Entertainment

Actions

'The Bachelor' host Chris Harrison stepping away after racial controversy

Chris Harrison
Posted
and last updated

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Chris Harrison, host of “The Bachelor,” says he is stepping down from his TV role and is “ashamed” for his handling of a swirling racial controversy at the ABC dating show.

In a new statement posted Saturday, Harrison apologized again for defending the actions by a contestant that many consider offensive.

“By excusing historical racism, I defended it. I invoked the term ‘woke police,’ which is unacceptable. I am ashamed over how uninformed I was. I was so wrong,” Harrison wrote in part.

Harrison came under fire after an interview on “Extra” when he was asked about racially insensitive past behavior from current “Bachelor” contestant Rachael Kirkconnell.

Past photos of Kirkconnell resurfaced in which she is dressed in costume as a Native American and at an antebellum plantation themed ball.

Kirkconnell remains a contestant on the reality show that features women vying for love with the first Black 'Bachelor,' Matt James.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Saturday

07/05/2025

Sunny

93° / 65°

0%

Sunday

07/06/2025

Sunny

98° / 69°

0%

Monday

07/07/2025

Sunny

100° / 67°

0%

Tuesday

07/08/2025

Sunny

100° / 68°

0%

Wednesday

07/09/2025

Sunny

98° / 70°

0%

Thursday

07/10/2025

Sunny

100° / 73°

0%

Friday

07/11/2025

Sunny

105° / 75°

0%

Saturday

07/12/2025

Sunny

104° / 74°

0%