Rachel Lindsay On Racism From Her Season, Plus Where She Stands With Hannah Brown

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Rachel Lindsay dished more details on her Bachelorette season. She addressed the racism that occurred during her season. The 35-year-old appeared virtually on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on Wednesday, June 17. That’s when she revealed that she was subject to racist attacks when she became the ABC’s first black lead in 2017.

But that’s not all. Rachel also shared her thoughts on Matt James’ Bachelor announcement. She said that she “hated the timing” of the news. This comes amid the nationwide Black Lives Matter protests. Rachel does not hold back when it comes to sensitive subjects such as race.

Rachel Lindsay talks about “racist contestant” from her season

Per People, the reality star spoke to Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live. She revealed that she dealt with racism during her season of The Bachelorette. Rachel also addressed the “racist contestant” that was on during her season. But she got most of that hate from Bachelorette viewers.

“From the audience. I definitely experienced it,” Rachel said. “More so when it came to picking the men, and then at the end, my husband is Colombian, so I got a lot of racism the fact we were in an interracial relationship. Just a lot of nasty messages, trolling.”

Rachel also revealed to Andy that she “did have a racist contestant on my season.” But she stopped short of sharing specific details. She just hopes that Bachelor Matt James doesn’t deal with racism during his season.

“Which is one of the things I’m fighting for Matt James as the first black Bachelor, for them to do a better job at vetting contestants,” Rachel explained. “You need a person of color in the decision room making decisions so that doesn’t happen to them.”

The attorney also revealed that the Bachelorette producers “didn’t do a good job at vetting out” the contestant who was allegedly racist. Rachel hopes that the franchise won’t repeat its past. Not only does the ABC show need to encourage more diversity, but it also needs to take a stand against racism.

Bachelorette alum didn’t like the timing of Matt James’ Bachelor announcement

During her interview on Watch What Happens Live, Rachel Lindsay also shared her thoughts on Matt James becoming the first Black Bachelor. She revealed that she “hated the timing” of the news. Rachel addressed her tweets to the show, asking the franchise to “address the systemic racism within the franchise” after announcing Matt James as the next Bachelor, per E! News.

“I’m excited that there’s a Black Bachelor, I just want to say that. But, I hated the timing of it because it does seem like a reaction to what is happening in our country,” Rachel explained, in a reference to George Floyd. “Did a man have to die in such a public way on a national stage for you to say now is the time for us to have a Black Bachelor? That’s what I hate; it’s taking away from this moment.”

Rachel is also ready to move on from the Hannah Brown N-word drama. She revealed that Hannah apologized to her. Rachel feels that the Alabama native is finally changing her ways. Following the scandal, Hannah apologized to fans for saying the N-word and said there was “no excuse and I will not justify what I said.” Rachel told Andy that she’s happy that Hannah educated herself about it.

“She said my privilege let me hide behind a written statement and hide two weeks from social media,” she continued. “Your privilege didn’t allow you to do that, which is why you have to make a video to say why it’s wrong to say the N-word I thought, ‘My gosh she really has taken time to figure this out.'”

Rachel admits that she has since “forgiven” Hannah. She realizes how awkward it was for Hannah to reach out to her after the controversy. Now, she just wants to move on from that matter.

Chanel Adams

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