The Daily Beast
Single Matt James refuses to hug racist Rachael goodbye at the end of evisceration
Craig Sjodin Early Monday evening, all Bachelor Nation’s eyes were on Emmanuel I think. Former NFL linebacker, sports analyst and host Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man stepped in to host the special “After the Final Rose” after Matt James’ Bachelor’s final after Chris Harrison temporarily stepped aside. For most of this season, ABC and Bachelor producer Warner Bros. declined to address the racism scandal that has consumed online conversations about this season. As I think I said Monday night: “Some of these conversations here tonight can make people a little uncomfortable. They will not be easy. But my hope is that if we can speak openly and honestly, we can take important steps towards mutual understanding and healing. “Earlier this season, Bachelor fans discovered an alarming earlier behavior from this season’s vanguard, Rachael Kirkconnell; the images showed that she “liked” disturbing posts on social media and wore offensive fantasies. The show did not address the rumors on the air – but last month Chris Harrison fell into trouble while defending Rachael’s decision to attend an Old South themed party in 2018 during an Extra TV interview with Rachel Lindsay. Rachael and Harrison have apologized, and Harrison is on a hiatus from the show; Lindsay, the first black maiden, has announced that she will be leaving the franchise as soon as her contract ends. Matt chose Rachael as his winner on Monday night, as expected. His mother, Patty James, and his brother, John James, had wonderful meetings with Rachael and runner-up Michelle Young. (Meaning: Patty wept profusely during both, while Matt’s brother commented on how much that “journey” seems to have changed him.) But Patty, who raised her children as a single mother, also warned James to remember that love alone cannot support a married person. Matt finally decided he couldn’t “get there” with Michelle, and chose to leave the show with Rachael – not involved, but still very much in love. Should ‘The Bachelor’ fire Chris Harrison? Eight Black Contestants Sound Off It was only then, two hours later, that the moment fans were really waiting for finally arrived: I think it opened “After the Final Rose”, promising to dive into the various controversies of the season and reveal what happened to the romance of Matt and Rachael. Fans of dirty readings have known for some time that Matt and Rachael had parted ways as a result of photos of her attending a themed planting party in 2018. In “After the Final Rose”, Matt confirmed to I think this was “You want to believe that you know your person better than anyone else,” said Matt. “… You hear things that are heartbreaking and just pray that they are not true. And then, when you find out who they are, it just makes you question everything. “As soon as Rachael released his apology and realized the rumors were true, Matt said,” I was not well. ” It was at that moment, he said, that he realized “Rachael may not understand what it means to be black in America”. Being the first black bachelor, said Matt, was a great deal of pressure – mainly because he had to consider how his every move could be interpreted by people for whom “it was the first time someone like me at his home.” I think that’s just what we are conditioned to do as black men, “said Matt.” Making people comfortable with your blackness and going the extra mile to show that in stature and personality, you are not as threatening as you look. ” Breaking up with Rachael, Matt said, was “as difficult as you can imagine.” But, he added, if in 2018 Rachael didn’t know that going to a plantation-themed party was offensive, “there’s a lot of me that you won’t to understand. It’s as simple as that. “Throughout his appearance, Matt seemed genuinely distressed. His season would never solve the franchise’s old racing problem, but his result was genuinely shameful. At various times, Matt’s eyes filled of tears while I think, obediently playing his role of presenter and therefore the man in charge of extracting as much emotion as possible from these interviews with the cast, nudged him for an insight into his emotions. the unfair position that the show put Matt in: his journey for love has already been tainted by racism, and now he must face the emotional consequences on live television to end. exercise was useless. After talking to Matt, I think I brought Rachael alone. If anything could make this season’s public misfortune a learning moment for the show and its base of conflicting viewers – many of whom still defend Rachael – it would be Monday’s conversation between her and I think. with Rachael – although he kept her out of harm’s way at times. For example: when he asked Rachael what she was doing to improve, the competitor visibly avoided the question, saying that she “could” list all the resources she consulted, but in the end her actions would be what would count. (I don’t think he pressured Rachael to even name an appeal, or to describe any actions she has taken in the month since the scandal first broke out.) Rachael said she still loved Matt – but almost as soon as Matt sat with her and I think, it was clear that your emotions are still very raw. Several times, when spurred on even by the possibility that he and Rachael might be reconciled, Matt seemed to drop the idea – the last time he refused to embrace his goodbye. Matt hugged Rachael when he returned to the stage for the first time. She apologized to him for not understanding why he was so upset about the photo in the beginning. Matt took a long break at that point – the first of many, one of which would last for what seemed like an eternity before I think I was going to the commercial break. At first, Matt said just one thing to Rachael: “It is painful and it is devastating. It’s just … It’s just disappointing. I think it encouraged Matt to go deeper, and then he fell into that painfully long silence. Rachael put a hand on his shoulder. After some time, Matt finally said to Rachael: “The most disappointing thing for me was having to explain to you why what I saw was problematic and why I was so upset … When I questioned our relationship, it was in the context of you. not fully understanding my blackness and what it means to be a black man in America. And what it would mean for our children. “” This is the last conversation I thought we would have, “said Matt.” I didn’t sign up for this conversation “And I knew I needed to take a step back to put that job you described you needed to do. And this is something you need to do alone. And that’s why we can’t have a relationship.” Matt that she is no longer the person she was in 2018. She said that she entered the program specifically for him – “and that includes every part of you, and that obviously includes you being a black man” – and added that “at this point, I simply I don’t see how I can have those same feelings for someone else. ”Matt told Rachael that love like what he felt for her didn’t just disappear and that he didn’t like to see her hurt. “But then I wonder, like, I don’t want to be emotionally responsible for these tears, because it’s like, the work and reconciliation that needs to be done is something that I can’t do for you. I know that you are able to do that. ”’The Bachelor’ Should Be Ashamed of What Was Done to Matt JamesBoth I think and Matt emphasized that they don’t want Rachael to be“ canceled ”. As Matt said, “I want you to be called and I want you to do this job, because it is the best thing that can come out of it, and it is something she needs to do on her own.” the program over, I think asked Rachael to tell Matt what she would like him to hear if it was the last time they spoke. “From the first day,” she said, “all I want is for you to be happy. And I just want what’s best for you, and I’m sorry, and I thank God for putting you in my life to begin with, and I will always be grateful for everything we share and for the time we spend together. I think then asked Matt if he would like to give Rachael a goodbye hug one last time. After one last long pause, Matt simply replied, “I don’t know if it’s ever going to hurt to hear these things.” Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top news in your inbox every day. Subscribe now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper into the stories that matter to you. To know more.