The 29-year-old real estate analyst, who is vying for Gabby Windey's heart on the ABC show, comes under fire after a photo from his high school yearbook featuring him wearing blackface surfaced online.
- Sep 9, 2022
AceShowbiz - "The Bachelorette" star Erich Schwer has responded to intense backlash that he receives after his past blackface photo surfaced online. The 29-year-old real estate analyst, who is the final man standing in Finals for Gabby Windey's heart on the ABC dating show, issued an apology with a statement on his Instagram account.
Apologizing for his actions, Erich wrote on Thursday, September 8, "I wholeheartedly apologize for the insensitive photo of me in Blackface from my high school yearbook that has been circulating." He added, "What I thought at the time was a representation of my love for Jimi Hendrix, was nothing but ignorance."
He also admitted, "I was naive to the hurtful implications of my actions to the Black community and those closest to me, and will forever regret my offensive and damaging behavior. I am deeply ashamed by my actions and understand that my apology is only the first step in taking accountability."
Fans applauded Erich for his post with one of them writing, "All it takes is admittance and repentance. Keep at it, continue to be better!" Another person added in the comments section, "The best thing you can do now is just prove you mean what you say about taking accountability. That's the correct way to apologize. I wish you luck."
Twitter users, meanwhile, were not really impressed. "I get Erich apologized for his blackface in high school but let's be honest if that photo never resurfaced he would have never apologized #bachelorette," one user tweeted. One other noted, "bachelorette is gonna be a joke if they bring up Nate and his two girlfriends and not Erich doing blackface on a YEARBOOK," referring to one of Gabby's exes, Nate Mitchell, who faced his own criticism this season for hiding the fact that he has a daughter from an ex-girlfriend. He was also accused of dating two women at the same time.
Erich came under fire after a photo from his high school yearbook featuring him wearing blackface surfaced online. In the picture, which was shared on Reddit on Wednesday, he was seen wearing an Afro wig and a colorful shirt paired with skin coated in dark cosmetics.
