//Former Wake Forest Wide Receiver Matt James Announced As Next ‘Bachelor’

Former Wake Forest Wide Receiver Matt James Announced As Next ‘Bachelor’

James played for Wake Forest from 2011 to 2014.

Former Wake Forest Wide receiver Matt James has been announced as The Bachelor for the 25th season of ABC’s hit reality TV show. James is the first black male lead in the show’s 18-year history. 

The decision comes as former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay wrote a blog post demanding the show to improve upon its lack of diversity.

“We know we have a responsibility to make sure the love stories we’re seeing onscreen are representative of the world we live in and we are proudly in service to our audience,” ABC Entertainment president Karey Burke said in a statement, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “This is just the beginning and we will continue to take action with regard to diversity issues on this franchise. We feel so privileged to have Matt as our first Black Bachelor and we cannot wait to embark on