Unfortunate Lack of Asian Men in the Cast

Jenn Tran, the shining star of The Bachelorette Season 21, which is set to premiere on Monday, July 8 on ABC, has shared her sentiments about the lack of Asian men among her 25 suitors, describing the situation as “unfortunate.”

Tran, a 26-year-old of Vietnamese descent, is currently studying to become a physician assistant. She initially entered Bachelor Nation as a contestant on Joey Graziadei’s season of The Bachelor, which concluded in March. On the night of the finale, it was officially announced that Tran would be the next Bachelorette for ABC.

On June 3, ABC unveiled a list of 25 men competing for Jenn’s affection, but very few of them share her Asian heritage. Among the contestants, Thomas N., a retirement adviser from Georgia, is also Vietnamese, and another man is reportedly part Korean according to some unconfirmed sources.

In a Q&A with Glamour.com, Tran was asked if she wished for more of her suitors to share her cultural background. She replied affirmatively, stating, “I can’t really speak to the casting process and the decisions that were made, but it is unfortunate that there weren’t a lot of Asian men this season.”

Reality-TV dating shows like The Bachelorette and The Bachelor have historically lacked representation of Asian men. Tran expressed hope that her presence, alongside Thomas N.’s, would inspire other Asian men to consider participating in these shows. “Asian men haven’t always seen themselves in this position, and I am hoping that me being here and Thomas N. being there, that the both of us can inspire other Asian men to realize that they can do this too if they want. They can be in this position as well. I’m hoping that it inspires them,” she said.

Bachelorette executive producer Bennet Graebner, in a larger piece by the Los Angeles Times discussing Bachelor Nation’s long-standing issues with race, acknowledged the lack of Asian suitors as their shortcoming. “That’s on us. We didn’t do what we needed to do,” Graebner admitted.

Graebner added that the show aims to create a welcoming environment for Asian men. “Our hope is that [Asian men] will see Jenn and realize this is a safe space. We’re not saying it will solve and fix everything. But it is a step,” he said.

Tran’s honest reflections underscore the importance of diversity and representation in reality television. By speaking out, she hopes to drive positive change and encourage broader participation from underrepresented groups, making spaces like The Bachelorette more inclusive for everyone.

Source: Glamour, Los Angeles Times