Rachel Lindsay is absolutely fed up with The Bachelor franchise’s lack of diversity.
The 35-year-old star is the first and only Black person to lead a season of the ABC hit show since its inception in 2002 and at this point, as the Black Lives Matter movement continues to gain traction around the world, Lindsay is running out of patience and f**ks to give for a series that’s clearly falling behind the times!
Related: The Bachelor‘s Amanda Stanton Denies Protesting With Her Kids For Fame
Speaking with Kelsey Meyer on the Friday episode of AfterBuzz TV’s Bachelor A.M., Rachel compared the reality TV series to the state of America:
“In 40 seasons, you’ve had one black lead. We have had 45 presidents and in 45 presidents, you have one black president. You are almost on par to say you’re more likely to become the president of the United States than you are a black lead in this franchise. That’s insane. That’s ridiculous.”
Wow. Very profound and she’s not wrong about that one! Ironically, we have a former reality TV personality sitting as our current leader. SMH! The Dallas-native first appeared on season 21 of The Bachelor starring Nick Viall and later went on to lead season 13 of The Bachelorette — but this is hardly the first time she’s addressed this particular issue.
As some may recall, she famously took up for contestant Mike Johnson when ABC execs passed on him (FYI, he was the only Black male candidate up for consideration last year) in favor of Peter Weber, who led season 24. Not to mention, she’s also had to confront jerks like former contestant Lee Garrett, who’s closeted racist behavior somehow slipped past the casting department before he appeared on her season. Rachel has undoubtedly done some heavy labor in calling things out when others won’t — and yet she still criticized herself for not doing more:
“And what bothers me about the franchise is that… I’ve almost been a bit complicit and silent…I mean, I’ve always been very outspoken in my frustration about the need for diversity ever since I’ve been a lead – I’ve always spoken on that.”
She continued:
“But there’s certain things that have frustrated me in the franchise. We don’t speak on things the contestants do that are racist. And it bothers me that certain things have happened that we say “Oh hush, hush and let’s just move on past it. No we need to acknowledge it because what you’re doing is perpetuating this type of behavior.”
The starlet argued that’s exactly what some viewers tried to do in the wake of Hannah Brown‘s n-word controversy, and slammed “the way that people attacked me just for holding her accountable. That is the type of audience that you are breeding.”
“And I don’t know how you look, how you are a part of the Bachelor franchise and you’re watching what’s happening in our country right now and you don’t self reflect that you’ve been part of the problem as you continue to perpetuate this type of behavior. When you’re putting out something that is very white washed and doesn’t have any type of color in it and you’re not trying to be effective and change that. So I think they have to, at this point, give us a black Bachelor for season 25.”
And if those changes aren’t made?
“You have to, I don’t know how you don’t, and it’s been asked of me, will I continue in this franchise if it continues in this way, I can’t.”
A line in the sand has definitely been drawn, as she added:
“It’s ridiculous. It’s embarrassing. At this point it’s embarrassing to be affiliated with it.”
Hear more of what Rachel had to say within the full conversation (below):
It’s unfortunate that one woman has taken on the burden of speaking on these issues for a show that’s been around since 2002. Echoing her sentiments, it’s shameful, really! But perhaps the franchise is finally listening and ready to make a change?
Related: Hannah Brown Tells Fans ‘You Should Not Defend’ Her Use Of The N-Word!
According to a new Twitter account that popped up this week called @BachDiversity, a campaign for racial inclusivity is launching on Monday, June 8 and it’s said to be spearheaded by popular series commenter Brett S. Vergara and other undisclosed members of Bachelor Nation. This graphic is the only info that has been shared thus far and it’s unclear if this initiative will be backed by the network as they have not reposted or engaged with the tweet:
Perezcious TV addicts, what’s your take on all of this? Are there any specific things you’d like to see from this franchise going forward that hasn’t already been mentioned by Lindsay or others??
Sound OFF (below) in the comments section…
[Image via Brian To/WENN]
The post Former <i>Bachelorette</i> Rachel Lindsay Says She’ll Exit The ‘White-Washed’ Franchise If Diversity Issues Aren’t Fixed appeared first on Perez Hilton.