Chris Harrison will not return to Bachelor franchise after racism controversy

(Image credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

published 8 June 2021

Chris Harrison is officially leaving the Bachelor franchise.

On Monday night, season 17 of The Bachelorette premiered without long-time host Harrison, and Deadline reports he's now gone for good.

Harrison has been host of the franchise and spin-offs since 2002, but he "stepped aside" from his duties earlier this year after he defended contestant Rachael Kirkconnell's decision to attend antebellum South-themed party in an interview with the first Black Bachelorette, Rachel Lindsay. Harrison later apologized and, speaking on Good Morning America in March, declared, "I plan to be back. I want to be back."

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Taylor Watson is audience engagement editor for TheWeek.com and a former editorial assistant. She graduated from Syracuse University, with a major in magazine journalism and minors in food studies and nutrition. Taylor has previously written for Runner's World, Vice, and more.

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