Photo: J Carter Rinaldi/FilmMagic
BachelorcreatorMike Fleisshas accepted his final rose.
PEOPLE can confirm that Fleiss, 58, will be leaving the franchise following the conclusion of Monday’s 27th season ofThe Bachelorthat sawZach Shallcrossget engaged to Kaity Biggar.
Claire Freeland, from the Canadian version of the show, andBachelorU.S. producers Jason Ehrlich and Bennett Graebner will step into Fleiss’s role.
Fleiss shared that when casting forThe Bachelor"you always look for someone who is good looking."
RELATED VIDEO: Zach Shallcross and Kaity Biggar Say ‘There’s No Rush’ to Get Married: ‘We Have the Rest of Our Lives’
As the franchise came under fire for its lack of diversity, Fleiss explained one of the reasons the show struggled in that area.
“If 90 percent of the people who want to be on the show are white, well, that makes it challenging for us,” he toldRealityblurred.comin 2016. “But it’s an important issue for us.”
“I think we’ve done better lately and we’re going to continue to try to make progress, and I think in the near future, you’ll see a non-white lead in the show,” he added.
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The next year,Rachel Lindsaybecame the franchise’s first Black lead when she handed out roses on season 13 ofThe Bachelorette. In 2021,The Bachelorhad its first Black lead withMatt James.
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The Bachelorettereturns in June whenCharity Lawson, who is Black, looks for love after splitting from Shallcross.
source: people.com
