The Bachelor and The Bachelorette franchises haven’t exactly been beacons of inclusion. In fact, a quick look at the overwhelming whiteness of the cast over the years reveals it’s far from it.
When Rachel Lindsay was selected as the lead for The Bachelorette in 2017, she made overdue history as the franchise’s first ever Black bachelorette. Could we finally be seeing the franchise’s first Black bachelor?

Fans are already calling for 31-year-old Mike Johnson to become the next lead of The Bachelor. The portfolio manager and Air Force vet has quickly emerged as the fan favorite on the latest season of The Bachelorette. Past Black contestants who fans who have been clamoring to bestow upon the status of “the first Black Bachelor” include Willis Reid, a contestant on season 14 of The Bachelorette and Eric Bigger, on season 13.

But, #MikeForBachelor is seemingly the biggest movement in favor of a Black contestant leading the franchise’s flagship show.

Me if ABC plays with my emotions and Mike is not announced as the next bachelor #mikeforbachelor #thebachelor #thebachelorette pic.twitter.com/tXVPXcCBeX

— Bachelorette Rose (@RealityRose_) May 28, 2019

Okay, starting the #MikeForBachelor campaign right now. #TheBachelorette pic.twitter.com/nynhSMi6h1

— Kristen Baldwin (@KristenGBaldwin) May 21, 2019

#TheBachelorette petition for mike to be the next bachelor pic.twitter.com/4zl8y0emhV

— ???????????????????????????? (@natgb3) May 28, 2019

Me whenever I see Mike #TheBachelorette #mikeforbachelor pic.twitter.com/Wn8hatpBJm

— Bachelorette Rose (@RealityRose_) May 28, 2019

#mikeforbachelor @fleissmeister MAKE THIS HAPPEN!!! We’ve had enough white guys with brown hair! America needs Mike! #magicmike

— Rachel Ruehling (@rach_ruehling) May 28, 2019

Wow, I wonder who everyone wants for #TheBachelor. So naturally, we’ll probably get some rando from 5 seasons ago instead. #ThaBachelorette #MikeForBachelor #MikeForPresident pic.twitter.com/UxUSR2HcD4

— Bachelor Banter (@BachelorTweets2) June 4, 2019

Mike is my forever mood . #MikeForBachelor #TheBachelorette pic.twitter.com/35tqsj0m7k

— Mashie Clunie (@aneekineek) June 4, 2019

I can’t find Mike Johnson on Twitter, but he HAS to be the next bachelor! @TheBachelorTV #MikeforBachelor

— Jasmine Senecal (@JasmineSenecal) June 4, 2019

#mikeforbachelor ALL. DAY. LONG. #TheBachelorette pic.twitter.com/mj8vMGF9gW

— Lauren T (@LaurenT6788) June 4, 2019

I’ve been saying #mikeforbachelor since episode 1…welcome to my bandwagon pic.twitter.com/2GMNT64NDe

— ???????? Kaela ????❤️ (@wheelsb4heels) June 4, 2019

i mean #MikeForBachelor #thebachelorette pic.twitter.com/vnJyMKJno2

— kabletown (@kable_town) June 4, 2019

With such fanfare behind Mike, will casting execs for the ABC reality show acquiesce to viewer demand and give us the long overdue Black lead of The Bachelor people have been clamoring for? Only time will tell.

READ MORE:

ABC Names Its First Black ‘Bachelorette’ – Rachel Lindsay

Photo: John Fleenor/ABC via Getty Images

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