The Bachelorette’s Wills Reid Wants to Be the First Black Bachelor
Now that Becca Kufrin’s season of The Bachelorette has ended and the fifth season of Bachelor in Paradise is under way, fans want to know who’s on deck to hand out roses on season 23 of The Bachelor. There are a few names floating around on Twitter — including runner-up Blake Horstmann and third-place finisher Jason Tartick — but one strong contender is current BiP cast member Wills Reid, who spoke with Entertainment Weekly at the Television Critics Association tour in Beverly Hills about the possibility of becoming the first Black Bachelor.
“I feel like if the stars align and I am single after Paradise, I would love to be the next Bachelor,” the 29-year-old graphic designer said. “I feel like I would bring intensity, but genuine intensity. There’d be some tears — some good tears, some bad tears, but I’d also bring a renewed sense of what the world looks like today.”
Reid, who impressed viewers with his snazzy suits and easygoing personality — not to mention the way he stood up to Chris Randone — added, “I would bring style, I would bring consideration and care and kindness to all the women that would be there. I feel like there isn’t a better candidate than me.”
If the #WillsForBachelor hashtag is any indication, many fans agree. And the franchise is long overdue for a man of color to take the lead. (Last year’s season 13 of The Bachelorette with Rachel Lindsay was the first to feature a woman of color in the main role.)
“There’s no time like the present. I feel like I would be a great first, and just to be the first African-American anything in a positive light would bring honor to myself and my family forever,” Reid told EW. “I would welcome that challenge 125 percent.”
The new Bachelor likely won’t be announced until the end of Bachelor in Paradise‘s current season, but Reid, Tartick, Horstmann, and franchise veteran Ben Higgins are among the favorites on Twitter.
Do you think Wills should be the next Bachelor? Let us know @BritandCo!
(photos via ABC/Paul Hebert + ABC/Craig Sjodin)