Matt James Reveals The One Thing He Wishes He'd Done Differently On The Bachelor

The morning after his finale episode of The Bachelor aired on March 15, 2021, Matt James revealed the one thing he wished he'd done differently on the show during a candid appearance on Good Morning America. Matt had a much talked about stint as the Season 25 Bachelor after Rachael Kirkconnell — who he eventually chose as his winner — was discovered to have attended an antebellum-themed party in 2018 and also liked photos on social media containing the Confederate flag.

Rachael issued a public apology for her behavior, though the controversy surrounding Matt's season only intensified after longtime host Chris Harrison sympathized with Rachael while speaking to The Bachelorette alum Rachel Lindsey on Extra in February. Harrison's comments caused an uproar in Bachelor Nation, and he announced he had temporarily stepped down from his role on the show before speaking out on Good Morning America. Subsequently, Harrison did not host Matt's After The Final Rose special (he was replaced by Emmanuel Acho), nor will he host Season 17 of The Bachelorette. 

So, after a very controversial and highly publicized season that saw Matt end up single after breaking up with Rachael, what would he have done differently? Keep reading to find out.

Speaking to Michael Strahan on Good Morning America on March 16, 2021, Matt James revealed how he wished his conversations about race had been had with all the contestants on his season of The Bachelor. "I think that a lot of time spent during filming and having those conversations [about race] was amongst the other women of color," Matt explained. "I think we could've had those conversations amongst the white women who were there, as well. But hindsight is 20/20, I probably should've asked more clarifying questions." 

While revealing that he's not ready to start dating again, Matt also shared his thoughts on The Bachelor franchise going forward during the interview. Speaking about Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe taking over from Chris Harrison to host Season 17 of The Bachelorette, he said he was "excited" to see the ladies take the helm and called it "a fresh start," adding, "We need more women hosting, and it was the right move." Matt went on to open up about Katie Thurston being chosen as the Season 17 Bachelorette, while Michelle Young is set to take a turn for Season 18. Both were contestants on Matt's season and made it pretty far, with Michelle being his runner-up. 

"As the love stories become more diverse, the people that tell them should become just as diverse," Matt said. "... I'm excited to see the institutional change take place, and I'm honored to be a part of it."