see that it took a global debate about race and inequality to initiate a real evaluation of
The
Bachelor
, I do hope that viewers can be more aware and active in creating a community that prioritizes equity, change and progress.