rachel lindsay knows her season is a season of firsts on “The Bachelorette.” The 31-year-old Dallas attorney, who is the first-ever African-American lead on the long-running ABC reality franchise, told Marie Claire magazine she realizes her season may be the first time some guys have experienced interracial dating. And she’s totally okay with that.

Rachel told the magazine that she wasn’t bothered by controversial contestant Dean Unglert’s introductory remark that he was "ready to go black and I'm never going to go back."

In fact, Rachel Lindsay said she thought the comment by the Caucasian contestant was “funny” and “bold because he didn't know how I would take it.”

“It sparked my interest in him,” Rachel admitted to the magazine.

A season of diversity

Rachel Lindsay first met Dean Unglert during The live "After the Final Rose” episode that capped off Nick Viall’s season of “The Bachelor.” When she met Dean again during her lino night meet and greets, the pressure was off. It is clear that diversity will be a big part of the upcoming season of the rose-filled reality show.

“Obviously, I'm the first black Bachelorette,” Rachel told the magazine. “It might be the first time that men have dated interracially. I have no fears of talking about it."

Of course, while Rachel is cool with Dean and his bold move, some fans of the show are giving him a thumbs down.

Dean will address his comment with Rachel on the second episode of “The Bachelorette.” In a sneak peek clip at the episode, Rachel confronts him about his controversial opening line.

“I don’t care what anybody else says,” she tells him. “I loved it.”

Rachel tells her suitor she appreciates his confidence, while a Dean admits he was scared to death that first night. Rachel reveals she only has one problem with Dean’s line about “black and never going back.”

“I wanted to say that first!” she tells him.

More about the controversial suitor

Surprisingly, it looks like Rachel Lindsay could actually have a connection with Dean. The preview clip shows the two having a playful banter. And based on Life & Style’s assessment of his social media feeds, Unglert, a start-up recruiter, is well traveled and full of laughs. And he’s clearly a mama's boy.

“The Bachelorette’ contestant has six tattoos, which include his mom's initials on his chest. And if you think his job description, startup recruiter, is generic, keep in mind that one of Rachel’s other suitors is being described as a Tickle Monster.

You can see Rachel Lindsay and Dean Unglert talking about his controversial comment on “The Bachelorette,” Monday, May 29 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
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