Chris Harrison won't host the next 'Bachelorette' season after defending racism in controversial interview
- Chris Harrison won't host the next "Bachelorette" season, ABC Entertainment and Warner Horizon said.
- A statement on Friday said Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe will host the next season.
- Harrison stepped down as the host after defending a controversial contestant, Rachael Kirkconnell.
The next season of "The Bachelorette" will have two new hosts, though they're no strangers to the reality TV series.
Former "Bachelorette" contestants Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe will host the show's 17th season, replacing longtime host Chris Harrison, ABC Entertainment and Warner Horizon said in a statement Friday.
Adams starred on "The Bachelorette" in season 16, and Bristowe was on the reality series in season 11.
Harrison, who has been hosting "The Bachelor" since its debut in 2002, said in February that he was "stepping aside" from the show following an interview with Extra correspondent and "Bachelorette" star Rachel Lindsay, in which he defended a contestant of "The Bachelor" and photos that showed her in college at a plantation-themed party.
"We support Chris in the work that he is committed to doing," ABC Entertainment and Warner Horizon said Friday in the widely reported statement. "As we continue the dialogue around achieving greater equity and inclusion within 'The Bachelor' franchise, we are dedicated to improving the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) representation of our crew."
Harrison has apologized for his controversial interview
In the now-controversial Extra interview from February 9, Harrison defended "Bachelor" contestant Rachael Kirkconnell's photos that showed her at a plantation-themed fraternity formal in 2018.
Rachel Lindsay, a correspondent for Extra and the first Black woman to start as the Bachelorette on the franchise, Harrison asked that people show the current season's contestant, Kirkconnell, "a little grace" for her old photos.
After Harrison's remark from the interview made headlines, he apologized in an Instagram post, writing in February: "I have this incredible platform to speak about love, and yesterday I took a stance on topics about which I should have been better informed."
Later that month, Harrison apologized again and said in another Instagram post that he would be "stepping aside for a period of time" from the franchise.
"I want to ensure our cast and crew members, to my friends, colleagues, and our fans: this is not just a moment, but a commitment to much greater understanding that I will actively make every day," he said.
Harrison recently said on "Good Morning America" that he wants to return to the franchise.
"I am an imperfect man, I made a mistake, and I own that," Harrison said. "I believe that mistake doesn't reflect who I am or what I stand for. I am committed to progress, not just for myself, also for the franchise. And this is a franchise that has been a part of my life for the better part of 20 years, and I love it."
He continued: "I plan to be back and I want to be back. And I think this franchise can be an important beacon of change. I know that change is felt not just by me but by many others. And we are excited and willing to do the work to show that progress."
Representatives for ABC Entertainment did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.