Blackface Controversy: Other Contestants Weigh In On Potential 'Bachelorette' Winner

"The Bachelorette" is coming to an end, but not without one of the lead men facing controversy after an older photo of him making himself look like Jimi Hendrix resurfaces.

Erich Schwer is currently the only remaining man for Gabby Windey, but he is making headlines before the reality television show comes to an end as a high school photo of Erich is resurfacing -- one that shows him wearing dark makeup to make himself look like Jimi Hendrix.

The 29-year-old real estate analyst from New Jersey has released an apology for his Halloween costume choice, explaining he thought it was a gesture showing love for the artist, but admits it showed ignorance.

"I was naïve 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," Schwer said in an Instagram post on Thursday. "I am deeply ashamed by my actions and understand that my apology is only the first step in taking accountability."

Past contestants commented on the Instagram post, including Nate Mitchel, who competed against Schwer for Gabby's heart. "Appreciate you taking ownership bro," Nate said. "I can’t absolve you of this but I can attest to the man I’ve met and you have been nothing less than someone who I’d consider a friend. You aren’t the first person I’ve befriended with a similar past and the difference is not having an attitude of willful ignorance."

He continued, "Your school accepting this behavior and posting this to a year book tells me that no peers or faculty around you spoke out to guide you away from this issue. Kids do fall victim to their environments time and time again. Continue to grow and learn from your past and I’ll continue to support you and provide advice should you need/ask for it."

TMZ spoke to two other "The Bachelorette" contestants to gather their thoughts on Schwer's blackface controversy.

Olumide Onajide told TMZ he was deeply offended and disappointed in Schwer's costume choice. "It's honestly a disappointment, a huge disappointment in the black community, the world as a whole," Onajide said.

"I was offended. It's great he wanted to be Jimi Hendrix, but it stems deep, the history of blackface," he continued.

When it comes to Schwer's apology, Onajide said he doesn't know what to believe. "I don't think it was anything malicious, he probably genuinely wanted to be Jimi, but unfortunately he can't."

TMZ also spoke to Riley Christian, another contestant on "The Bachelorette", who says he still can't believe this is being done in this day and age.

"When you think about blackface and when you think about the history of it, it's upsetting because it was used as a means to take the beautiful features of black people and then used and manipulate those into something that was dehumanizing," Christian said. "And when you think about it in that aspect it's just simply frustrating and it's upsetting to see that behavior still go on today."

With regard to Schwer's Jimi Hendrix costume specifically, Christian explains he doesn't know all the details, but he hopes that he has learned and educated himself on the background of blackface so that he could do better in the future. "I believe that people can learn from their mistakes, so if he's willing to put in the effort to actually learn about it and do better going forward then I'm sure he'll be just fine," Christian told TMZ.

Schwer's Blackface controversy is not the first controversy involving race for the franchise. Two seasons ago, "Bachelor" contestant Rachel Kirkconnell was criticized online for attending an antebellum plantation-themed event in college. She later admitted she was wrong.

Chris Harrison, the longtime host of “The Bachelor" announced a few years ago that he would be “stepping aside for a period of time” after coming under fire for making comments that seemingly stood up for Kirkconnell and that were dismissive of racism. Jesse Palmer has taken Harrison's place as host.