James is clearly struggling in the wake of his public debut on national television and subsequent breakup, and his comportment on “ After the Final Rose” begs us to consider if “ The Bachelor” exploited a Black man’s trauma to seem more “woke.” The show’s decision to cast their first Black bachelor was seen by many as a response to criticism about the show’s enduring whiteness - there is an entire Wikipedia page entitled “ ‘ The Bachelor’ and race.” Even given all that choosing a Black bachelor seemed to signify, the show continues to be mired in racial controversy and white women’s tears. Some highlights from James ‘ segment include his statement that Kirkconnell “might not understand what it means to be Black in America,” his refusal to embrace Kirkconnell and an awkward silence so long that it was still going after a commercial break. Kirkconnell seemed hesitant to speak, and when asked if she was ready to discuss the drama with James, who had been waiting offstage, she gave a nervous laugh and replied, “no.” Of course, James joined anyways, and they had a terse conversation about the role Kirkconell’s past played in their breakup.

James still had the beard during the emotional finale, in which Acho posed questions to Kirkconnell about the Antebellum photos, an event that had been banned by Kappa Alpha ( the hosting fraternity ) in 2016, two years before Kirkconnell participated. Many viewers had predicted the split after seeing James’ scraggly beard on the mid-season special, “The Women Tell All.” Kirkconnell ended up being Bachelor Matt James’ choice at the end of the 2021 season, though the two have since broken up amid the controversy. Harrison ‘ stepped aside’ after he came under fire for defending contestant Rachael Kirkconnell, a white woman who had attended an Antebellum-themed party in 2018. When “The Bachelor” ( 2002– ) producers tapped Emmanuel Acho, former NFL linebacker and author of “ Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man ” ( 2020 ), to replace “After the Final Rose” host Chris Harrison in the wake of racial controversy, audiences were quick to notice that Harrison’s ghost still loomed large, as he still provided the show’s voiceover.

The bachelor finale