Why Isn’t Chris Harrison ‘The Bachelor’ Host Tonight and When Will He Return?
Longtime franchise host Chris Harrison won’t host The Bachelor special, “After the Final Rose.” After hosting the show for nearly two decades, Harrison announced he was “stepping down.” This is the first time that The Bachelor host won’t be at the “After the Final Rose” special. When will he return?
Chris Harrison’s comments about Rachael Kirkconnell
On Feb. 13, host Chris Harrison announced that he was temporarily “stepping down” as the host of The Bachelor. The announcement came after he received backlash from his Feb. 9 interview with Rachel Lindsay.
The former Bachelorette star asked Harrison about the photos that surfaced of contestant Rachael Kirkconnell. The 24-year-old graphic designer attended an Antebellum South-themed ball in 2018. The 49-year-old host of The Bachelor defended Kirkconnell.
During the interview, Harrison told Lindsay that fans should give “a little grace, a little understanding, a little compassion” to Kirkconnell. When Lindsay said the photos were “not a good look,” Harrison went further.
“Well, Rachel, is it a good look in 2018? Or, is it not a good look in 2021? Because there’s a big difference,” the host questioned.
“It’s not a good look ever because she’s celebrating the Old South,” Lindsay responded. “If I went to that party, what would I represent at that party?”
Fans quickly pointed out The Bachelor host was defending racism. He issued an apology and then stepped down from his hosting position for an undetermined amount of time.
Who is hosting ‘The Bachelor’ tonight?
The producers chose Former NFL player Emmanuel Acho to host The Bachelor’s “After the Rose” special on March 15. He is the author of Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man and hosts a weekly activist webcast by the same name.
“This is the most uncomfortable conversation in the history of The Bachelor franchise,” Acho said on Good Morning America. “Because it’s not just about relationships, but now it’s about race.”
Acho will sit down with Matt James to discuss the current events surrounding his season. The new Bachelor host will also discuss James’ final decision, where he is now, and the show in general. Instead of Chris Harrison, Acho will be the one to sit down and talk to James’ final three women as well.
When will Chris Harrison return to host ‘The Bachelor’?
Although many fans thought that Harrison might return to host The Bachelorette Season 17, he won’t be back yet. On March 12, Warner Horizon and ABC Entertainment announced on Twitter that Harrison would not host the upcoming season of The Bachelorette.
“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.”
The statement did not include when Chris Harrison might return to host The Bachelor or The Bachelorette.
