Blake Horstmann Says Next ‘Bachelor’ Lead Is ‘Basic White Guy’
Blake Horstmann is not holding back on his thoughts about the next Bachelor lead. After rumors lit up the internet, ABC confirmed that Clayton Echard, a contestant on Michelle Young’s season, is the next lead for The Bachelor 2022. Why does Blake think Clayton is the ‘basic’ choice?
Bachelor franchise switches up casting process for new season
Bachelor Nation spin-offs dominated ABC’s 2021 spring/summer schedule. That trend continues into 2022. So far in 2021, viewers have watched Matt James (Bachelor) and Katie Thurston (Bachelorette) find love. Season 7 of Bachelor in Paradise is currently airing.
Starting next month, fans of the franchise will watch Matt’s contestant Michelle Young get a second chance at love on Season 18 of The Bachelorette.
The franchise switched things up a bit by casting Clayton Echard as the lead. Michelle’s season hasn’t aired yet, meaning the audience has yet to meet Clayton. Naming Clayton also inadvertently spoils his time on the Bachelorette. He clearly doesn’t make it very far if he’s already looking for love with someone else.
Usually the Bachelor and Bachelorette leads are known to viewers. Both Katie Thurston and Michelle Young were fan-favorites from Matt James’s season.
Blake Horstmann talks relationship status, favorite celebrity couple
On Monday, September 27, Bachelor Nation alum Blake Horstmann opened up his Instagram DMs to questions from his followers. He was asked his thoughts on current topics within the franchise. Additionally, his followers asked for insight into Blake’s opinions about pop culture.
As celebrity enthusiasts may have heard, actor Will Smith recently opened up about his marriage. Last year, Jada Pinkett Smith made headlines for confirming an extra-marital “entanglement” with singer August Alsina. In a new interview Will Smith admits that he has also had relationships outside their marriage.
It’s long been rumored that the couple has an open marriage. Blake Horstmann was asked to share his thoughts on that. The Bachelor Nation star has been unlucky in finding love in the franchise. However, he fully supports open marriages or whatever helps relationships work.
When asked to name his celebrity couple goals, Blake chose Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively. The long-time couple often amuses the internet by trolling each other on social media. They’ve been together since 2011, so they must be doing something right!
When it comes to his own relationship status, Blake revealed that he is still single, but isn’t actively looking. “If it happens, it happens,” he wrote.
Why does he think the next Bachelor lead is ‘basic’?
Blake Hostmann was also asked several questions about the franchise. According to the Bachelor Nation veteran, “99%” of the drama is manufactured by producers. He says that most of the contestants are friends, meaning any disagreements blow over within hours. However, ABC drags the arguments out for several episodes.
The popular DJ also seemed to defend Pieper James and Brendan Morais for only going on the show for fame. Everyone goes on the show for fame, Blake claims.
But perhaps his most controversial comment is his take on Clayton as the next Bachelor. Despite promising diversity, Blake says that the network “went back to the basics” with their latest casting decision.
It took 25 seasons before the show cast a Black man as the Bachelor lead and then Matt James’s season was at the center of a racism scandal.
In Blake’s view, Clayton checks the “white ex footballer who loves Jesus” box of traditional Bachelor leads. Blake is quick to say that there’s “nothing wrong” with Clayton being any of those things. However, it “sounds familiar” when it comes to the franchise.
Do you agree with Blake Horstmann’s implication that the franchise took a step back by casting Clayton? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Clayton Echard’s season of The Bachelor is expected to debut in early 2022. Meet him when Michelle Young’s season kicks off on Tuesday, October 19.
Don’t miss the last few episodes of Bachelor in Paradise, airing Tuesdays on ABC.
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