‘Bachelorette’ Contestant Mike Johnson Criticizes Franchise’s Diversity Efforts as ‘Atrocious’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentThe next season of ABC’s “The Bachelor” will feature the franchise’s first Black star in 25 seasons with leading man Matt James. However, a few seasons before James was selected, the network had been eyeing fan-favorite contestant, Mike Johnson, who appeared on Season 15 of “The Bachelorette” and then on “Bachelor In Paradise.”Johnson was ultimately not selected to be “The Bachelor” for the season that ended up starring Peter Weber, even though fans had started an online campaign for Johnson to be the first Black Bachelor.Though Johnson doesn’t rule out becoming “The Bachelor” in the future, he is now turning his attention to writing, as a first-time author of “Making the Love You Want” (out on Oct.