The show has recently taken tiny steps to diversify its cast.
As of press time, ABC did not respond toAllure’s requests for comment for this piece.
But that wasn’t the breadth of the entire conversation.
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“Even Black menhave the same issueswhen it comes to hair.
It was really nice.
It couldn’t have gone better.”
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Who knows why Vaughn’s part of the conversation made the cut while James’s was edited out.
“But most notably, this conversation struck a chord with Black women.
So I absolutely loved that I could help Black women feel seen and recognized in some small way.”
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Vaughn knew the weight of having a conversation about hair on a national stage would be daunting.
“The conversation between him and his mom during episode one was an attempt at bridging the cultures.
Even theannouncement of Jamesas the lead emphasized that he was raised by a white mother.
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These statements resulted in severe backlash andcalls for his firing.
My ignorance did damage to friends, colleagues, and strangers alike.
I have no one to blame but myself for what I said and the way I spoke.
I set standards for myself, and have not met them.
I feel that with every fiber of my being,” he wrote at the time.
“I believe that mistake doesn’t reflect who I am or what I stand for.
I am committed to the progress not just for myself but also for the franchise.”
Strahan was the first to call Harrison’s apology “nothing more than a surface response.”
“I don’t believe thatThe Bacheloretteis ready for a female lead [with natural hair].
That aesthetic is usually a blonde-haired blue-eyed woman with loose waves wearing an off-the-shoulder floral mini dress.
Franchise alumsAmanda Stanton,Hannah Godwin, andKaitlyn Bristoweare prime examples of this particular look.
This, of course, also explainsThe Bachelor’s lack of hair diversity.
It’s really that simple.
If they want to do better, they can.”
It’s the responsibility of casting and production to do better.
And this isn’t just aBachelorissue, it’s an issue in television overall.
“Too many shows have long, curly, straight, and/or light-haired woman as the lead.
The more natural-looking woman is the best friend, the sidekick, or the overlooked,” Maddox-Semper continues.
Remember when Viola Davistook off her wigonHow To Get Away With Murder?
“On the show, I had straightened hair, which was a mess.
“It was almost impossible to have a hair-care routine on the show.
It was extremely difficult to take care of your hair properly,” Lewis shares.
Still, Lewis has high hopes things can improve.
This allows people to see this hair diversity and become comfortable with what should be a norm.”
This desire is why Lewis decided to wear her hair in braids for theWomen Tell Allportion of the show.
‘Oh, it’s accepted if you’re this or that.'"
She wants itallto be accepted, no matter who you are or your station in life.
She views the conversation between James and Vaughn as the catalyst to a more inclusive, more realistic show.
This writer cannot agree more.
