On Monday’s premiere episode of the highly-anticipated seasons of The Bachelor, viewers finally saw groundbreaking lead ‘Bachelor’ Matt James in action.
James, became the first black ‘Bachelor’ in the reality-dating competition 25-year history.
It kicks-off for viewers getting an introduction into Matt’s upbringing: He’s biracial and was raised by a single mother in North Carolina. He played college football at Wake Forest University, lives in New York City and works in real estate, and volunteers a lot of his time with under-privileged children.
As pressure began to mount (right before the ladies drove up in their limos to meet Matt), he asked to talk to host, Chris Harrison, because some things were weighing heavily on him including: not wanting to let people down, knowing this was a moment in TV history. Matt expressed to Chris: “I don’t want to piss off black people, I don’t want to piss off white people,” trying to figure how to navigate the season.
Throughout the episode, Matt’s nerves, honesty, and a request of himself and to the women, to be open through this journey, seem to serve him well, which left viewers with a solid first impression of him during the premiere. He also led the women in a prayer before the first cocktail party kicked-off!
Speaking of the women, there are 32 this season that are vying for the final rose – the largest contingent ever. Everyone was said to have quarantined for weeks and took four COVID-19 tests with hopes of getting to get up close and personal with Matt. The entire season moved to a an expansive mansion and set-up in Pennsylvania, not Hollywood.
While there were so many cringe-worthy moments of the women trying to impress Matt when they first meet him … let’s not forget Katie with the vibrator dubbed “MJ”, or Victoria who walks around calling herself “The Queen” and being the most annoying… we could already sense some possible connections with the others.

Photo: ABC
Making ‘Bachelor’ history also was contestant, Abigail Heringer. She is the first deaf contestant to ever appear on the franchise. Matt was very taken with Abigail in the season premiere with her beauty and her honesty. Right off the bat, she admitted to him that she was deaf. Later, during the cocktail party and some one-on-one time, she also revealed that her older sister is deaf as well. Both were born with congenital hearing loss, and both underwent cochlear implantation surgery
Matt then shares his first real on-screen kiss with Abigail, and next went searching for the first impression rose, while all the other gals got jealous. He gave the rose to Abigail. Next, it was time for the first rose ceremony and we can’t understand (well, we can .. they need someone to stir the pot) why “The Queen” Victoria received a rose and is still in the running, but that’s another story. Some potential picks such as Bri, Mari, Chelsea and Kristin could be in it for the long-haul, but we shall see.
The episode concluded with another promo of all the tears and drama from the gals and Matt as this season continues next Monday night.
So, what was your first impression of Matt as The Bachelor? Abigail as the women who received the first impression rose? Who do you think will win Matt’s heart in the end? Any early predictions? Comment below.