Matt James & More Bachelor Nation Stars Nab People’s Choice Noms
Matt James is one of several reality stars nominated for a People’s Choice award. Which Bachelor Nation stars is he up against? Keep reading for all the details on the 2021 pop culture awards.
Matt James earns People’s Choice nomination despite unpopular season
In May of 2020, ABC announced Matt James as the next Bachelor. The news came with much fanfare, as he was the first Black lead in the franchise’s history.
However, his season failed to win viewers after a racism scandal rocked the franchise. Beloved host Chris Harrison ultimately left Bachelor Nation over the controversy. One of Season 25’s frontrunners found herself at the center of racial reckoning for attending an ‘Old South’-themed college party in 2018.
Chris Harrison then came under fire for the comments he made defending the contestant.
Since filming was already over by the time the scandal went viral, Matt James already made his final rose pick. He chose Rachael Kirkconnell, the woman at the center of the racism controversy. However, he revealed at the After The Final Rose special that they had since broken up.
The split didn’t last long, as Rachael and Matt reconciled weeks later, making fans wonder if they ever actually split. They are still together, with Kirkconnell recently supporting James’ short run on Season 30 of Dancing With The Stars.
Due to his unpopularity with fans, Matt James’ name on the People’s Choice Awards nominee list comes as something of a surprise.
However, he has some healthy competition from one of the women from his season.
Bachelorette star goes head-to-head with him
Katie Thurston didn’t win Matt James’ season, but she has a chance to beat him at his own game. The former Bachelorette is among the nominees for the People’s Choice Award for the ‘competition contestant.’
Do either Matt James or Katie Thurston have a chance of taking the trophy home? They have some stiff competition from other popular reality shows.
Dancing With The Stars contestant Cody Rigsby is nominated, as are Gottmik and Symone from RuPaul’s Drag Race. Wiz Khalifa and singer JoJo are nominated for appearing on The Masked Singer.
Dancing With The Stars frontrunner and pop starlet JoJo Siwa is also nominated for ‘competition contestant,’ per E! News.
Katie Thurston took to her Instagram after the nomination announcement to share her gratitude with fans. “Thank you so much for the nomination,” she wrote.
The Season 17 Bachelorette star recently split from her fiance Blake Moynes. The two got engaged on the August season finale, but announced they were going their separate ways earlier this week.
She encourages fans to “[show] some love” by voting for her. Click here to vote for the People’s Choice Awards.
Bachelor in Paradise alum up for Reality Star of 2021
Katie Thurston and Matt James aren’t the only Bachelor Nation stars on the list of nominees. Franchise regular and recent Bachelor in Paradise star Joe Amabile also nabbed a nod.
However, unlike his fellow Bachelor Nation alums, Amabile is in the running to be named Reality Star of 2021. Perhaps due to his engagement to Serena Pitt on BiP?
RHOBH star Lisa Rinna is among the fierce competition ‘Grocery Store’ Joe faces. Here are the other nominees for Reality Star of 2021:
- Erica Mena, Love & Hip Hop Atlanta
- Kandi Burruss, The Real Housewives of Atlanta
- Khloé Kardashian, Keeping Up With the Kardashians
- Kim Kardashian West, Keeping Up With the Kardashians
- Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, Jersey Shore Family Vacation
- Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, Jersey Shore Family Vacation
Does Joe Amabile have a chance against those reality show heavy hitters?
Tayshia Adams reacts to MTV Awards trophy
If Matt, Joe, or Katie win, they won’t be the first Bachelor Nation stars to win a pop culture award this year. In early 2021, Tayshia Adams saw her season of The Bachelorette nominated for an MTV Movie and TV Award in the new unscripted category.
The Tayshia Adams-led season won Best Dating Show at the ceremony. Now, a few months later, Adams just received the trophy. She shared the unboxing on her Instagram Stories.
Does it surprise you that Matt James nabbed a People’s Choice Awards nomination? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
The winners will be announced on Tuesday, December 7, on The People’s Choice Awards on E! and NBC.
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