Welp, there goes that. On Tuesday’s season finale of The Bachelor in Paradise, ABC announced the next Bachelor for 2020 — and it’s not Mike Johnson. Although Johnson’s pick would have been historic, as he would have been the first Black Bachelor and first military veteran Bachelor, the network instead named California-based airplane pilot Peter Weber, who placed third on Hannah Brown’s season of The Bachelorette. Spoiler alert: A lot of fans are disappointed with the decision.
Before we get into the wash of public opinion, we’ll start with a few pertinent details about Weber’s future role as rose-giver. He’ll helm the 24th season, which is expected to premiere in early 2020. The choice doesn’t totally come out of left field, since speculation about the next Bachelor has mainly focused on Weber, Johnson and Bachelor in Paradise‘s Derek Peth. But during Tuesday’s finale, host Chris Harrison confirmed what many people suspected (and, if you follow spoilers, Reality Steve called): Weber won the title. “I feel emotional right now. This is crazy. This is life-changing,” he told Harrison during the after-finale reunion. “I have truly, my entire life, looked forward to finding my girl, and that first person that I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with.”
And, listen, it isn’t necessarily that people dislike “Pete the Pilot” so much — it’s just that most of us were hoping for a win for Johnson. Bachelor Nation fans quickly took to Twitter to air their grievances.
It’s a massive missed opportunity that #TheBachelor is once again going to be a white man. Mike Johnson would’ve been the perfect choice. A charming, vulnerable, and strong black Bachelor is the representation the world needs right now. There’s always season 25 though, right?
— Dylan MacDowell (@dylanmacdowell) September 18, 2019
@chrisbharrison so did you just try to replace Mike being the first black bachelor with Peter being the first guy to live close to the mansion? #thebachelor#BachelorInParadisepic.twitter.com/23450GUyAp
— Marlisha Scott (@MarlishaScott) September 18, 2019
Once again the producers of #TheBachelor bailed in having fan favorite Mike as the first Black Bachelor, by once again going with the aww shucks guy in Peter. #BachelorinParadise
— Kevin Lockett (@kevinlockett) September 18, 2019
In all fairness, Weber had his fair share of social media supporters too. And as a sort of consolation prize, something tells us this won’t be the last we see of Johnson. For starters, he can always give Bachelor in Paradise another shot. And if Arie Luyendyk Jr.’s season of The Bachelor taught us anything, it’s that Harrison isn’t afraid to pull guys from seasons way past and put them at the helm.
Besides, rumor has it that Johnson and Demi Lovato might be dating. Could we be looking at the next Wells Adam and Sarah Hyland? It’s a fun thought. But if not, here’s hoping there are big things in store for Johnson, who certainly deserves all of the spotlights that swing his way.
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