The long-time host of The Bachelor franchise “steps aside” after a train wreck of an interview defending a participant’s racist actions, including attending a plantation themed party in 2018.
In a statement on his Instagram page, Chris Harrison said he will not be attending the traditionally live episode “After the Final Rose” at the end of the current season. How long the hiatus will last and who will replace Harrison as host for “After the Final Rose” is unclear.
“The historic season of The Bachelor should not be marred or overshadowed by my mistakes or diminished by my actions,” Harrison wrote, referring to Matt James, who is the first black lead in history. The Bachelor“I am committed to being educated at a deeper and more productive level than ever before.”
In recent days, it was discovered that current contestant Rachael Kirkconnell wore insensitive Halloween costumes and loved offensive social media posts – including one in which two people pose in front of a Confederate flag.
Harrison was questioned about Kirkconnell’s past during an interview on Extra earlier this week with Rachel Lindsay, the first black lead in The bachelorette and now a media personality. He refused to condemn her actions and the event took place on her behalf, saying, “The police are awake and this poor girl Rachael has just been thrown to the lions.”
“I hear this all the time …” I think he should, I think she should. ‘Who the hell are you? Who are you that you demand this? he added.
Fans became incensed after watching the 14-minute exchange, and the entire cast of the current season released a statement of solidarity with Lindsay after the interview. The franchise has long been the subject of allegations of racism.
Kirkconnell, who is considered a front runner in the season, later apologized. “At one point I didn’t recognize how insulting and racist my actions were, but that’s no excuse,” she said in a statement Thursday. “My age or when it happened, nothing apologizes. They are in no way acceptable or okay. I was ignorant, but my ignorance was racist. “