"The Bachelor" producers admit failing Black leads but plan to rectify issues for "The Bachelorette"

In a twist of events, "The Bachelor" franchise's producers are taking accountability for how the flagship ABC dating reality television show has handed racism that former contestants and leads have faced in the past. Executive producer Claire Freeland said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times published Wednesday, “It’s hard to say out loud, that people of color didn’t see themselves represented, that they did not see ‘The Bachelor’ franchise as a safe place.” Freeland added, “ didn’t have a Black lead in this franchise for 15 years, and that’s inexcusable. It created a vicious cycle, and it’s taken a lot of work to get back to a place where we feel at least we’re working for the positive.” "The Bachelor's" glaring diversity and race issues came to a head in 2020 after casting the first Black Bachelor in Matt James. But that was called into question earlier this year when at the Television Critics Association press tour, NPR TV critic Eric Deggans asked the franchise’s bosses, “Why does the show find it so difficult to handle race issues?” Freeland attempted to answer by addressing where the franchise is now instead of the past. Graebner continued that production “didn’t have the same resources then that we have now.” We need your help to stay independent Subscribe today to support Salon's progressive journalism As a new season of "The Bachelorette" will premiere on July 8, the franchise welcomes its first Asian-American lead in Jenn Tran, a Vietnamese-American woman.