Earlier this year, Harrison defended Bachelor winner Rachael Kirkconnel during her own controversy. Allegations of racism in Kirkconnel’s past surfaced around the time she was named winner of the recent season, which saw Matt James as ‘the Bachelor.’
Kirkconnel had attended an antebellum-themed frat party in 2018, and Harrison defended her when images from the party surfaced on social media.
Following backlash from Harrison’s support for Kirkconnel, the TV host apologized, saying “I promise to do better.”
At this time, Harrison said that he would not return to The Bachelor’s ‘After The Final Rose’ special and would be “stepping aside for a period of time.”
After it was decided that Harrison would not host the upcoming season of The Bachelorette, producers decided that the series’ alums Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristow would take over. But the show wants to go in a different direction for the upcoming season of Bachelor in Paradise.
According to Page Six, producers decided to try something new to bring more fun to the show. Instead of a traditional TV host, Bachelor in Paradise will be hosted by a variety of celebrity comedians. So far David Spade is the only one who has been named.