Michelle Young is on her manner to discovering love on The Bachelorette. Although the season looks like it may finish in fortunately ever after for Michelle, the franchise was in a little bit of a darkish place when she accepted the function. Michelle first appeared in the franchise on Matt James’ season of The Bachelor, a season that was marred with racial controversy. So, what made her say sure to the function?
‘The Bachelorette’ controversy
Throughout Matt’s season, it was revealed that considered one of his contestants, Rachael Kirkconnell, had attended a plantation-themed occasion. To make issues worse, former franchise host Chris Harrison defended Rachael’s attendance at the occasion in an interview with Rachel Lindsey, the first Black bachelorette. Chris later stepped down from his place as host due to the backlash he obtained. Chris’ removing led to individuals bashing Rachel a lot that she took a break from social media. The controversy as a complete highlighted the points with racism inside the franchise that had been pushed to the aspect for seasons.
Why did Michelle agree to do ‘The Bachelorette’?
Michelle was introduced as the bachelorette earlier than Katie Thurston’s season even started airing. Round that point, a number of Black and POC members of the franchise have been threatening to go away the franchise if issues didn’t change. However for some motive, Michelle mentioned sure to taking up an even bigger function.
“I think the biggest reason of why I said yes is because how the process challenges you as a person to open up, to stay vulnerable, all of these different things. I knew that I could potentially find my person, and walking into that, I also knew that I’d be able to truly represent who I am — who I am as a woman of color, who I am as a teacher and just carry myself in the same way that I always would,” she informed The Hollywood Reporter of why she agreed to be the bachelorette. “That took a lot of pressure off my shoulders, just because regardless of everything that was going on around me, I know that I was able to stay focused.”
And as the lead, Michelle felt she would have the ability to present what a various love story may appear to be.
“Number one, yes, to find my person,” she mentioned when requested why she accepted the place. “But number two, to just showcase diverse love stories. Walking into it, I didn’t have this type of ‘this is what my person physically has to look like.’ And being able to have other young women of color, girls of color, be able to turn on their TV screens and be able to see somebody who looks like them is not something that happens often whatsoever. And so to give them that opportunity, to be that for even just one other person, I think is incredibly important.”
How has the franchise modified?
Probably the most seen change inside the franchise is Chris’ absence. On The Bachelorette, Chris has been changed by former bachelorettes Kaitlyn Bristowe and the second Black bachelorette, Tayshia Adams. However behind the scenes, issues are altering too. This season is the first with a Black government producer, with Jodi Baskerville taking lead.
The Bachelorette airs on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on ABC.