Chris Harrison says he has no regrets about leaving his nearly 20-year hosting career with the Bachelor franchise in June 2021.
On a recent episode of Jason Tartick’s Trading Secrets podcast, the longtime former ‘Bachelor’ host opened up about his departure from the franchise, calling it a difficult but ultimately good decision.
“The show was a blessing,” Chris said on the podcast. “I still look at this as a blessing in my life. It was hard at first, obviously, it wasn’t immediate where I felt great about everything, because what I went through was tumultuous. I don’t wish it on anybody.”
As The Ashley previously told you, months before Chris announced his official departure from the ‘Bachelor’ franchise, he stepped back from his hosting duties after coming to the defense of ‘Bachelor’ contestant Rachael Kirkconnell when pictures of her attending a Southern plantation-themed party surfaced online. Chris defended Rachael in a now-infamous interview with former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay.
When discussing the events this week, Chris called the backlash he received after the interview “horrifying on a lot of levels” and “something that I pray to God my worst enemy never goes through.”
“But with that said, I knew I had to remove myself from what became a very toxic situation, and I did, and that was a very difficult situation,” Chris continued, noting he is “proud of that decision.”
“I’m proud that I handled it the way I did and I still look at it as a blessing because it changed my life on so many levels,” he explained. “Financially, of course. It changed my life. It changed my kids’ lives.”
As you may recall, Chris reportedly received an eight-figure payout after leaving the franchise.
While Chris remains friendly with multiple people from the ‘Bachelor’ franchise–- some of whom even attended his November wedding to Lauren Zima–- he says he would never consider making a return to the franchise.
“It changed my life, but at the same time, I can also be grateful that I’m gone,” he said. “That’s a relationship I don’t need to be in anymore because it wasn’t healthy.”
Months after Chris’s exit from the series, Jesse Palmer was named the new host of ‘The Bachelor.’
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(Photos: ABC; Instagram)
I don’t hate Chris Harrison, as a person. I just question why he chose to defend Rachel at all. I mean Rachel that did the plantation party, but is also still with Matt (and seems quite lovely). Rachel and Matt should have answered the question, not Chris.
I like Rachel Lindsay, and think she asked a very direct question. I think there needs to be a discussion to promote progress. I think Chris was put on the hot seat and wasn’t prepared.
I did an interview this week for a new job that I don’t 100% agree with my answers (as in i think I could have done better).I have a bachelor degree, and discussed this with my close friend in the same field with a bachelor degree.
What is the right answer to attending a plantation party back in college? Like its wrong 100% but then this comes back to the host in an interview. Matt was done dirty, I will die on this hill. I think Matt should have been interviewed with Chris from Rachel Lindsay.
Matt was also criticized for every thing he did on the the show. He was criticized for getting back together with Rachel. They seem quite happy, and I think Matt & Rachel are both lovely and could have been shown better.