'The Bachelor': How is Matt James Black with a 'White mom'? Fans slam ABC for misrepresenting his race

One wrote, 'Season 25 the first black Bachelor and he's biracial... So you not the first black Bachelor Sir. My God #ABC do better there are other race of people in the world today!'
Matt James, Patty James (ABC)
Matt James, Patty James (ABC)

Season 25 of 'The Bachelor' is here and the real estate agent and new heartthrob Matt James has clearly swept the suitresses off their feet. Host Chris Harrison said at the beginning of the show how honored the show was to have James aboard and the bachelor said it was a privilege to be the first Black bachelor in the franchise history. 

James's identity was all that the audience discussed until they were introduced to his White mother Patty James, who appeared on the show briefly to support her son and address his "vulnerability". The new bachelor opened up about the struggles of growing up under the care of a single parent, as his Black father separated from his family early on. While the viewers did appreciate his upbringing and his desire to find true love, but they just couldn't wrap their heads around the representation of his race. 

Several fans have argued on social media that James isn't Black but bi-racial and it wasn't fair on the part of the network to misrepresent the same. 

In conversation with the host, James admits that he doesn't want to "piss of White people or Black people" as he belongs to both the communities and experienced the struggles of interracial marriage through his parents' marriage. 

On watching James's mothers segment, one fan tweeted, "#TheBachelor this whole 'oh now we got a black bachelor feels a little like a con because I feel he could be a little white washed but I guess I gotta watch and see." Another added, "#TheBachelor I dont wanna go here but another 'black' leading man on one of these shows with a white mama reminds me of of love island where all the 'black' ones had a white mom."

One wrote, "Season 25 the first black Bachelor and he's biracial... So you not the first black Bachelor Sir. My God #ABC do better there are other race of people in the world today! #TheBachelor." Adding to the previous tweets one said, "Matt James is Biracial, but the term 'FIRST BLACK' is still being used. I don't like that. #TheBachelor."



 



 



 



 

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