Harrison spoke out on behalf of Rachael Kirkconnell, who was reportedly photographed in 2018 at a plantation-themed pre-war fraternity.
Kirkconnell has not yet commented on the photos.
Earlier this week, Harrison told “Extra” correspondent and former “The Bachelorette” star Rachel Lindsay that the photos were long overdue and spoke out against the cancellation culture.
‘I saw a picture of her at a college party five years ago and that’s it. Like, boom, ‘Harrison said, adding,’ I’m like, ‘Really? ”
Lindsay replied, “The photo was from 2018 at a pre-war party in Old South. That doesn’t look good.”
Harrison replied, “Rachel does it look good in 2018? Or does it not look good in 2021? Because there is a big difference.”
“It never looks good,” Lindsay said. “If I went to that party, what would I represent at that party?”
“You are 100% right in 2021,” Harrison said at the time. “That wasn’t the case in 2018. And again, I’m not defending Rachael. I just know that, I don’t know, 50 million people did that in 2018. That was kind of a party that a lot of people went to. And again. I’m not defending it. I didn’t go there. “
Harrison has since apologized for his original defense of Kirkconnell by writing on social media:
“To my Bachelor Nation family – I’ll always make a mistake when I make one, so I’m here to apologize. I have this incredible platform to talk about love, and yesterday I took a stand are better informed about topics I should talk 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 am so deeply sorry for that. First-hand understanding and humbly thanking the members of Bachelor Nation who contacted me to hold me accountable. I promise to do better. “
He added that he wanted the public to give Kirkconnell a chance to speak for themselves.