So, Is “The Bachelor” Franchise Really Ending?

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Reader, will you accept this rose?

If you’ve been keeping up with The Bachelor and Bachelor nation as a whole, you’ll know that in a surprising turn of events, ‘the most dramatic season’ is actually happening off screen this time. No producers meddling, no girls stealing time — this is purely unedited and real life. 

Before I get too far into this article, I want to reiterate what Rachel Lindsay’s co-host, Van Lathan, said on the podcast Higher Learning. He explained that if we as a society simply cancelled everyone anytime they did anything wrong, there would be no one left. People need to be given the opportunity to make mistakes and learn from those mistakes. That being said, some mistakes need to be dealt with seriously — and this one has fans across the globe wondering if they’ll finally see The Bachelor ending for good. 

So, What’s the Scandal?

On Tuesday, February 9, Rachel Lindsay interviewed long-time Bachelor host, Chris Harrison, about one of the season’s contestants and her blatantly racist actions. 

Rachael Kirkconnell, a front-runner of this season, was recently found to have attended an Antebellum plantation themed party that was thrown by her college fraternity, Kappa Alpha, in 2018. That same sorority has been criticized for other racist activities, such as referring to Confederate General Robert E. Lee as its ‘spiritual leader’. 

This is not the only racist activity that Kirkconnell has participated in. Early in January, people started to find her ‘liking’ posts that showcased the Confederate flag and more photos of her past were revealed, in which she dressed up as different ‘races’ for parties. One TikToker even called out Kirkconnell for racist remarks made in high school:

How did Chris Harrison respond?

Well…not great:

Rachel Lindsay interviewed Chris Harrison on her show “Extra,” to ask him what his thoughts were about Rachael and her involvement in racist acts. Harrison then responded by emphasizing the need for grace and then admonishing the people who are calling Rachael out, saying:

“We all need to have a little grace, a little understanding, and a little compassion because I have seen some stuff online — again, this judge-jury-execution thing where people are just tearing this girl’s life apart and diving into, like, her parents, her parents’ voting record. It’s unbelievably alarming to watch this.”

He then went on to say that he hadn’t heard Kirkconnell speak out on her actions, and that he couldn’t judge or say anything about the situation. 

Lindsay then responded that ‘it’s not a good look’ to be at an old-south Antebellum party to which Harrison said, “Is it [not] a good look in 2018 or is it not a good look in 2021?”. He went on to defend Kirkconnell’s actions because ‘it was different in 2018’, by saying, “I’m not trying to defend Rachael, I just know that…I don’t know, 50 million people did that in 2018. That was a type of party that people went to….now, does that make it okay? I don’t know Rachel, you tell me”. While it was good for him not to speak for Kirkconnell or put words in her mouth, Harrison had ample opportunity to agree that her actions were not right and she should apologize. 

Rachel Lindsay then went on her podcast to discuss the interview. She said, “During that whole conversation he had the audacity to question me. During that conversation he talked over me and at me. During that conversation his privilege was on display. He never gave me room to talk and he never gave me room to share my perspective. He wasn’t trying to hear it, he was just trying to be heard.” Throughout the interview, you can see him constantly stopping her from talking and attempting to place the blame on those who are seeking apologies or explanations. 

Yikes… How has the rest of Bachelor Nation responded? Is The Bachelor ending?

Well, Kirkconnell released a statement on her Instagram saying that she was wrong, ignorant, and racist in her actions. Chris Harrison also released an apology on his social medias. Rachel Lindsay responded to Chris Harrison’s statement, saying that he did not think what he said was wrong until people called him out on his statements. 

In the wake of Lindsay’s interview with him, Harrison recently announced that he is stepping aside from The Bachelor in order that “this historic season of The Bachelor should not be marred or overshadowed by my mistakes or diminished by my actions”. Harrison will not host the After the Final Rose special and will spend the time he has off screen to become “educated on a more profound and productive level than ever before”. 

The women of The Bachelor‘s 25th season also released a statement on Instagram:

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