Entertainment

ABC’s ‘The Bachelor’ chooses first minority star

It only took ’em 11 years.

ABC has finally chosen a minority star for its next edition of “The Bachelor.”

The network, bowing to pressure, announced after Monday night’s “Bachelorette” finale that Juan Pablo Galavis, a contestant on this season’s “Bachelorette,” will be the next star of “The Bachelor.”

Galavis, 32, who’s from Venezuela, is a former soccer player and single dad (of 4-year-old Camila).

Now living in Miami, he’s the first-ever non-Caucasian person to headline either “The Bachelor” or “The Bachelorette.” Both shows have featured minority contestants throughout their long runs.

There have been 16 previous “Bachelor” stars (Brad Womack starred twice, go figure) and nine stars of “The Bachelorette” (which was spun off later).

ABC and show producer Telepictures, a division of Warner Bros., were sued in April 2012, in federal court, by two African American men who claimed both shows were blocking contestants of color from starring roles.

“We have had various participants of color throughout the series’ history, and the producers have been consistently – and publicly – vocal about seeking diverse candidates for both programs,” Warner Bros. said in a statement at the time.

“As always, we continue to seek out participants of color for both ‘The Bachelor’ and `The Bachelorette.’ “

The suit was eventually tossed by a federal judge.