Season 25 of ‘The Bachelor’ – the Hopes of Becoming More Inclusive

Season 25 of The Bachelor, which airs on ABC, brings a cast of diversity, having the first Black bachelor, Matt James, and many women of color.

The Bachelor, a reality show about finding love through a series of personal dates, group dates, conversations, and trials. The show marks their twenty-fifth season with Matt James – a Black man, which is a first in the show’s eighteen-year run. 

This has brought change to the show’s historically white past. As previous contestants and bachelors had seemingly exclusive seasons, Matt James provides a sort of reassurance that the show is modifying. 

Twenty-nine-year-old Matt James is devilishly handsome – tall, athletic, and successful. A former football player from North Carolina, he is now a real estate broker, entrepreneur, and founder of ABC Food Tours. 

James’ journey for love was first shown across screens on January 4. James exposed his truth and fears behind finding love to the host of the show, Chris Harrison. 

During episode one, before the contestants arrived, James mentioned to Harrison, “I’ve experienced what it’s like to be a product of an interracial marriage, and it’s tough.”

Struggling with how race has played into his relationships, James seems to hope he can find a woman with who he can truly be happy. 

James continued, “You’ve got people who are cheering for you to find love, and you’ve got people who are cheering for you to end up with a specific person – a specific person of a specific race. That’s something that has kept me up at night. I don’t want to piss off white people. I don’t want to piss off Black people. But I’m both of those.”

The show has a history of stereotyping women of color as angry or irrational. The epic changes revealed in season 25 include the 37 women. About half seem to be women of color, another groundbreaking moment for the show.

THEY’RE HERE!! Get a first look at the women ✨joining✨ Matt’s season of #TheBachelor on Monday!https://t.co/gBAMuqVjeC pic.twitter.com/nMC4DYa6QD

— The Bachelor (@BachelorABC) January 22, 2021

A previous bachelorette on The Bachelorette, Rachel Lindsay, the first Black lead stated on Twitter, “Until we see action to address the systemic racism within the franchise, the casting news today is equivalent to the trend of posting a black box on your social media account without other steps taken to dismantle the systems of injustice.” 

Until we see action to address the systemic racism within the franchise, the casting news today is equivalent to the trend of posting a black box on your social media account without other steps taken to dismantle the systems of injustice.

— Rachel Lindsay (@TheRachLindsay) June 12, 2020

Lindsay as well as fans have disapproved of the show’s prejudiced past and continue to call the show out.

Ok as much as there has been progress with racial and ethnic diversity, we need to see different types of bodies too. Everyone should feel represented and all bodies are beautiful #TheBachelor

— chantelle good (@chantelle_good) January 26, 2021

Does someone @ABCNetwork + @BachelorABC need a James Bond refresher course? This ain’t it. Standing your first Black Bachelor in front of a prison cell is problematic at best and attention-seeking race-baiting at worst. #TheBachelor #BIPOCBachelor pic.twitter.com/p5WlB3nNXc

— Bachelor Diversity Campaign (@bachdiversity) January 4, 2021

Lindsay added, “I look forward to hearing more about the additional efforts the franchise plans to make towards change.”

Many people have hopes that season 25 allows for future seasons to continue inclusivity, including James himself.

New episodes premier every Monday on ABC.