Chris Harrison has no plans of quitting his hosting gig on “The Bachelor” franchise amid his controversial comments defending contestant Rachael Kirkconnell’s racist behavior, which prompted the television personality to step back from the ABC dating show.
During an interview with “Good Morning America” on Thursday, Harrison told co-anchor Michael Strahan that he regrets his behavior during his February conversation with the first Black "Bachelorette," Rachel Lindsay.
“I’m an imperfect man. I made a mistake and I own that,” Harrison said.
During his Extra interview with Lindsay, Harrison attempted to justify Kirkconnell’s attendance at a 2018 “Old South” Antebellum-themed party in college. Kirkconnell is currently competing on Season 25 of "The Bachelor" which stars the series' first Black male lead, Matt James.
“I believe that mistake doesn’t reflect who I am or what I stand for," Harrison told Strahan. "I am committed to the progress, not just for myself, also for the franchise... Antebellum parties are not OK; past, present, future. Knowing what that represents is unacceptable.”
Harrison insisted that he has learned from the incident and would return to the series. “I plan to be back and I want to be back. This interview is not the finish line,” he told Strahan. “There is much more work to be done and I am excited to be a part of that change.”
EXCLUSIVE: “It was a mistake.” #TheBachelor host Chris Harrison apologizes for defending frontrunner Rachael Kirkconnell’s past racist social media posts, telling @michaelstrahan he is an “imperfect man” who is “committed to progress.” https://t.co/OfPBBzGd9s pic.twitter.com/0EgbKV99DV
— Good Morning America (@GMA)
However, Strahan wasn’t convinced of Harrison’s sincerity and suggested his apology may have ulterior motives.
“His apology is his apology, but it felt like it got nothing more than a surface response on any of this,” Strahan said. “Obviously, he is the man who wants to clearly stay on the show, but only time will tell if there is any meaning behind his words.”
Nonetheless, Strahan noted that Harrison has taken steps to educate himself following the controversy by speaking with a “race educator and strategist” about the importance of “counsel, not cancel” and taking “full accountability.”
“Understanding what you didn’t understand. Owning that, learning from that. Seeking counsel often in the community that you hurt. Learning from them, listening, gaining experience, knowledge, and moving forward,” Harrison said when explaining what he's learned.
Despite Harrison’s desire to return to the show, as noted by The Hollywood Reporter, ABC has not confirmed if or when fans will see “The Bachelor” host back on their small screens.
“The Bachelor” airs Mondays at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.
"The Bachelor" host Chris Harrison is pictured here at the ABC Winter TCA 2020. Photo: ABC/John Salangsang
