‘Bachelor’ Stars Sign Petition Calling For A Black Lead in Season 25

Bachelor stars are calling on ABC to diversify the franchise with a new petition spreading across Twitter. Former competitors and leads on the reality TV dating series, including Nick Viall, Katilyn Bristowe, Diggy Moreland and Ashley Spivey, are expressing support for “A Campaign For Anti-Racism in the Bachelor Franchise”, which calls for a Black Bachelor in Season 25.

The petition currently has over 55,000 signatures, just two days after it was first posted online. “Representation matters, and it is one of the most important ways our country can embrace its diversity and evolve,” the petition states. The online campaign includes a specific list of requests from ABC and Warner Bros. to improve the Bachelor experience for people of color, including equal screen time for contestants of color and an public apology from ABC and Warner Bros. for “enabling systemic racism within the franchise.”

“The franchise, and all those who represent it, should reflect and honor the racial diversity of our country — both in front of and behind the camera,” the petition states.

Viall, Bristowe, Moreland and Spivey are among many franchise members who have signed the petition and shared the link on social media encouraging Bachelor fans to join them. Other stars joining the Bachelor diversity campaign include Becca Tilley, Desiree Siegfried, Tyler Cameron, Olivia Caridi, Mykenna Dorn, Jubilee Sharpe, JoJo Fletcher and Amanda Stanton, Us Weekly reports.

“It’s easy to make a statement, but actions speak louder than words. Join me in demanding that @ABCNetwork and @BachelorABC back their statements with action in their representation of BIPOC leads and casting,” wrote Spivey, who competed on Season 15 of The Bachelor. 

“I can’t believe we have to FORCEFULLY ask them for this…,” wrote Moreland, a Season 13 Bachelorette competitor.

Fans already have a Bachelor in mind for upcoming Season 25: Mike Johnson. Johnson has been a fan favorite since his time on The Bachelorette, and many fans were disappointed to see him passed over for the Bachelor lead in Season 24.

The Season 15 Bachelorette contestant spoke out about the show’s diversity issue last year when Peter Webber was cast as the Bachelor lead instead of him. “After 24 Bachelors, a black Bachelor should have been cast,” he told Entertainment Tonight. “I think that there should be an Asian lead, an Indian lead… diversity is not just black and white. It’s not just salt and pepper.”

The petition is gaining traction the same week that former Bachelor competitor and Season 13 Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay spoke out again about the show’s treatment of contestants of color. Lindsay also signed the petition, but posted on her blog yesterday (June 8) to outline her own requests for the Bachelor franchise, and to share her experience as a Black contestant on a historically white show.

“People of color become placeholders as the token person of color to add some flavor to the second half of the season,” Lindsay wrote.

Lindsay threatened to quit the franchise if real changes are not made to address the diversity issue, which she has brought up multiple times. “I am tired of asking for change and my requests have been ineffective,” she wrote. “These changes have to extend beyond casting a lead of color. The whole franchise needs a diversity makeover.”

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