Mike Johnson says Matt James being named the first Black Bachelor "just felt very forced to me," calling the show's diversity response "atrocious"

Variety

Johnson, who is coming out with a book titled Making the Love You Want in October, says The Bachelor franchise's diversity efforts have been "atrocious." He says it "was pretty dope" when James was surprisingly selected as the new Bachelor, "and I texted Matt to congratulate him and called him." But when asked if he thought the announcement was poorly handled, he tells Variety: "Oh, 100% — I think everyone thinks that, right? We were all talking about Clare (Crawley) being The Bachelorette, and before her season had even aired, we bring on a different Bachelor? That the timing was definitely off. I think everyone can agree with that. At the time that they said it, it was peculiar. It wasn’t natural. It was forced. That’s how it felt for me. Even if I were chosen to be The Bachelor, my homeboys would tell me, Why did they announce you right now? It’s not about the person in the role, but it’s about the timing of the role being announced. It just felt very forced to me." ALSO: Johnson says he's not surprised Clare Crawley found love with his friend before taping began.