Did ABC break its promise for a more diverse ‘Bachelorette’?

ABC’s “The Bachelor” has always been full of surprises, from who will get the final rose to what romantic hopeful will bawl the loudest after being rejected.

But this season’s finale and the selection of the next “Bachelorette” was more than suspenseful — it reawakened the lingering controversy over the franchise’s lack of cultural diversity, an issue that top network execs had hinted would be reversed in the upcoming installment.

In Monday’s “Bachelor” climax, Ben Higgins, the title character in the reality dating show’s 20th season, chose Lauren Bushnell as his mate. It was also disclosed that the next “Bachelorette” will be this season’s runner-up, Joelle “JoJo” Fletcher.

1/19

Those “Bachelors” -- they’ve got charm, looks and the special red rose! Here, we recap all the past lads and the ladies they feel head over heels for.

By Christy Khoshaba

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2/19

His 9-to-5: Former professional soccer player

Did he propose? Hardly. But get this, Galavis hinted to ABC’s producers that a possible “surprise” was in the works during the program’s finale. Turns out there was no proposal, no surprise.

So what happened? Galavis was not ready to propose. Instead, he offered Nikki Ferrell a red rose and told her he was “100%" sure he didn’t want to let her go. She took the rose, coupled with a little frustration. We’ll have to wait and see what happens with the pair. P.S. Galavis may have become the most hated man in the history of “The Bachelor.” Relief for past “Bachelor” Jason Mesnick.

  (Rick Rowel / ABC)

3/19

His 9-to-5: Commercial pilot

Did he propose? Oh, yes! And the couple married a year later.

So what happened? It was true love after all. Later, Lowe appeared in the 16th season of “Dancing with the Stars.” P.S. Finalist Desiree Harstock was “The Bachelorette” in Season 9.

  (Paul A. Hebert / Invision / AP)

4/19

His 9-to-5: Winemaker

Did he propose? Yes, twice! The pair called things off a month after the engagement while the show was still on the air.

So what happened? The duo patched up their problems, got engaged again, and then called things quits for good -- all within the same year. In vino veritas!

  (Ralph Freso / ABC via Getty Images)

5/19

His 9-to-5: This time, a returning bachelor

Did he propose? Yes, but ... the pair broke up as the season was airing.

So what happened? Not to worry, though; they rekindled the flame after the finale. Oh, but wait! The pair ended things for good later. P.S. Finalist Ashley Hebert became “The Bachelorette” in Season 7.

  (Mark Wessels / ABC)

6/19

His 9-to-5: Commercial pilot

Did he propose? Yes, but ... the pair split about half a year later.

So what happened? Pavelka went on to appear in the 10th season of “Dancing with the Stars.” As for Girardi, she never was able to shake off being one of the most disliked characters on the show.

  (Matt Sayles / AP)

7/19

His 9-to-5: Accountant executive

Did he propose? Yes, but ... Mesnick called off the engagement during the season finale. He later got together with the runner-up, Molly Malaney.

So what happened? “Dancing with the Stars” happened. Rycroft appeared on the eighth season of “Dancing with the Stars” and danced her way back to the 15th season, taking gold. She is now married to Tye Strickland; the couple have one girl and are expecting a second child. Meanwhile, Mesnick married Malaney, and the ceremony was aired on national television for all to see.   (Matt Klitscher / ABC)

8/19

His 9-to-5: Global financier

Did he propose? Yes, but the pair called things off a few months after the proposal.

So what happened? Lamas garnered more attention when her family appeared on E! reality show “Leave It to Lamas.” Lamas found love with blogger Nik Richie, and the pair welcomed a daughter together, with another on the way.

  (Adam Larkey / ABC via Getty Images)

9/19

His 9-to-5: Bar owner

Did he propose?: Um, no. He couldn’t, er, didn’t even choose a winner. His two chosen finalists, DeAnna Pappas and Jenni Croft, were both rejected in the season finale.

So what happened? Womack returned to the program for its 15th season and, yes, he did choose a winner that time. One finalist, DeAnna Pappas, was “The Bachelorette” in Season 4.

  (Bob D’Amico / ABC / AP Photo)

10/19

His 9-to-5: U.S. Naval Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Dr. Andrew James Baldwin, USN, thank you very much

Did he propose? Yes, actually. Though the duo called off their engagement a month after the show’s finale.

So what happened? Somehow they continued to see each other for another year until they split for good.

  (Craig Sjodin / ABC via Getty Images)

11/19

His 9-to-5: Um, Prince? And a cosmetics entrepreneur

Did he propose? No. But the pair continued to be committed to each other until they broke up a year later.

So what happened? Interestingly enough, the “Bachelor” wires seemed to spark another romantic relationship. Finalist Tara Durr married Season 5 “The Bachelorette” contestant John Presser. Hey, at least someone found love via the show.

  (Craig Sjodin / ABC via Getty Images)

12/19

His 9-to-5: Doctor

Did he propose? No. He didn’t have to. The pair took things to the next level but then called it quits shortly after the show aired.

So what happened? Turns out, Stork wanted a fellow doctor, or maybe it was just fate. He married pediatrician Charlotte Brown. Oh, and speaking of doctors, Stork appeared on the syndicated talk show “The Doctors.”

  (Craig Sjodin / ABC via Getty Images)

13/19

His 9-to-5: Actor

Did he propose? No, but wait! The pair decided to make things serious without being engaged.

So what happened? They split two years after the show, and then rekindled their flame the following year. But they officially ended things three years after they got back together for the second time.

  (Craig Sjodin / ABC via Getty Images)

14/19

His 9-to-5: Professional bass fisherman

Did he propose? Yes! And it was magical. Until, that is, the pair split after five years.

So what happened? Delgago was arrested on charges of battery. Some reports indicate she punched Velvick in the mouth. There was speculation that this incident stemmed from a “Bachelor” reunion, in which the audience asked if Velvick should marry Delgado. Velvick shook his head no, and the audience burst into laughter. Not funny, eh?

  (Craig Sjodin / ABC via Getty Images)

15/19

His 9-to-5: Canadian college football player

Did he propose? No. The couple dated until the show’s end but split several weeks later.

So what happened? Palmer turned his focus to his career, later appearing on the NFL network as an analyst and commentator.

  (Craig Sjodin / ABC via Getty Images)

16/19

His 9-to-5five: Mortgage company founder

Did he propose? Not really. Instead, Guiney gave Gardinier a promise ring. But the couple’s relationship fizzled not long after the show aired.

So what happened? Guiney found love with soap opera actress Rebecca Budig but broke things off after five years of marriage. P.S. Finalist Meredith Phillips became “The Bachelorette” in Season 2.

  (Craig Sjodin / ABC via Getty Images)

17/19

His 9-to-5: Sales manager of Firestone Family Estates

Did he propose? Yes. But the pair called things off a few months later.

So what happened? They each found love later. Firestone married actress Ivana Bozilovic. Meanwhile, Schefft was “The Bachelorette” on Season 3 -- though she didn’t find love there. She married public relations executive Joe Waterman and welcomed two bundles of joy with him.

  (Mitch Haaseth / ABC via Getty Images)

18/19

His 9-to-5: Vice president of several family-owned banks

Did he propose? Yes. Though the pair broke up several weeks later.

So what happened? Buerge found love with a woman named Angye McIntosh and married her in 2009. Meanwhile, Eksterowicz met a senior technology consultant Andrew Goodman and tied the knot in 2013. P.S. Finalist Gwen Gioia landed a role on the first season of “Bachelor Pad.”   (Michael Ansell / ABC / AP photo )

19/19

His 9-to-5: Management consultant

Did he propose? No. Michel was lovey-dovey for Marsh, but the pair split after several months of dating.

So what happened? Marsh ended up tying the knot with her childhood friend Jay Caldwell. The duo welcomed a daughter named Chloe. P.S. Runner-up Trista Rehn went on to be the first “Bachelorette.”   (Ida Mae Astute / ABC / Getty Images)

But the maybe-happily-ever-after coupling of Higgins and Bushnell was largely overshadowed by JoJo’s new title as “The Bachelorette.” The Dallas-based real estate developer is not exactly the culturally diverse candidate some fans had been hoping for — and were led to believe they would get.

Reports had surfaced that Caila Quinn, a “Bachelor” contestant who is half-Filipino, was seen filming segments for “The Bachelorette’s” new season. But the producers decided to move in a different direction.

Former ABC Entertainment chief Paul Lee, who had made improving diversity a priority during his years at the network, earlier this year promised change for “The Bachelorette.” “I’d be very surprised if ‘The Bachelorette’ in the summer [of 2016] isn’t diverse,” Lee told reporters at the TV press tour in Pasadena in January. “I think that’s likely.”

Lee was recently ousted and replaced by Channing Dungey, who is the first black entertainment president at a major American broadcast TV network.

ABC, which declined comment on Tuesday when asked about the show, may claim Fletcher is indeed a different kind of “Bachelorette.” Although the network in a release called her a “Southern sweetheart,” and she seems to identify as white, she has said that her mother is Persian and escaped from revolutionary Iran, which may give her more claim to diversity than the typical “Bachelorette.”

Still, her selection is unlikely to quell the criticism surrounding the franchise and its mostly white version of soft-focus romantic fantasy. Since the launch of “The Bachelor” in 2002, that show and its companion series, “The Bachelorette,” have been repeatedly slammed for assembling all- or nearly all-white casts and with a white lead for its mostly white viewers to relate to. Observers complain that the franchise stands alone, like a 1950s relic, among dating/relationship shows on TV.

1/10

Actresses Viola Davis and Kerry Washington, executive producer Shonda Rhimes and actress Ellen Pompeo are just a few of the reasons that ABC’s schedule bucks the trend of white males that seemingly dominate the televison airwaves. Here’s a quick look at some of the network’s offerings.

  (Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images)

2/10

Kerry Washington in “Scandal.”

  (Danny Feld / ABC)

3/10

Ian Chen, Constance Wu, Hudson Yang, Forrest Wheeler and Randall Park in “Fresh Off the Boat.”

  (Gilles Mingasson / ABC)

4/10

Laurence Fishburne, left, Tracee Ellis Ross, Marcus Scribner, Jennifer Lewis, standing center, Miles Brown, Marsai Martin and Anthony Anderson appear in an episode of “Black-ish.”

  (Patrick Wymore / ABC)

5/10

Ellen Pompeo and Sandra Oh on “Grey’s Anatomy.”

  (Eric McCandless / ABC)

6/10

Viola Davis in “How to Get Away With Murder.”

  (Mitchell Haaseth / ABC)

7/10

Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter in " Marvel’s Agent Carter.”

  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

8/10

“Modern Family”

  (Peter “Hopper” Stone / ABC)

9/10

Actors Brian J. Smith, Johanna Braddy, Yasmine Al Massri and Priyanka Chopra lead a diverse group of recruits that has arrived at the FBI Quantico Base for training in “Quantico.”

  (Guy D’Alema / ABC)

10/10

ABC’s “The Real O’Neals” stars Bebe Wood, Matt Shively, Noah Galvin, Jay R. Ferguson and Martha Plimpton.

  (Bob D’Amico / ABC)

A class-action lawsuit argued that “The Bachelor” intentionally excluded people of color; the case was dismissed in 2012 on 1st Amendment grounds.

The lone exception so far to the franchise’s diversity record — Latino “Bachelor” Juan Pablo Galavis in 2014 — promptly stirred a scandal of his own by dubbing gays “perverts.”

Mike Fleiss, the show’s creator and executive producer, has in the past said minorities have not been proactive about trying out.

“We always want to cast for ethnic diversity,” Fleiss said in 2011. “It’s just that for whatever reason, they don’t come forward. I wish they would.”

The network’s overall diversity commitment has so far failed to make a dent at “The Bachelor.” On the other hand, the absence of multiculturalism has not affected the popularity of both shows, which are among ABC’s most popular offerings with women.

For a few moments this season, it seemed that change was about to happen. Jubilee Sharpe, a 24-year-old war veteran who is Haitian American, became a fan favorite and appeared to be a major contender when Higgins seemed smitten with her. But Sharpe had her own difficulties — she was involved in racially charged exchanges with two other mixed-race contestants over who was more black. She was eventually eliminated.

It remains to be seen what sort of prospective mates Fletcher might be paired with. “The Bachelorette” has flirted with mixed-race matches before, although nothing much has come of them. Black and Latino contestants have appeared on the show but have been sent packing quickly.

The controversy is likely to be revisited before “The Bachelorette” premieres on May 23.

Twitter: @scottcollinsLAT

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