Bachelor: Rachel Lindsay Says Raven Mentioned Her 'Black Skin' In New Book
Rachel Lindsay reveals in Miss Me With That, her new book, that Raven Gates commented on her "black skin" while they were both on The Bachelor.
Rachel Lindsay revealed in her new book that Raven Gates commented on her "black skin" while they were both on The Bachelor. Viewers might remember Rachel from a few years ago when she was named the first Black Bachelorette. By the end of her season, she found love with Bryan Abasolo, who she married two years later in 2019. Rachel was an integral part of Bachelor Nation up until early 2021 when Chris Harrison defended racial remarks from a Bachelor contestant.
The former host defended these remarks during an interview with Rachel, which she found disrespectful. Despite Chris ultimately getting fired as The Bachelor host, Rachel decided to end her contract with the show and ABC. Now the lawyer is focusing on her career at Extra, her podcast Higher Learning, and the release of her new book.
In a section of Rachel's new book Miss Me With That, the former reality star recalls a time when former friend Raven wrote about her "black skin" in a journal she kept while they competed for Nick Viall on The Bachelor. Raven and Rachel became close friends after meeting on the show; however, the two had a falling out right before Rachel's wedding to Bryan. Rachel assured readers this was not the reason she and Raven, who welcomed her first child, had a falling out. "Raven was always writing in her journal," she wrote in her book via Page Six. "One night, she read aloud her first-night impressions of each of us. ‘Rachel – she has black skin. And she seems nice.’" Rachel was surprised the 30-year-old felt comfortable enough "say it out loud for people to hear." She was also shocked Raven couldn't think of another way to describe her. "You ain’t ever seen a black person before? Like, never seen one of us up close?" Rachel continued in her book.
Nonetheless, the podcast host, who grew up in Texas, wanted to give Raven the benefit of the doubt since she was raised in Arkansas. Even though Rachel, who's moved on from The Bachelor, was shocked by what Raven had said about her skin color, the two became surprisingly close throughout filming. The two stopped being friends in 2019, which Rachel later addressed that October during an episode of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen. When Andy asked her what happened between the pair, Rachel said she couldn't say as she promised she wouldn't. However, she stressed that she would never be friends with Rave again. Rachel recalled in her book that she was "trashed" by fans after she appeared on the late-night show. "They went so far as to call Raven the bigger person," she said. "Even though it was clear that I’m the one who ended that relationship, I don’t get the benefit of the doubt that I had a good reason to do so."
Her falling out with Raven, who defended herself against Rachel, isn't the only tea Rachel will be spilling in her new book, which hit bookshelves on January 25. The former Bachelorette is ready to speak her truth and has found the perfect outlet. However, fans are still curious as to why Rachel and Raven ended their friendship.
The Bachelor airs Mondays at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.
Source: Page Six