This is an opinion article piece. Lindsay Lee is a junior who writes for the Arts and Entertainment section for the Patriot. All opinions expressed in the following editorial are her own and don’t necessarily reflect the views of the Patriot.

For nearly twenty years, Chris Harrison has been the host of the Bachelor and the Bachelorette. Now, according to Deadline, “former Bachelorettes Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe will support the new Bachelorette through next season”. The news is true as he wasn’t seen quarantining with the rest of the cast and crew in Albuquerque. He is set to be replaced by Emmanuel Acho, but “[plans] to be back and [wants] to be back” even after defending Rachel Kirkconnell’s attendance at a plantation-themed party back in 2018 according to USA Today. The full statement by ABC is as follows, “Chris Harrison will not be hosting the next season of The Bachelorette,” the companies said in a statement. “We support Chris in the work that he is committed to doing. In his absence, former Bachelorettes Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe will support the new Bachelorette through next season. As we continue the dialogue around achieving greater equity and inclusion within The Bachelor franchise, we are dedicated to improving the BIPOC representation of our crew, including among the executive producer ranks. These are important steps in effecting fundamental change so that our franchise is a celebration of love that is reflective of our world” according to Deadline. 

After news of the comment got out he formally apologized on Instagram according to the Washington Post, “My ignorance did damage to my friends, colleagues and strangers alike. I have no one to blame but myself for what I said and the way I spoke,” “By excusing historical racism, I defended it. . . . I am ashamed over how uninformed I was. I was so wrong.” Kirkconnell also wrote an apology stating, “I didn’t recognize how offensive and racist my actions were, but that doesn’t excuse them. My age or when it happened does not excuse anything. They are not acceptable or okay in any sense. I was ignorant, but my ignorance was racist.” 

He then went on to have a discussion with former Bachelorette, Rachel Lindsay who was the first African American Bachelorette on the show which was very controversial. According to the Washington Post, he said, “The woke police is out there, and this poor girl Rachael has just been thrown to the lions.” He even went as far as to say that “I just know that, I don’t know, 50 million people did that in 2018.” as if to justify that since 50 million people did it Rachel shouldn’t face backlash for it. He then made two additional apologies stating, “While I do not speak for Rachael Kirkconnell, my intentions were simply to ask for grace in offering her an opportunity to speak on her own behalf. What I now realize I have done is cause harm by wrongly speaking in a manner that perpetuates racism, and for that, I am so deeply sorry.” “To the Black community, to the BIPOC community: I am so sorry. My words were harmful. I am listening, and I truly apologize for my ignorance and any pain it caused you,” he wrote. “I am so grateful to those who have reached out to help me on my path to anti-racism.”

Former Bachelorette, Rachel Lindsay, shared her point of view on the situation saying “…she was “exhausted” by the diversity issues in the franchise, which she has spoken out against for years.” Additionally, Lindsay also threatened to stop working with Bachelor Nation, saying the culture surrounding the shows “perpetuates and mirrors exactly what is wrong in our society and [continues] to play into an audience that is willing to accept it, and I’m tired of it.” She also suggested she was tired of feeling like the franchise doesn’t have her back. “There have been a number of times that contestants have done racist things or said it and the franchise is completely silent on it. . . . I’m sick of pretending that I’m fine with it.” according to the Washington Post.