THE BACHELOR’s Chris Harrison Steps Down After Condemning Cancel Culture
By Movieguide® Staff
Chris Harrison, the host of the popular reality TV show THE BACHELOR on ABC, stepped down from his role after he came under fire for encouraging people to show grace and understanding amid the growing cancel culture epidemic.
“This historic season of ‘The Bachelor’ should not be marred or overshadowed by my mistakes or diminished by my actions,” Harrison said, referring to the show’s first black bachelor, Christian Matt James. “To that end, I have consulted with Warner Bros. and ABC and will be stepping aside for a period of time and will not join for the ‘After the Final Rose’ special.”
On Feb. 9, Harrison appeared in an interview with former contestant and the first black bachelorette, Rachel Lindsay, to discuss the controversy around current contestant Rachel Kirkconnell.
“We all need to have a little grace, a little understanding, a little compassion,” Harrison said. “Because I have seen some stuff online — this judge, jury, executioner thing where people are just tearing this girl’s life apart and diving into, like, her parents, her parents’ voting record. It’s unbelievably alarming to watch this.”
In 2018, Kirkconnell attended an antebellum-themed sorority party. Lindsay condemned Harrison’s response.
"I can't take it anymore." –@TheRachLindsay talks to @VanLathan about how disappointed she is with the 'Bachelor' franchise: https://t.co/1Z5z8zTcFY pic.twitter.com/0uk44wBgbo
— The Ringer (@ringer) February 13, 2021
Harrison was adamant about waiting to form a complete opinion until Kirkconnell responded and expressed his concern for the readiness of “woke police” to cancel anyone and everyone.
However, Harrison’s hesitancy to condemn Kirkconnell did not sit well with Lindsay.
“You’re right, Chris Harrison,” Lindsay said. “Who are you? Who are you to say something? Because you aren’t the person who’s been offended by the very actions that she is affiliated with — by the things that she has done.”
Lindsay also announced that she plans to cut all ties with THE BACHELOR franchise after her contract expires.
A few days after Harrison and Lindsay’s conversation, Kirkconnell also apologized for her actions in 2018 and determined to work towards being “anti-racist.”
Networks like ABC often write apologies and statements for their stars. Harrison’s stepping away from the BACHELOR seems like the latest example of a small minority pushing an agenda they expect the masses to follow.
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