The cat is out of the bag: Matt James is the new Bachelor!!! Filming of The Bachelorette with Clare Crawley has been postponed due to COVID-19, but luckily now we have this new season of The Bachelor to look forward to. Matt James will be the first Black Bachelor on the show, and the second Black lead in the entire franchise’s history. Rachel Lindsay was the Bachelorette on season 21, but if you ask me- it’s about time they added more diversity to the show.
While Matt James has never been on The Bachelorette, he was supposed to be a contestant on Clare Crawley’s season. And he’s no stranger to The Bachelor world- James is actually best friends Tyler Cameron, who was the runner up on Hannah Brown’s season of The Bachelorette. So, just in case you’re curious on just who Matt James is, here are 5 facts you should know:
He’s from North Carolina
James grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina and went to Wake Forest University where he played football as a wide receiver. He now lives in New York City, but he has roots in North Carolina.
He’s very athletic
In addition to having grown up playing football, James has kept very active throughout his life. According to his social media, he spends a lot of his time working out, running, skating, golfing, and surfing.
He founded a food touring company
And he did it with his bestie, Tyler Cameron. James and Cameron founded ABC Food Tours, which takes students in underserved areas on food and fitness tours to iconic restaurants in NYC so they can try their dishes and learn about their history.
He uses his platforms to speak up about important issues
Matt James was not afraid to use his social media as a way to speak up on important topics surrounding the Black Lives Matter Movement. He posted a photo with Tyler Cameron in which they both attended a Black Lives Matter protest in Miami.
He loves his mom
We all love a nice guy with a special appreciation for his mom. And Matt James is certainly that. Scroll through his Instagram and you’ll know right away just how close Matt is to his mom, Patty James. Looks like the future contestants on his season are going to have some competition to be the special lady in his life!
