“We often see dangerous stereotypes and negative representations of black parents in the media,” said ABC’s first black bachelor, in part, on Monday night.
Matt James has a message for viewers who have tuned in The bachelor on Monday night: observe with “nuances, care and also with the understanding that there are real systemic problems at stake”.
ABC’s first Black Bachelor hit social media shortly after Monday’s episode started airing to talk about a conversation he has with his distant father, who airs at the beginning of the two-hour show.
The scene showed James sitting with his father to talk about the bachelor’s education. “There is still a lot of fear about what a long-term commitment would be based on what I have seen in my family in the past, and that is not healthy,” says James to the camera. “I am still very afraid of what the commitment would be based on his and my mother’s relationship. And this is not something I want to carry with me. Maintaining this negativity in my life has not made any progress in my relationships. It has hindered my growth. And for me to move on, I need to deal with these demons in my life. “
The meeting came at a crucial moment for the Bachelor star, since he only had three finalists. These women – Bri Springs, Michelle Young and Rachael Kirkconnell – were his remaining competitors heading for the traditional Fantasy Suites week, where James has the opportunity to have an evening date with each woman and without the interference from the show’s cameras. At the end of the episode, he would limit himself to his final two women towards the end.
In previous interviews in The bachelor, James said he was raised by his mother, which viewers already knew, after his parents divorced. During the nearly 10-minute scene that aired on Monday, James confronted his father about this story. “When I needed you, you weren’t there,” said the star. “It was not a good thing that I was cheating. I am not proud of that,” replied the father.
Ultimately, his father apologized for hurting him and James accepted the apology. “Whatever I can do to improve, I will work on it. I want you to be happy for the rest of your life and I want you to have a healthy relationship; not like what I went through,” said James’ father.
Taking to his social media on Monday night, James put the conversation in a broader context, particularly with the session airing during a time when racial issues and representation around black competitors are being called into the franchise. reality.
“Tonight’s conversation with my father was difficult to experience, and it is so difficult to watch all this time later, especially knowing that the world is watching with me,” wrote James in a Twitter topic.
He continued: “I just wanted to say that we often see dangerous stereotypes and negative representations of black parents in the media. And they have consequences when presented without context. All I hope is that people will watch this conversation with nuance, care and also the realization that there are real systemic problems at stake. I am very proud of myself for being vulnerable and very proud of my mother. I would not be who I am without my father. That is a fact. “
In his post, he included a link to The Opportunity Agenda, a social justice communication lab, and an article entitled “Media Portrayals and Black Male Outcomes”, which explores the link between black male representations in the media and public prejudice .
The Hollywood Reporter contacted ABC and Warner Bros. to comment.
The social media response to James’s post was quick. The Bachelor Diversity Campaign, a group of fans who called for anti-racism in the franchise, shared some of the responses on their Twitter account (“Why is ABC so comfortable exploring the trauma of the black family, but so hesitant to show the black love? ” wrote a fan) and Rachel Lindsay – the first Black Bachelorette in the franchise who conducted the interview with Chris Harrison who started the current firestorm – announced that she was ending her hiatus from talking about the franchise during the episode.
Lindsay, who co-hosts podcasts for Bachelor Nation and The Ringer, had deactivated his social media accounts because of serious online bullying after the interview with Harrison. She recently returned to social media and, on Monday, made an appearance on The Ringerin Bachelor Party podcast, saying: “After what I saw tonight … I can’t be quiet and I have to talk about this @bachelorabc episode and the perpetuation of stereotypes in the black community.”
James, who is the first male lead in 25 seasons of the ABC franchise, is speaking out a week before the end of his season. The historic cycle ends on March 15 with a two-hour pre-recorded ending that will be followed by a After the Final Rose Special.
The special, which will be presented by Emmanuel I think due to veteran host Harrison departing from the franchise due to off-screen controversy, is set to address the ongoing dialogue on racial issues within the franchise – a broader conversation that was sparked by racist allegations against finalist Kirkconnell and Harrison’s problematic defense of claims.
Post-season developments led James to “reevaluate and process his experience in The bachelor represents “as the first black male protagonist; he noted in a previous statement that real-time developments were” devastating and painful to be blunt. “