The Bachelorette’s Mike Johnson was considered a favorite to become the first Black Bachelor, so what does he think about the recent push for diversity in the franchise? He’s revealed that he’s less than impressed with their efforts. 

Mike Johnson was a popular contestant on Hannah Brown’s season of The Bachelorette last year. It wasn’t a surprise that the franchise chose airline pilot Peter Weber to be The Bachelor instead, even though there was an online campaign for Johnson to be chosen as Bachelor. Fans gravitated towards Johnson’s big smile and family values. He was selected to be on season 6 of Bachelor In Paradise, but he broke off his short lived relationship with fellow cast mate Sydney Lotuaco, telling the Bachelor Happy Hour with Rachel & Ali podcast, “I felt like our connection was just not there whatsoever” (via US Weekly). He was high in the running for Bachelor again this year as pressure increased on the franchise to add more diversity to the cast, but overlooked once again in favor of Matt James. Johnson posted an Instagram live video telling fans that he was very happy for Matt James, who he considers a friend and was thrilled to watch a Black man become The Bachelor. 

Related: Bachelorette: Clare Crawley Engaged to Show Contestant Dale Moss

However, in an exclusive interview with Variety this week, Johnson spilled what he really thinks about the franchise’s push for diversity. When asked about the franchise’s historic lack of diversity, Johnson said, “It’s atrocious. There have been numerous, wonderful Black and indigenous people of color that could have been cast in lead roles, and for the franchise not to do that, it’s just terrible. It should not have taken an outcry from the fans.” The outcry for more diversity came from fans and former Bachelor stars alike during the George Floyd protests earlier this year. Fans formed the Bachelor Diversity Campaign on social media to address the issues and push for more Black leads. Rachel Lindsay, the first and only Black Bachelorette, was particularly vocal about the need for change. Johnson also commented on Lindsay’s assertion that the timing of the Matt James announcement was strange. “Oh 100% -- I think everyone thinks that, right?” he said when asked if the announcement was handled poorly. “It wasn’t natural. It was forced. That’s how it felt to me,” Johnson continued. 

Mike Johnson in The Bachelorette

Johnson was also asked about the drama brewing on the new season of The Bachelorette. The season has already been through several changes because of the pandemic, but most recently stories have surfaced that Clare Crawley has quit the show and is already engaged to contestant Dale Moss.

The producers appear to be bringing in Tayshia Adams, who is Black, to replace Clare. “I don’t feel Tayshia was chosen because she is a Black woman,” he said, “I think whatever the hell happened, they needed a new Bachelorette, and it had nothing to do with diversity.” He does however, think Tayshia will be a great lead for the show, and is happy for the representation regardless. “I’m obviously a proponent of representation,” Johnson began, continuing, “if [Tayshia’s] the new Bachelorette, which it seems almost certain that she is Bachelorette--this is wonderful. And I know she wants love, I know she’s extremely thoughtful in her process of thinking things through and she loves to have fun. She’s a wonderful catch.” Despite his criticism, Johnson is still friendly with the franchise - will this be the last we see of him? Most likely not.

Next: The Bachelorette: Will Tayshia Adams’ Ex John Paul Jones Try to Win Her Back?

Source: Variety, US Weekly