Rachel Lindsay was announced as the first African-American "Bachelorette". (Photo : Screenshot from YouTube "Jimmy Kimmel & Chris Harrison Reveal Next Bachelorette")
On Monday, ABC shocked its viewers when the network confirmed Rachel Lindsay as their first Black "Bachelorette", a move considered by fans as a break in the long-standing franchise norms.
The selection and manner of announcement of Lindsay as the first black lead of the show was described "so early" as she still competes as one of the remaining four contestants on "The Bachelor", The Huffington Post reported.
But viewers may understand ABC's decision to make the announcement of the next "Bachelorette" earlier than expected. In a sit down interview with Kelly Rippa, longtime "Bachelor" and "Bachelorette" host Chris Harrison explained it was due to the "weird TV calendar stuff".
"We're done and she [Rachel Lindsay] goes further in the show... We would like to cast the show for her [because] we cast all year long... And so we want to cast the show for Rachel, but we can't do that in two day," PEOPLE cited Harrison during his interview on Live with Kelly on Friday.
While viewers celebrate the racial issues being addressed in the show, according to The Huffington Post, the move was not just a "historic pick" but rather, Lindsay made a mark in the show for her "extreme perfection".
"She's not the first lawyer or the first warm, nurturing woman or the first conventionally stunning Bachelorette - but she is all of those things at once, a rare complete package," The Huffington Post reported.
In an interview with PEOPLE after the show's revelation, Lindsay expressed her feelings as the Black American woman to be on "The Bachelorette". "I'm happy to represent myself as a black woman in front of America and I'm happy for America to rally behind me and see what it's like for me to be on this journey to find love," she said.
Moreover, she also added while she feels both excited and nervous, the 31-year old lawyer explained there is no added pressure "being the first Black Bachelorette". "I'm just a black woman trying to find love. Yes, I'm doing on this huge stage, but again my journey of love isn't any different just because my skin color is," Lindsay revealed to PEOPLE.
Watch the video below to the new "Bachelorette" Rachel Lindsay in a sit down interview with Good Morning America.
