NEW YORK It was a mistake. I made a mistake, embattled Bachelor host Chris Harrison said in his first interview since stepping aside from the franchise for defending the racist actions of a contestant.
Harrison came under fire after an Extra interview with the first Black Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay when he was asked about racially insensitive past behavior from contestant Rachael Kirkconnell, which included attending an antebellum plantation themed ball and liking a photo showing the Confederate flag. In the February interview, Harrison defended Kirkconnell against what he called the woke police on social media. We all need to have a little grace, a little understanding, a little compassion, he said.