ABC’s popular reality dating franchise, “The Bachelor,” is sticking with its usual format and choosing a former contestant to lead its next season. On Monday, after he was eliminated from season 21 of “The Bachelorette,” Grant Ellis was announced as the star of “The Bachelor” Season 29. He is only the second Black man to lead the series since its debut in 2002.
The network describes the former pro basketball player turned day trader as “a self-proclaimed mama’s boy” with an “infectious smile and unwavering positivity [who] instantly brightens every room he enters.” He’s looking for “a partner who shares his values of loyalty, humor and a deep appreciation for life’s simple pleasures.” We wish him well, but “Bachelor Nation’s” low success rate isn’t exactly a secret, so the chances of him actually finding lasting love aren’t great.
To say the franchise has a difficult history with race is an understatement. As previously reported by The Root, back in June, executive producers Claire Freeland and Bennett Graebner finally discussed the franchise’s issues with race, acknowledging that they didn’t do enough to protect Matt James, the first Black Bachelor.
“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. We didn’t have a Black lead in this franchise for 15 years, and that’s inexcusable,” Graebner said. “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.”
James’ season became engulfed in controversy when old photos of contestant Rachel Kirkconnell at an “Antebellum era, old south” fraternity party hit the internet. As the backlash got louder, then-host Chris Harrison defended Kirkconnell, inserting himself in the scandal, which ended with him leaving the franchise. None of this was James’ fault, but as the lead, he found himself carrying the weight of the chaos.
“That season went wrong on so many levels. We did not protect him as we should have. The finale of that season was the darkest day I’ve had on this franchise,” Graebner said. “Here was this great Black man, and we should have been celebrating his love story. Instead, what we saw was a man burdened and overwhelmed by issues of racism. It was really sad for me personally.”
We certainly hope producers have truly learned their lesson and will do a better job for Ellis. However, the real question is, will this make a difference for Black viewers. As Graebner said, the franchise doesn’t feel like a safe space for Black fans, so will having another Black Bachelor bring us back to the fray?
Part of the appeal of “Bachelor Nation” is the messiness. Fans watch to enjoy the craziness. But if you’ve been telling us for over 20 years that we’re not important to the franchise, adding a Black Bachelor isn’t going to suddenly make us care about people who will likely break up days after the finale airs.
“The Bachelor” Season 29 debuts on ABC in 2025, however, “The Bachelorette” Season 21 is currently airing Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC and streaming on Hulu.