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.)