The bachelorette alum Rachel Lindsay, who became the ABC Reality franchise’s first Black lead, now says she won’t be renewing her Bachelor education contract when it expires, while the precipitation continues from a stream Bachelor education controversial photos of the contestant and Chris Harrison’s reaction to them.
‘I’m tired of f – king. I’m exhausted. I’m really fed up with it, ”Lindsay said in her Friday episode Higher education podcast with Van Lathan. ‘How much more do I want to be a part of this? … I said I would leave if they didn’t have colored leads. Okay, they did, and they made some other changes. They hired a diversity consultant. Who did not attend the class? Didn’t Chris Harrison endure that? … I can’t take it anymore. I am contractually bound in some way. But when it’s over, so am I. “
Lindsay refers to one Additional interview she did with Harrison, in which she discussed recently surfaced photos of current contestant Rachael Kirkconnell – who competed for the heart of Matt James, the first black bachelor – attending an Antebellum party three years ago. (Because of the painful and racist history that triggers the pre-war Antebellum South and slavery, many have shunned romanticizing the era and its images.) In the interview, Harrison defended Kirkconnell’s reputation and denounced what he called ‘canceling culture’: judge, jury, executioner ‘thing where people just tear up this girl’s life and dive into her parents’ voting record … it’s incredibly alarming to watch this. “
After serious opposition, Harrison apologized: “What I now realize I have done is harm by mispronouncing in a way that perpetuates racism, and I’m so sorry.” Lindsay says he also apologized to her personally, “but I’m really having a hard time reasoning or, like, really taking this apology and accepting it.” She recalled that “during that conversation he spoke about me and to me… He never gave me room to talk. And he never gave me the space to share my perspective. He tried not to hear it … I felt like he had an agenda that he was trying to push. “
Kirkconnell apologized for the photos, acknowledged that her actions were “offensive and racist” and stated that “they are in no way acceptable or okay. I was ignorant, but my ignorance was racist.” She promised “my energy. to stop people from making the same insulting mistakes I made in the first place ”. The other of this season Bachelor education The participants also released a joint statement saying that “we are deeply disappointed and want to make it clear that we denounce any defense of racism,” adding that they are behind Lindsay, “we hear her and we argue alongside her. for change. “
Lindsey, who made her Bachelor education debut as a season participant of Nick Viall, later became the next star of The bachelorette in 2017 and became the first black person to star in both editions of the long-running franchise, which debuted on ABC in 2002. She chose Bryan Abasolo as her season winner, and the two were married in 2019. She has made numerous appearances on Bachelor education shows since, and currently hosts the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast with fellow alum Becca Kufrin.