Ben Higgins Responds to 'The Bachelor' Diversity Concerns

Ben Higgins and Lauren Bushnell look smitten with each other while stepping out for another post-engagement appearance on Tuesday (March 15) in New York City.

The 27-year-old The Bachelor star responded to concerns over the lack of diversity with the casting of the new The Bachelorette in a conference call with reporters.

“First off, JoJo as the bat, I think she deserves it,” Ben said (via Variety). “How they decide on The Bachelorette is not up to me. I didn’t even know I was in consideration to the next Bachelor until they called me.”

Lauren was asked if she had anything to add on the subject and she said, “No, I think Ben pretty much summed it up. Neither him or myself have anything to do with the decision-making.”