ABC reality boss expected diversity backlash over Peter Weber as The Bachelor, but insists "he was the strongest option"

Variety

ABC is facing criticism again for selecting a white Bachelor, especially when it had the strong contender in Mike Johnson, who is black. “I think there will be backlash and you’re always going to get backlash," says ABC reality chief Rob Mills. "I frankly can’t recall a single Bachelor or Bachelorette choice who was universally agreed upon. The backlash is always hard. We really really care about the audience and you don’t want to disappoint anyone. It’s hard to not take it personally when people say, ‘You don’t listen to us or why did you choose this person over that?’ But you just have to have faith in the choice you made. We think Peter was the strongest option, we felt he was the guy who would give us the best 22 hours of television.”