Rachel Lindsay, who was the first Black 'Bachelorette,' says she's not going to watch Charity Lawson's season — but she's 'rooting' for the new lead

• Rachel Lindsay revealed in a new interview that she won't be watching Charity Lawson's season of "The Bachelorette."
• Lindsay was the first Black "Bachelorette" lead, and said she's available if Lawson reaches out.

Rachel Lindsay revealed in a new interview that she won't be tuning into Charity Lawson's season of "The Bachelorette," despite previously starring on the show herself.

Lindsay was the franchise's first Black "Bachelorette," followed by Michelle Young in season 18, making Lawson only the third Black woman to appear as a solo lead on the popular dating show. (Tayshia Adams replaced Clare Crawley on "The Bachelorette" midway through season 16.)

"I don't follow the show, but it's inevitable to not see it and not see what's going on," Lindsay, who starred on season 13, told People at a recent fundraising event.

According to Lindsay, she hasn't met Lawson, but would love to interact with the "lovely" new Bachelorette.

"She seems great. She seems really happy," Lindsay said of the franchise's new star. She also reached out to Lawson directly during the interview, saying: "Charity, if you're out there, I'm rooting for you, and I wish you all the best. But I'm not going to watch. But I will reach out. I'm always there."

Lindsay subsequently doubled down on her decision to not watch the latest season of "The Bachelorette," telling People: "I still keep in touch with past/present contestants, whoever. My door's always open, but not my TV. It's not tuned in."

The lawyer made history as the first Black woman to star on "The Bachelorette," but ended up distancing herself from the franchise after a controversial interview with former host Chris Harrison (in which Harrison defended "Bachelor" contestant Rachael Kirkconnell, who was accused of engaging in racist behavior) led to "death threats and personal attacks."

"I had to hire people to protect me. I couldn't even pretend to want to be involved anymore," Lindsay wrote in a 2021 article for New York Magazine.

Lawson's season of "The Bachelorette" premieres Monday, June 26 at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.