Chris Harrison, the longtime host of the “Bachelor” franchise, is increasingly backlash online after defending a contestant accused of racist acts. Rachel Lindsay, The Franchise first black female lead and one of the show’s strongest advocates for racial justice, said Friday that she will not be renewing her contract with the franchise as a result of Harrison’s comments.
The controversy started after photos surfaced of Rachael Kirkconnell, a contestant in this season of ‘The Bachelor,’ attending a 2018 pre-war theme party.
Here’s an overview of how it unfolded:
Harrison’s interview with Rachel Lindsay
Lindsay asked Harrison about the Kirkconnell photos during an interview on Tuesday. In Kirkconnell’s season, Matt James is the bachelor, which marks the first time the franchise has chosen a black man for the role.
“We all need a little grace, a little understanding, a little compassion,” Harrison said to Lindsay. “Because I’ve seen stuff online – this judge, jury, executioner thing – where people are just tearing up this girl’s life and, like her parents, diving into her parents’ voting record. It’s incredibly upsetting to see this. “I haven’t heard Rachael speak about this yet. And until I really hear this woman have a chance to speak, who am I to say this?”
“Well, the photo was from 2018 at a pre-war party in Old South,” Lindsay replied. “That doesn’t look good.”
“Will it look good in 2018 or will it not look good in 2021?” Harrison asked.
“It never looks good,” Lindsay said, adding, “If I went to that party, what would I represent at that party?”
“You’re 100% right in 2021. That wasn’t the case in 2018,” said Harrison, estimating that “50 million people were in 2018.”
“That was kind of a party,” he said, adding that he “isn’t defending it.”
Harrison and Kirkconnell apologize
After facing criticism for his comments, Harrison posted an apology on social media on Wednesday.
“To my Bachelor Nation family – I’ll always make a mistake when I make one, so I’m here to apologize,” he said. “I have an incredible platform to speak about love, and yesterday I took a stand on topics that I should have been better informed about.”
“While I’m not speaking on behalf of Rachael Kirkconnell, my intention was simply to ask for mercy by giving her the opportunity to speak on her behalf,” he continued. “What I now realize I have done is to harm by speaking incorrectly in a way that perpetuates racism, and I’m so sorry for that. I also apologize to my friend Rachel Lindsay for not listening to her better on a topic where they have a firsthand understanding of and humbly thank the members of Bachelor Nation who contacted me to hold me accountable. I promise to do better. ”
Kirkconnell also apologized on Thursday, writing on Instagram, “I was ignorant, but my ignorance was racist. I am sorry to the communities and individuals that my actions have harmed and offended. I am ashamed of my lack of education, but it no one is responsible to educate me. “
“I deserve to be held accountable for my actions,” she added. “I will never grow unless I recognize that what I have done is wrong. I don’t think one apology means I deserve your forgiveness, but rather I hope I can earn your forgiveness through my future actions.”
Franchise stars speak out
Lindsay, who hosts a Bachelor Nation podcast and has made frequent guest appearances on the show, said she won’t be renewing her contract with the franchise when it expires.
“I’m exhausted. I’m really fed up with it,” Lindsay said on Friday’s episode of her podcast “Higher Learning.”
“My whole reason for doing ‘The Bachelorette’ – and I was lucky that it worked the nicest way for me in finding Bryan – is that I wanted to be representative as a black woman to this audience. And I wanted to smooth out the way more people get this opportunity, ”Lindsay said on the podcast.
“But how much more do I want to be a part of this? How much more can I take from this kind of thing? I said I would leave if they didn’t have colored leads. Okay, they did, and they made some other changes. They have a diversity consultant. “Hired – who didn’t attend class? Didn’t Chris Harrison experience that? I don’t know how to get whole consultants working for you, but what happened just happened.”
“I can’t take it anymore,” Lindsay said. ‘I am contractually bound in some way. But when it’s over, so am I. I can’t do it anymore. ‘
James has also spoken out for Lindsay.
Matt James / Instagram
“I am extremely grateful to have Rachel work as a mentor this season,” James wrote in his Instagram story on Friday. “Your advocacy of BIPOC folks in the franchise is invaluable, I stand with you and the rest of the women advocating for change and accountability.”
Tayshia Adams, the most recent bachelorette, said on her Instagram story on Friday that she is “really hurt, disappointed and confused” by the “ignorance” she has seen this week around conversations about racing.
Adams, who is Black, added that she is “really hurt” by the reaction to Kirkconnell’s actions, which she called blatantly racist.
Many of Adams’s season participants shared a joint post on Instagram on Friday, “denouncing racist behavior and any defense thereof.” They added that they are “united” with Lindsay.
Season 25 participants also posted a joint statement on Instagram on Thursday denouncing any “defense of racism.”
“Any defense of racist behavior denies the lived and ongoing experiences of BIPOC individuals,” the statement read. “These experiences should not be exploited or tokenized.”
Rachel Lindsay continues to advocate with ‘grace’ for individuals who identify as BIPOC within this franchise, ”it concludes. Just because she speaks the loudest doesn’t mean she’s alone. We stand next to her, we hear her and we plead for change next to her. ‘