Chris Harrison’s comments about Rachel were made in a February 2021 interview with former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay, where he defended Bachelor contestant Rachael Kirkconnell after photos surfaced of her attending an “Old South”/antebellum-themed fraternity formal. His defense of Rachael and the way he spoke to Rachel Lindsay led to major backlash and ultimately to his exit from The Bachelor franchise.
What he said in the interview
During the interview, Harrison repeatedly urged viewers to show Rachael Kirkconnell “grace” and “compassion” and questioned whether attending an antebellum-themed party was viewed differently in 2018 versus 2021. He also pushed back when Lindsay pointed out that celebrating the Old South is never a good look, at one point invoking “the woke police” and suggesting critics were being too harsh on Rachael.
How he spoke to Rachel Lindsay
Rachel Lindsay later said Harrison talked over her, spoke at her rather than with her, and was not interested in truly hearing her perspective as a Black woman explaining why the images were harmful. Many viewers criticized his tone as condescending and dismissive, noting that he centered sympathy on Rachael Kirkconnell instead of acknowledging the racism involved in the situation.
Aftermath and his apology
Following the backlash, Harrison issued a public apology stating that his words were harmful and that he had spoken in a way that perpetuated racism. He then announced he would step aside from hosting duties, a move that later became a permanent departure from the Bachelor franchise.
