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‘The Bachelorette’ hits reset button after ‘Bachelor’ scandal
The highly anticipated new season of “The Bachelorette” arrived Monday, as the franchise built around the popular reality series “The Bachelor” hits the reset button following a tumultuous season clouded by racial controversy and host Chris Harrison’s late-season decision to step aside from the role.
Former “Bachelorettes” Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe took over hosting duties for the season, starring new “Bachelorette” Katie Thurston. The hosting duo replaced Harrison after he came under fire last season for racially insensitive remarks he made during an interview. Harrison stepped away before the finale aired, and his future with the franchise remains uncertain. (Harrison is also reportedly being replaced as host of the franchise’s “Bachelor in Paradise” spinoff.)
The Bachelor franchise for good,
Rachel Lindsay, the show’s first Black
Bachelorette, is weighing in on the decision.
On a Tuesday episode of
Extra, Lindsay said she didn’t expect Harrison to leave, and although she doesn’t know what exactly led to his official departure, she can speculate.
“The Bachelorette” former star Rachel Lindsay attends Tyler Perry Studios’ October 2019 grand opening gala in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Tyler Perry Studios)
“I think several past contestants coming forward and saying they didn’t want him to be part of
Paradise. I think
Katie Thurston, her very last tweet before she went to film her season was that Chris needed to step away. I think that, coupled with the interview that happened on this very stage, maybe led to him not coming back,” said Lindsay, according to
The Grammy award winning artist and the Emmy nominated actor have signed on to host
Bachelor in Paradise this summer, replacing the show’s long time host
Chris Harrison, per
The
Bachelor spinoff will take place in Mexico this season and will rotate celebrity hosts until a permanent selection is made. Lil Jon is a familiar face on the franchise as he was featured on Season 14 of
The Bachelorette. Burgess is a Broadway star and comedian. He is best known for his role on the Netflix series
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt as Titus Andromedon.
(Credit: Getty Images)
The Bachelor franchise which includes
Harrison had been on hiatus starting in February after garnering backlash over an interview where he defended Rachel Kirkconnell the frontrunner of the then-airing historic season of
The Bachelor with first Black Bachelor Matt James when racially offensive behavior in her past resurfaced. Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe were later announced as his replacements on Katie Thurston’s season of
The Bachelorette, which premiered on Monday night. Throughout those weeks of uncertainty, Harrison’s future with the franchise regarding
Bachelor in Paradise, the fall season of
The Bachelorette with Michelle Young and beyond remained in limbo and under negotiation. (A host, or hosts, for Young’s season has yet to be announced.)