'The Bachelor' News: A Black 'Bachelor' or 'Bachelorette' May Finally Happen

By Paula Dela Cruz, Christian Post Contributor Monday, January 11, 2016

A black "Bachelor" or "Bachelorette" may finally happen.

There have been 20 seasons of "The Bachelor" and 11 seasons of "The Bachelorette," and the biggest risk that the two reality dating shows could take is to cast a Latino candidate. "UnREAL," which is a TV drama following the format of the ABC show, has already made the announcement that they will be casting an African-American Bachelor last week, and fans wonder when would "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette" follow.

During the last Television Critics Association press tour, Paul Lee, ABC's chief, finally hinted to Entertainment Weekly the possibility of casting a black "Bachelor" and "Bachelorette" in the upcoming seasons. "I'd be very surprised if The Bachelorette in the summer wasn't diverse. Perhaps I shouldn't have said that, but I think that's likely to happen. I think the tweaks that Mike Fleiss have put in place will get us where we want to go," Lee teased.

However, it is still unclear whether the "diverse" casting or "tweaks" meant that the show will be casting a black "Bachelorette" in its 12th season, adding an African-American "Bachelor" among the pool of suitors, or having a black "Bachelor" next season. Fans will just have to wait this summer to see if "The Bachelorette" will indeed embrace "diversity."

Since most of the "Bachelors" and "Bachelorettes" cast are usually among the candidates from the previous seasons of the show, US Weekly already picked out the two possible "Bachelorettes" next season, based on Lee's recent statement. They are Amber James and Jubilee Sharpe, who are both women of color.

The show's creator and executive producer, Mike Fleiss, said that the whole team is "making a concentrated effort" to make this happen hopefully on the next "Bachelorette," and added, "We're gonna do everything possible to pick the right person and add a little diversity to our cast." Viewers can't wait to see if the EP can stay true to his promise for the upcoming seasons.

Watch "The Bachelor" tonight, Jan. 11, on ABC.