Bachelor Nation alumni are calling for Chris Harrison to leave the ABC romance franchise for good

A number of Black alums from Bachelor Nation shows have spoken out after presenter Chris Harrison said he ‘stepped aside for a while’ after making headlines for his controversial response to a contestant’s racism scandal.

Season 13’s DeMario Jackson and Season 20’s Jubilee Sharpe were among the reality stars who spoke with TMZ and said Harrison’s vacation from the show should be a permanent vacation.

“I don’t really think he’s allowed to return, but it’s not up to me,” Jackson said. “My season was one of the most visible black seasons in terms of representation by African American men and women.”

The latter: Some Black alums from Bachelor Nation shows have spoken out after host Chris Harrison said he ‘stepped aside for a while’ after making headlines for his controversial response to a contestant’s racism scandal

He continued, ‘It was just crap because, yes, we had each other, but there was no one we could really identify with because it was an all-white production, an all-white cast, an all-white show … is, but it is 2021 now.

‘If they want to move forward and get more black fans, I’d say it all starts within. Do you really want to have black fans or do you want to put a band-aid over a gunshot wound? ‘

Sharpe said the show’s producers seemed to be paying more attention to white contestants in her time on the show.

Season 12 Marshana Ritchie and Season 17 Leslie Hughes told the outlet that Harrison needed to brush up on Black’s history and undergo sensitivity training to regain his spot on the network show. The Bachelorette season 10 star Marquel Martin and The Bachelor’s Robyn Jedkins told TMZ Harrison should get his job back but refocus on understanding Black issues before commenting further.

Views: Season 13’s DeMario Jackson and Season 20’s Jubilee Sharpe were among the reality stars who spoke to TMZ and said Harrison’s vacation from the show should be a permanent vacation

Jackson said of Harrison: ‘I don’t really think he can return, but it’s not up to me’

The controversy came after Harrison, in conversation with Extras Rachel Lindsay (formerly of The Bachelorette), suggested ‘a little understanding’ for contestant Rachael Kirkconnell when they discussed her attendance at a 2018 bash – described as ‘pre-war plantation themed ball’ – in images that appeared on Reddit.

In the segment, Harrison initially called for “ a little understanding ” for Kirkconnell, when Lindsay said the scandal “ didn’t look right ” for the contestant.

Harrison replied, “It is [not] a good look in 2018? Or does it not look good in 2021? Because there is a big difference. ‘

Details: The controversy came after Harrison, in conversation with Extras Rachel Lindsay (formerly of The Bachelorette), suggested “ some understanding ” for a contestant attending a 2018 bash – described as “ pre-war plantation themed ball ”

In the segment, Harrison initially called for “ a little understanding ” for Kirkconnell, when Lindsay said the scandal “ didn’t look right ” for the contestant.

Harrison took to social media on Saturday with a message of remorse, saying that “ by excusing historical racism, [he] defended it ‘

He continued: ‘The roused police are out there. And this poor girl Rachael, who was just thrown to the lions, I don’t know how rested you are if you’ve never done this before, to be awake enough, to be eloquent enough, to be ready. ‘

Harrison took to social media on Saturday with a message of remorse, saying that “ by excusing historical racism, [he] defended it.

‘To the black community, to the BIPOC community: I’m so sorry. My words were harmful, ”said the Texas resident. ‘I’m listening, and I sincerely apologize for my ignorance and all the pain it has caused you … that’s why I have Warner Bros. and ABC and will step aside for a while and won’t be competing for the After the Final Rose special. ‘