Rachel Lindsay hasn’t been shy about where she stands on The Bachelor’s systematic racism and lack of diversity. The former Bachelorette, 35, recently called out the franchise, saying the show needs to change ASAP.
Lindsay shared her thoughts in a super telling blog post, where she detailed five specific ways the dating series can improve and use its platform for the greater good. Here’s what she had to say.
Lindsay said that simply adding Black men and women to their lists of contestants is not nearly enough and that the show should cast leads who are actually open to interracial relationships. “Cast leads that are truly interested in dating outside of their race,” she wrote.
The former Bachelorette demanded ABC step up and address the problem. “Stop making excuses for the lack of diversity and take action to rectify the problem,” she added.
Beyond casting, Lindsay also called for the hiring of Black crew members. “Diversify the producers on the show to make your contestants of color feel more comfortable,” she explained.
Whether we like it or not, cast members are often portrayed as villains. Lindsay encouraged The Bachelor to allow relationships to form naturally, adding, “Stop creating problematic storylines for people of color.”
Lastly, Lindsay called on ABC to accept responsibility for its actions. “The franchise should make a statement acknowledging their systemic racism,” she wrote. (Read the full blog post here.)
Your move, ABC.