'The Bachelor' Matt James Breaks Silence on Chris Harrison Controversy: 'Troubling and Painful' Elizabeth Wagmeister, provided by FacebookTwitterEmail James, the first Black star of “The Bachelor,” is not just calling out Harrison for his “troubling and painful” words, but is also holding the overall franchise accountable for its handling of diversity and race over the two decades it has been on-air. More from Variety “The past few weeks have been some of the most challenging of my life, and while there are several episodes left of the season, it is important that I take the time to address the troubling information that has come to light since we wrapped filming,” James wrote on his Instagram on Monday, hours before a new episode of “The Bachelor” is set to air on ABC.