It’s been five years since The Bachelor parted ways with host Chris Harrison in a nasty turn of events stemming from a racism scandal on Matt James’ season. Since then the dating franchise has continued — even expanded — with Jesse Palmer leading the charge, but for some fans and even former leads like Ben Higgins, there will apparently always be a shred of hope that Harrison will come back.

Ben Higgins was the star of The Bachelor Season 20 back in 2016, which he landed after appearing as a contestant on Kaitlyn Bristowe’s season. That means his friendship with Chris Harrison dates back over a decade, so it’s really no surprise that Higgins had such a positive reaction when US Weekly asked if he’d like to see the OG host return to The Bachelor franchise. Higgins said:

Many Bachelor Nation fans feel the same, after seeing Chris Harrison as the sole host of all Bachelor products from 2002 to 2021. For Ben Higgins, what makes Harrison so special comes down to the way the host interacted with him and the other cast members when he was in the throes of dating multiple women. Higgins continued:

Chris Harrison has since opened up about the physical toll The Bachelor scandal took on him, saying he lost 20 pounds and couldn’t sleep or eat. Time appears to have healed some of those wounds, because as of last year Harrison said it feels “wonderful” to no longer be part of the ABC dating shows, and Ben Higgins admitted that getting him back would be no easy task:

I’m sure that’s true for many Bachelor Nation fans — but definitely not all of them. Not that it matters much anyway, because as the former Bachelor pointed out, Chris Harrison’s got a new gig in the works these days.

Chris Harrison announced in February that casting was underway for a new dating show for people looking for a “traditional marriage,” to air on Fox Nation. The Instagram announcement read:

The series is expected to premiere in 2027 — and with no Bachelor products planned for the 2026 TV schedule since Taylor Frankie Paul’s season of The Bachelorette was pulled, it’s much more likely that we’ll see Chris Harrison going up against his former dating franchise than rejoining it. But Ben Higgins can always hope.

Back in 2021, Bachelor Nation was rocked by a racism scandal that altered the course of several people’s lives and the franchise as a whole. One of those people was Chris Harrison, who had served as the host of The Bachelor (and all spinoffs) since its 2002 inception, as he was let go by ABC. Harrison has since moved on to other projects, and he opened up about the two things that really helped him to do that.

Jesse Palmer took over in fall 2021 as franchise host — including for The Golden Bachelor, whose second season is currently airing on the 2025 TV schedule. Meanwhile, several things have changed for Chris Harrison over the past four years, and not just his job title. When asked how it feels to no longer be with the franchise, he told People:

By his own account, it didn’t at first. Chris Harrison discussed the situation at length when he launched The Most Dramatic Podcast Ever, revealing that he lost 20 pounds during the ordeal and couldn’t sleep. After he got some distance from it, he was able to see how stressful the job had been, as he said:

Chris Harrison said not having that high-pressure job was tough for him. However, he apparently realized his life didn’t have to continue down the same path, and he credits a couple of different things for that. In his words:

Chris Harrison and Lauren Zima started dating in August 2018, so they’d been together for a while when The Bachelor scandal went down. She stuck by him, though, and the two got engaged in October 2021, just months after Harrison parted ways with ABC. They made it official two years later, tying the knot in October 2023.

The former Bachelor host also said adding his name to the list of celebrities who don’t live in Los Angeles helped, as he returned to his home state of Texas, with he and his wife now residing in Austin.

Bachelor Nation certainly went through trying times in 2021, but it’s good to hear that Chris Harrison has come out on the other side of it. Hopefully the same can be said for everyone else who was involved as well.

You won’t see Chris Harrison on The Golden Bachelor (or any other Bachelor series), but if you want to keep up with the current happenings anyway, tune in at 9 p.m. ET Wednesdays on ABC and streaming the next day with a Hulu subscription.

Chris Harrison is undeniably best known for his years in Bachelor Nation, which involved long runs on The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, and Bachelor in Paradise. Those runs ended in 2021, however, when he was ousted from the franchise in the wake of controversial comments about racism. He hadn't returned to TV for a major gig since 2021 and was absent from the early 2024 TV schedule, but that's about to change, as a collaboration with Dr. Phil is resulting in not one but two new shows.

And yes, one of them is a dating show. ET reports that Chris Harrison is working with Dr. Phil McGraw for his upcoming Merit Street Media network, which was created by McGraw in Dallas, TX. The Bachelor alum will host a dating show, host a morning show, and pitch in to Dr. Phil Primetime. His work with Merit Street Media began with contributions to the primetime show, with Dr. Phil himself telling the outlet that "the audience went insane" when Harrison walked out for the first time.

Of course, fans of Bachelor Nation – currently hosted by Jesse Palmer – may be more curious about the new dating show than Harrison's contributions to Dr. Phil Primetime. Dr. Phil commented that it will have "dating elements in it" in a "so different and so novel" way. He thinks that "people are gonna become addicted to it in a week" for how it flips the script. Chris Harrison commented on his new dating show gig, saying to the outlet:

Harrison certainly isn't kidding about his tendency to hype things as the "most dramatic" during his tenure on Bachelor Nation, and he seemingly doesn't think much of that in hindsight, if we go by his comment about wanting a show where "those words actually ring true." His words are particularly interesting in light of how he previously described The Bachelor as "a blessing," but it was also "horrifying on a lot of levels."

He didn't drop specific details about the format of the show, but previewed a bit more about what's coming:

Chris Harrison's second show for Merit Street Media will be a morning show that he co-hosts with wife Lauren Zima, with Zima telling ET that their relationship "is a big part of the morning show" because they want to connect with their audience, and "What's more relatable than talking about our relationship and what's going on in our own lives?"

Harrison and Zima seem to be embarking on a major collaboration with Dr. Phil, although his network hasn't launched just yet to reveal the full lineup of programming. News broke back in November 2023 that Dr. Phil would be launching a new cable TV network called Merit Street Media, with the goal of providing viewers with news and entertainment. In addition to Dr. Phil Primetime and the two projects with Chris Harrison, the network will deliver four hours of original primetime content, including a live hour of news. Future programming is set to include true crime and family-friendly shows.

Merit Street Media isn't set to launch until April 2, so there's still almost a month left before Dr. Phil's network hits the airwaves. It's also not clear if Harrison's two shows will be part of the lineup when it launches in early April, so only time will tell on that front. For now, any Bachelor Nation fans who have been missing Chris Harrison can count on seeing him back in the reality dating sphere, just not in the same way.

The Bachelor and its spinoffs have been consistently delivering relationship drama to our screens for over two decades, but there likely hasn’t been anything more controversial in that span than the ending to Matt James’ season. A racism scandal involving the eventual winner Rachael Kirkconnell rocked Season 25, causing the couple to temporarily break up, while Chris Harrison — the host since the show’s 2002 inception — lost his job with ABC. Despite everything that happened, James still considers himself a proud alumnus of Bachelor Nation, and he recently opened up about his current relationship with the former host. 

How Matt James Feels About His Experience On The Bachelor 

Matt James made history as The Bachelor’s first Black lead, so it a huge deal when, in the middle of the season that showed him falling in love with Rachael Kirkconnell, it was learned that Kirkconnell had formerly attended an Antebellum-themed fraternity party and had a history of racially insensitive social media activity. It was a tough time for the franchise — and obviously for James and Kirkconnell too — and the former Bachelor got candid with Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes on the Amy & T.J. podcast about why he still looks back fondly at his experience on the show. James said: 

Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell remain a couple three years after they met on The Bachelor Season 25, despite a brief split when the incidents from Kirkconnell’s past resurfaced. The couple got back together about a month after the season finale aired on ABC. James continued: 

I love Matt James’ perspective on choosing what to take away from the experience, but the controversy served as more than a bad hangover for The Bachelor franchise. Chris Harrison ended up stepping away as host after making insensitive remarks of his own while defending Rachael Kirkconnell’s actions in an interview with Rachel Lindsay.  

Has Matt James Spoken With Chris Harrison Since The Controversy? 

So is Matt James still in contact with Chris Harrison? It turns out they’re in the same fantasy football league, so the former Bachelor said they’ve had plenty of conversations. He told the podcast hosts: 

Matt James spoke out after Chris Harrison’s infamous interview, calling it “troubling and painful to watch,” and saying Harrison’s opinions were indicative of “a much larger issue that The Bachelor franchise has fallen short on addressing adequately for years.” 

He also admitted to T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach that there wasn’t much bonding going on between the members of the fantasy football league, but suggested that he wouldn’t be involved in it with Chris Harrison if he had disdain or ill will toward him. James continued: 

The Bachelor Season 25 is definitely one that Bachelor Nation won’t forget any time soon, for better or worse, but it seems that Matt James has gotten past the negativity of the experience and is now able to just focus on the love story of it all. James may be less in the public eye these days, but we can still watch Joey Graziadei’s journey to find love of his own on The Bachelor Season 28. New episodes air at 8 p.m. ET Mondays on ABC and can be streamed the next day with a Hulu subscription. Also be sure to check out our 2024 TV schedule to see what premieres are coming up. 

Updated with video.

Chris Harrison has long been synonymous with The Bachelor – ABC’s hit reality dating show franchise, which he hosted for 19 years. The veteran media personality ultimately exited the series in 2021 after receiving backlash for defending controversial contestant Rachael Kirkconnell. Harrison has since moved on to other endeavors but still receives questions about his time with the high-rated series. The topic of his time on the production and highly publicized departure came up again just recently, and Harrison didn’t hold back when describing the situation, which he called “horrifying on a lot of levels.”

The 52-year-old host was a guest on the Trading Secrets podcast, which is hosted by former Bachelorette contestant Jason Tartick. During their two-part chat, the two discussed a number of aspects of Chris Harrison’s lengthy career, including his beginnings on The Bachelor. Tartick eventually asked Harrison how he now views his experience with the reality TV franchise as a whole. The former Who Wants to Be a Millionaire host stated that he still sees the show as a “blessing” for him professionally. However, his thoughts on how that partnership ended were less-than-positive: 

Season 25 contestant Rachael Kirkconnell came under fire in early 2021 after it was revealed that she’d participated in an antebellum-themed party during her college years. Chris Harrison subsequently spoke to fellow franchise alum Rachel Lindsay about the matter when she interviewed him for Extra. During the chat, Harrison defended Kirkconnell and spoke out against cancel culture. He later apologized for the interview that “perpetuates racism.” It was later revealed that the host would be “stepping aside” from his duties on the show, with alternating hosts brought in to replace him. And by June 2021, Harrison officially parted ways with ABC.

This isn’t the first time Chris Harrison has spoken about his exit, even discussing the physical toll it took on him. Looking back on it now, the former HGTV personality believes he handled the situation effectively. He also thinks that given more time, he and his former colleagues at the alphabet network could’ve worked through the controversy without him being ousted: 

As of right now, the pundit is hosting his own show called The Most Dramatic Podcast Ever, on which he discusses various topics. (He even shared “strong opinions” on the Amy Robach/T.J. Holmes situation at ABC.) While speaking with Jason Tartick, he also doubled down on the notion that he wouldn’t return to the Bachelor franchise, if asked. Not only does he seemingly want to be done with that working relationship, but he also suggested that the show began “going downhill” by the time his hosting stint concluded. Nevertheless, the show is still running and continues to draw in viewers. So it would seem that all in all, both parties have moved on from the debacle that went down over two years ago. 

The Bachelor is set to return for Season 28, with Joey Graziadei at the center of it, early in the 2024 TV schedule. In the meantime, you can also stream past seasons of the show using a Hulu subscription.

Another veteran of The Bachelor has made it down the aisle to say “I do,” but it wasn’t with someone they met on the show. Colton Underwood, the Season 23 lead who famously jumped a fence in an effort to escape ABC’s reality TV cameras, married Jordan C. Brown in front of 200 guests May 13 in a romantic ceremony in Napa Valley. Several celebrities — including former host of The Bachelor Chris Harrison — sent their congratulations to the former football player.

Colton Underwood came out as gay in 2021 during an interview on Good Morning America, years after appearances on the Bachelor Nation reality shows, and that milestone in his life was documented on the Netflix series Coming Out Colton. Rumors began to circulate that he and Jordan C. Brown were an item later that year, with Underwood confirming the relationship in December. By February 2022 they were engaged, and a little over a year later, the happy couple are officially married! The groom shared the happy news on Instagram with exclusive photos from People: 

Several celebs rushed to the comments section of Colton Underwood’s post to offer well-wishes to the couple, including Chris Harrison, who was still the host of the Bachelor Nation shows when Underwood appeared. He wrote: 

The TV personality was joined by his fiancée Lauren Zima and a couple of other Bachelor Nation members in sending love to the newlyweds:  

• Lauren Zima: ❤️❤️❤️ SUCH AN AMAZING WEDDING AND WEEKEND! So very happy for you two. Loved witnessing your love!!!!
• Garrett Yrigoyen: Congrats Colton, happy for you man.
• JoJo Fletcher: Congrats you two!!! ❤️❤️

More big names from outside of Bachelor Nation also flocked to the comments section, including Full House alum Jodie Sweetin and others, who said: 

• Jodie Sweetin: Congrats!!!
• Debbie Gibson: Congrats ! You both look so happy… and so dapper! Here’s to your life journey together. Cheers 🥂
• Bobby Berk: So honored to share this beautiful day with you. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
• Christian Siriano: Congratulations
• Debra Messing: MAZEL TOV!!!!!
• Harry Jowsey: Wow congratulations ❤️
• Michelle Kwan: Congratulations ❤️

While Colton Underwood found fame on the Bachelor Nation dating shows, his relationship with those in the franchise was strained after he starred as The Bachelor. Cassie Rudolph, who was the last woman standing on his season — though they did not get engaged on the show — filed a restraining order against Underwood in September 2020 after they broke up in April, saying he stalked and harassed her. According to Rudolph, Underwood placed a tracking device on her vehicle — which he admitted to — and loitered outside her bedroom window at 2 a.m.

That friction only increased with the release of Coming Out Colton, when Tayshia Adams accused him of lying about what happened on their Fantasy Suite date, and Nick Viall and Ben Higgins disputed Colton Underwood’s claims that Chris Harrison had been the only person to contact him after he came out. In the end, Underwood has said he doesn’t want to be associated with The Bachelor, saying “I don’t fuck with them anymore, they don’t fuck with me.” 

At least his friendship with Chris Harrison has endured, and it looks like Colton Underwood was surrounded by a lot of love for his special day. 

We send our congratulations to the happy couple, and if you want to learn more about Colton Underwood’s journey, Coming Out Colton is available for streaming with a Netflix subscription. 

Spoiler alert! This story contains spoilers about the rumored pick for The Bachelorette Season 20.

Zach Shallcross’ time as The Bachelor’s lead is starting to wind down, with Hometowns just around the corner. But even as viewers watch to see who Shallcross chooses in the end, we’ve all been on the lookout from the beginning for which of the Season 27 cast could get a second shot at love. ABC has reportedly made that decision, offering The Bachelorette Season 20 to one of Shallcross’ contestants. Amidst all of this are the rumors that the network has had discussions about bringing disgraced former host Chris Harrison back to the franchise, and if all the rumors are true, this would just not be the time for that. Let’s discuss. 

Who Is Rumored To Be The Next Bachelorette? 

The woman (or women) chosen to lead The Bachelorette have always been past contestants from The Bachelor, and they’re usually from the season that immediately precedes their own. For that reason, Bachelor Nation has been discussing all season which of Zach Shallcross’ women they want to see more of. Reality Steve has apparently gotten confirmation about who they’ve offered the position to, as he tweeted: 

Charity Lawson — who has not yet been eliminated from The Bachelor — is the rumored pick for The Bachelorette Season 20. Reality Steve was sure to qualify his announcement by saying that nothing is ever official until it comes from ABC — and the network has been known to offer the opportunity to multiple people in the past before making a final decision — so this is still just a rumor at this point, however well-substantiated.

The 26-year-old family therapist from Georgia has done a good job of staying out of the pettier drama on The Bachelor, and while fans certainly had their favorite contestants, Charity Lawson seems like a solid choice. I’ll be excited to watch her season … as long as those OTHER rumors don’t turn out to be true. 

Now Would Not Be The Time To Bring Back Chris Harrison To TV

The last thing Charity Lawson would need going into her season of The Bachelorette would be the return of Chris Harrison. The former longtime host is back in the public eye, two years after parting ways with ABC amid his racism scandal. His initial episodes of The Most Dramatic Podcast Ever took shots at the franchise and ripped ABC, sharing strong thoughts about the network’s handling of the Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes affair. Despite all that, rumors started circulating that ABC executives had meetings to discuss the possibility of bringing him back. 

If those rumors are true — and according to Chris Harrison, it would be “crazy” if they weren’t — that needs to stop now. Harrison reached a multimillion dollar deal with ABC to walk away, after he made comments that “perpetuated racism” in an interview with the franchise’s first Black lead, Rachel Lindsay. 

Furthermore this happened in connection to Matt James’ season of The Bachelor, which to this day is the only season of the flagship series to feature a Black lead. (The Bachelorette has done slightly better, as Charity Lawson will presumably be that series’ fourth POC lead.)

If Chris Harrison were to return for Charity Lawson’s season of The Bachelorette, his “redemption” would become the story, stealing all of the thunder from Lawson’s search for love. 

Of course this is all speculation and rumors, but with all the attention Harrison’s podcast has gotten as The Bachelorette gears up to start production on a new season, it wouldn’t take the biggest conspiracy theorist to find dots to connect. 

Bachelor Nation will continue to wait for an official announcement from ABC naming Charity Lawson the star of The Bachelorette Season 20, and hopefully it will come with confirmation that Jesse Palmer will remain the host. New episodes of The Bachelor air at 8 p.m. ET Mondays on ABC and are available the next day to Hulu subscription holders. 

Chris Harrison is back in the public eye after parting ways with ABC and The Bachelor franchise in 2021 amid his Rachel Lindsay's racism scandal response. After two years of silence, the former host is showing that he’s not afraid to speak his mind. On his new podcast The Most Dramatic Podcast Ever, Harrison has pulled no punches regarding ABC, taking aim at The Bachelor’s ratings and weighing in on Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes’ drama. In a recent episode, he even addressed the rumors that the network is considering bringing him back to the longtime reality dating series, saying it would be “crazy” if those talks aren’t happening.

In the episode “Dramatic STori’s,” Chris Harrison and guest Tori Spelling discussed some of the hottest headlines, including recent rumors that ABC executives were having internal meetings about re-hiring the disgraced host to help with falling ratings. Not only did Harrison say that’s likely true, he explained why he’d be surprised if it weren’t. In his words: 

Chris Harrison argued that with declining revenue, any business organization is going to consider all options to reverse that trend. That would seemingly include, in this instance, replacing Jesse Palmer with his predecessor. Harrison went on to cite the success so far of his podcast as another factor that might be enticing to ABC. He continued: 

Whether or not Chris Harrison would want to return to the franchise is “the multi-million dollar question on the table,” according to the host. He said he’d “never say never,” but the situation between him and ABC remains “complicated.”

While he’s not wrong that The Bachelor and its spinoffs have seen steadily declining ratings, that’s true for all of network television with the increasing number of viewers “cutting the cord” from cable and satellite use. I also question how much the show’s host would influence such ratings anyway, as Jesse Palmer — and Harrison before him — don’t actually appear in the episodes very much. 

I'd assume the series’ lead and contestants likely have much more ability to sway its viewing audience, and even though there were concerns that Season 27’s Zach Shallcross would be boring, that’s seemingly been contradicted by social media followers who are charmed and amused by his dad jokes. Some are even saying he may just be the perfect Bachelor. Tune in to see for yourself, as The Bachelor airs at 8 p.m. ET Mondays on ABC and is available for streaming with a Hulu subscription the next day. 

As the investigation into Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes’ alleged affair continues, ex-Bachelor host Chris Harrison is getting in on the conversation. The former Bachelorette host explained he has “strong opinions” about the anchors being pulled from GMA and investigated. And considering he was fired from The Bachelor after making racist comments, he explained why he could relate to the Good Morning America anchors' situation, and how ABC is treating them. 

During an episode of Harrison’s podcast The Most Dramatic Podcast Ever, he talked about a lot of the news to come out about Holmes, Robach and GMA over the last few months. He started by explaining why this was “personal” to him, saying: 

Harrison then went into detail about why he was “sympathetic and empathetic” toward the GMA anchors, saying:

He explained that you don’t know what is going on in other people’s lives. The former Bachelor host also said that “irony is not lost on” him, because these two are going through a similar situation to the one he went through a few years ago. While speaking in support of the GMA anchors he said: “good on you,” after explaining that he had read about Robach and Holmes reportedly being ready to take ABC to court. 

Harrison then went on to explain his thoughts on the possibility of Robach and Holmes being fired, saying: 

Harrison took issue with it being reported that many in the GMA newsroom allegedly knew about the relationship, but once the news broke it was reported that many at the morning show were not on the anchors’ sides. The ex-Bachelor host is clearly on Robach and Holmes’ side in this matter, and even went on to say they could hire his lawyer. 

The former Bachelor in Paradise host said he “wasn’t defending” anything, but did say what they are going through is similar to what he went through. He explained that he was also suddenly pulled from the show, and had many co-workers turn on him. Harrison has spoken over the years about leaving the Bachelor, saying he was “heartbroken,” “gutted,” and “embarrassed.”  Harrison has so many feelings about what is going on at GMA3 that he even offered to do a tell-all interview with Holmes and Robach to talk about everything that happened. 

It’s still unclear what will happen next to Robach and Holmes, as of right now, the investigation is ongoing. So, while the 2023 TV schedule continues so will ABC’s investigation. However, one thing is clear, Chris Harrison is on Amy Robach's and T.J. Holmes' side. 

It’s been almost two years since Chris Harrison parted ways with ABC and The Bachelor franchise, following controversial comments he made in relation to race during an interview on Extra. Now the former host has returned to the public eye, speaking for the first time about what transpired after the February 2021 interview that led to his firing after serving as the sole host of The Bachelor and its spinoffs for nearly 20 years. Harrison revealed that he lost 20 pounds, as he received backlash from those comments and also admitted to keeping an eye on the “scoreboard,” making a catty comment about the shows’ ratings.

Chris Harrison launched The Most Dramatic Podcast Ever, with the first two episodes discussing the fallout he faced after defending former Bachelor contestant Rachael Kirkconnell amid her own scandal. The situation apparently had a big effect on his health, as the former host said: 

He clarified that he wasn’t scared of losing his job, but rather was worried for the safety of his family and friends. He and fiancée Lauren Zima said they received hate messages, including death threats. 

Rachael Kirkconnell came under fire during Matt James’ season of The Bachelor for problematic behavior and resurfaced photos from an Antebellum-themed fraternity party she’d attended in college. Chris Harrison spoke with former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay on Extra about the situation, where many thought it seemed he was trying to excuse Kirkconnell’s behavior, asking for grace for the eventual Season 25 winner.

Chris Harrison apologized and stepped away from the franchise following the interview, and months later it was decided he would not return as host, as a departure agreement was reached that saw ABC pay him roughly $10 million to leave his longtime hosting position. The former host said on his podcast that he’s not mad at the show and is, in fact, grateful for how it changed his life. However, he said he hasn’t watched it since his exit, even getting a little dig in when discussing the ratings. In Harrison’s words: 

With Chris Harrison back in the public eye, he has many fans who have missed him as host of The Bachelor and who are interested to see what he does next. Meanwhile, The Bachelor has moved on with new host Jesse Palmer, who is set to lead Zach Shallcross on his own journey to find love when The Bachelor Season 27 premieres on Monday, January 23, on ABC. Take a look at our 2023 TV schedule to see what other shows are coming soon. 

Chris Harrison has given out his final rose! Okay, actually he probably left the roses out of it, but the former Bachelor franchise host did put a ring on it, as he announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend, Lauren Zima. In a scene worthy of being filmed by ABC camera crews, Harrison got down on one knee as the couple celebrated a romantic weekend in Napa Valley's wine country.

The stunning ring that Chris Harrison gave to the Entertainment Tonight correspondent was designed by McClave Jewelers, US Weekly reports, and is estimated to be three or four carats and cost upwards of $100,000. No word on if Neil Lane feels slighted by Harrison's choice to go with a different jeweler than The Bachelor franchise’s mainstay. Harrison shared the good news with his Instagram followers, saying he and his partner's next chapter starts now:

The couple, who began dating three years ago, looked happy as can be in their gorgeous engagement photos, as the couple drank wine and admired the sparkler. The freshly engaged Lauren Zima shared the same photos on her own Instagram page with a sweet message to her new fiancé while they celebrated on their romantic weekend getaway:

While many members of the ABC franchise offered their congratulations to the longtime host, former Bachelor Sean Lowe joked in the comments of Chris Harrison's post that his friend should have had to endure one of the same rituals The Bachelor and The Bachelorette put their leads through most seasons:

I guess one good thing about not being in the Bachelor world anymore is you don’t have to worry about your ex crashing your engagement or a film crew documenting your big fights. Not that Chris Harrison ever had to endure such drama himself on the show. 

The TV personality served as host of the ABC show — and multiple spinoffs — from its conception in 2002 until the end of Season 25, which featured Matt James. The eventual “winner” of the season, Rachael Kirkconnell, became embroiled in a race controversy after photos resurfaced of her attending an antebellum-themed fraternity party. Harrison’s defense of Kirkconnell in an interview with former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsey received strong public backlash that ultimately ended in the network firing the face of the franchise.

After a bevy of guest hosts on Bachelor in Paradise and Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe serving as hosts on two seasons of The Bachelorette, ABC announced that former Bachelor Jesse Palmer will take over hosting duties when The Bachelor resumes for Season 26 in January. The Season 26 lead hasn’t been officially announced yet — in what will prove to be either the worst-kept-secret in franchise history or the best bait-and-switch in television — but the next star has been confirmed by multiple media outlets to be a specific one of Michelle Young’s suitors on the current Bachelorette season.

Congratulations to the happy couple Chris Harrison and Lauren Zima! And if you want to watch more budding romance, tune in to The Bachelorette, airing at 8 p.m. Tuesdays on ABC. Be sure to check out our 2021 Fall TV Schedule for upcoming premiere dates.

In the aftermath of Matt James’ season of The Bachelor — when Rachael Kirkconnell was under fire for attending an Antebellum-themed fraternity party and Chris Harrison was facing backlash for defending her — a rift formed in Bachelor Nation. Some of the dating shows’ alumni stood by longtime host Harrison, while other former contestants felt it necessary to distance themselves from the franchise. Bachelor in Paradise Season 7 cast member Ivan Hall was initially among the latter, claiming he wouldn't take part after the controversy took place. The opposite obviously happened, and Hall recently revealed that it was actually a conversation with Harrison that helped to change his mind.

Ivan Hall was a guest on the podcast The Viall Files, and talked about all things Bachelor in Paradise Season 7, including his forbidden rendezvous with Alexa Caves and love triangle with Aaron Clancy and Chelsea Vaughn. But after the controversy from Chris Harrison’s disastrous interview with Rachel Lindsey, Hall wasn’t sure he should even go to Paradise. What changed his mind? A “great conversation” with Harrison, for starters, the aeronautical engineer said. 

Ivan Hall had previously stated that he wouldn’t be comfortable going on Bachelor in Paradise if Chris Harrison was still the host, saying it was “too soon.” Hall said at the time that he agreed Harrison’s taking a step back was the right thing to do. The conversation between Hall and Harrison was news to podcast host Nick Viall, as well as listeners, and he asked Hall about the actual content of the phone call. It appears Harrison gave Hall the floor to express the concerns he had.

Chris Harrison was ultimately fired following the insensitive comments he’d made to Rachel Lindsey, but his actions in the immediate aftermath were clearly enough to make Ivan Hall feel secure enough to continue in the franchise. Considering reports at the time mostly noted Harrison's communication efforts as being the kind someone makes when they're desperate to keep a job, it's good to hear that wasn't the case entirely.

Ivan Hall said his overall experiences on The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise have been great, even if he didn’t walk away with love. And he said he thinks the franchise is moving in the right direction, as far as diversity.

Hopefully the Bachelor franchise continues to do so. And now since the wildly successful season of Bachelor in Paradise has wrapped, it’s time to move on to The Bachelorette. Michelle Young’s season is set to premiere Tuesday, October 19 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Be sure to check out our 2021 Fall TV Schedule for more upcoming premieres.

For some fans and alums of Bachelor Nation, Chris Harrison's ouster as the longtime host following the Rachel Lindsay controversy was thought to be a bad move. In short, he was easily the most recognizable face after nearly 20 years in the position, so people were comfortable with his status. Replacements have stepped up in the interim, but the ex-host apparently has no ill will nowadays. In fact, he recently revealed the silver lining to no longer being part of the ABC franchise.

Chris Harrison recently showed Twitter love to the fans who have missed him on these past Monday nights of Katie Thurston’s season of The Bachelorette. But really, the former host isn’t exactly nostalgic for those Monday nights on the ABC franchise anymore. When asked how he was faring in the aftermath of everything, Harrison told TMZ:

Having his Monday nights back probably isn't the only reason Chris Harrison is doing good since his exit. Reportedly, the ex-Bachelor franchise host got a nearly eight-figure exit package from ABC as a result of his ouster. Sources have also claimed that Harrison is waiting to pursue other hosting opportunities in the future.

The ex-host saw a quick departure from the franchise after he defended contestant Rachael Kirkconnell’s divisive social media posts during an interview with Rachel Lindsay, which many viewed as racially insensitive at the time. (Supposedly, it could have all been avoided.) But interestingly enough, Kirkconnell is now back together with The Bachelor's Matt James, who chose her on the show but later decided they needed to part ways when the controversy came about. Chris Harrison had some thoughts on their rekindled relationship, saying:

So Rachel Kirkconnell, Matt James and Chris Harrison are all apparently moving on from the scandal that rocked all of their lives this year. But is Harrison keeping tabs on the ABC franchise he led for so long – specifically, Katie Thurston’s Bachelorette season airing now? The ex-host shared that he's been doing so “from afar.” He didn't specify how alums Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe were faring as his replacements, although we have some thoughts of our own.

Katie Thurston’s Bachelorette season is winding down and rumors are circulating that Blake Moynes finally comes out on top this go-around. Meanwhile, Bachelor in Paradise and Michelle Young's Bachelorette season are waiting in the wings for airtime, which Chris Harrison might be watching from afar, too, or he may simply finding other things to do on Monday nights. Maybe yoga?

Chris Harrison has been pretty quiet on social media since being ousted from his longtime gig as host of The Bachelor franchise's various dating shows. Harrison’s defense of The Bachelor contestant Rachael Kirkconnell after controversial photos resurfaced from her past led ABC to part ways with the now-former face of the franchise. But regardless of the circumstances of his departure, there are definitely still fans who think the dating show just isn’t the same without Harrison, and you can be sure that the former host is hearing and appreciating the kind words.

Katie Thurston’s season of The Bachelorette is currently airing on ABC with Bachelor Nation vets Kaitlyn Bristowe and Tayshia Adams serving as co-hosts. And while the duo seem to be holding their own in the hosting department, there’s still a Chris Harrison-sized hole in the franchise for many viewers, and he recently hit up Twitter to thank and reply to quite a few of those fans who continue to support him.

Chris Harrison returned the love of one Bachelor Nation fan, while putting to rest the worries of another person who asked if Harrison misses the fans as much as they miss him.

While some fans claimed The Bachelorette isn’t the same without him, Chris Harrison dodged that landmine of sorts and basically avoided any temptation (island) to comment on the performance of his replacements. Instead, he did the opposite of what got him in trouble in the first place by not overstepping, and chose to focus on the amount of support he gets from our neighbors to the north.

It’s not just the fans who have strong opinions on both sides of the Chris Harrison issue. Former Bachelor Nation contestants have been vocal as well, with many still standing in support of the former host. (Not necessarily as an "us vs. them" thing, mind you.) Catherine Giudici recently revealed that her husband Sean Lowe, who she married after they met on Season 17 of The Bachelor, is boycotting Katie Thurston’s journey on The Bachelorette because of how the Harrison situation went down.

Tanner Tolbert, who competed on Kaitlyn Bristowe’s season of The Bachelorette before meeting now-wife Jade Roper on Bachelor in Paradise, weighed in before the current season, predicting that the show might see a drop in ratings. But although he said some people wouldn’t want to watch it without Chris Harrison being there, that was “kind of a silly” reason, considering he's not inherent to the show's purpose. That said, the ratings and viewership are definitely are at the lowest they've ever been, though it's impossible to know how much of that is just due to changing TV habits, and the world opening back up.

At least the recent social media comments that Chris Harrison has responded to are simply in support of him, as opposed to anything drawing attention to the harassment that Rachel Lindsay faced following her interview with Harrison. Producers of The Bachelor slammed the “completely inexcusable” behavior of some fans following her conversation with Harrison, behavior that forced her to delete her Instagram account and cut her ties to the franchise altogether.

While ABC recruited Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe to host Katie Thurston's season of The Bachelorette, the franchise will use an interesting variety of hosts when Bachelor in Paradise returns for Season 7 in August. Bachelor franchise superfan David Spade leads the cast of rotating guest hosts that includes Lil Jon, Lance Bass and Bachelor Nation fan favorite Wells Adams as the master of rose ceremonies. Until then, tune in at 8 p.m. ET Mondays to watch Thurston’s journey to love, and check out our 2021 Summer TV schedule to stay current on your other shows.

The news of Chris Harrison’s exit as host of Bachelor Nation, following racial controversy, immediately garnered a polarizing reaction. While many saw it as a necessary consequence, some fans threatened to never watch The Bachelor or its many spinoffs again without him. Apparently, one Bachelor alum agrees with the latter half of viewers and has taken to “boycotting” the ABC franchise.

The “boycotting” Bachelor Nation alum in question is none other than Sean Lowe, who fans will remember from Season 17 of The Bachelor. During his season, Lowe picked Catherine Giudici for the final rose, and they've been happily married ever since 2014. Guidici was actually the one to reveal at an UnFiltered dating app launch party (via Us Weekly) that her husband is not watching Katie Thurston’s Bachelorlette season airing now. She said:

Sean Lowe boycotting Bachelor Nation over Chris Harrison’s exit is certainly a sign of loyalty to the longtime host. Other alums haven't come forward to explicitly say their boycotting the franchise, but many have vocalized their support for Harrison in the aftermath of the scandal. Eric Bigger (The Bachelorette, Season 13) urged that Harrison shouldn’t be fired for one mistake. The contestant with the most appearances on the franchise, Chris Bukowski, called the move “an easy way out” and said Harrison was “the face of the franchise.”

But it's noteworthy that Catherine Giudici decided to tune into the current Bachelorette season anyway, despite her husband's opposition. Judging by her support of “the girls,” emphasis on the plural there, it would seems she has a different perspective and is leaning into the change of Chris Harrison being replaced by Bachelor Nation alums Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe. It's not clear if the two women will continue to host after this year, but they already seem to be more involved on-screen than Harrison was in the past. In addition, the premiere ratings were not what alum Tanner Tolbert predicted.

Regardless of the dynamics within Bachelor Nation, Chris Harrison looks to be moving on just fine. He reportedly received an over $9 million payout for his exit from the franchise and, supposedly, is expected to move on to other hosting ventures in the near future.

Katie Thurston’s Bachelorette season also seems to be going fine for her without Chris Harrison at the helm. The drama is high, and a teaser for next week hinted at the appearance of a notorious Bachelor Nation alum, Blake Moynes. Thurston told Us Weekly that she spoke with Moynes (who is actually Tayshia Adams's ex-boyfriend!) prior to filming.

All bets are being taken as to who will get the final rose this Bachelorette season, and we have some ideas. (That spoiler from a few weeks ago already turned out to be a bust after the last elimination.) But one thing is certain, Sean Lowe will not care to have any say in the matter.

Normally, the major drama of a reality dating show is within the confines of the show itself. But in Matt James’ Bachelor season, the biggest snafu was happening outside the mansion while the show was still airing (seemingly in the background). Racial insensitive photos emerged, which featured one of the contestants vying for James’ love. The situation was brought up during the now infamous Extra interview between host Chris Harrison and Rachel Lindsay, which brought on a swift and severe backlash for Harrison. He has since exited the ABC franchise – for good – but new details are coming out that are a little surprising.

So yeah, that infamous Extra interview that landed Chris Harrison in all this hot water and prompted his exit from a nearly 20-year-long hosting gig? Apparently, it could have never happened in the first place. Variety confirmed from multiple behind-the-scenes sources that Harrison was never asked to do the interview by ABC or any publicist. He supposedly volunteered to do it himself.

If Chris Harrison had never volunteered to weigh in on a very sensitive topic, without much sensitivity to all the parties involved, then he might still be hosting Bachelor Nation. The ex-host was accused of talking over Rachel Lindsay’s perspective as a Black woman, concerning the controversial photos of contestant Rachael Kirkconnell. He also was criticized for appearing to brush aside the situation as not so serious.

Alas, none of us can turn back time. We can only move forward, which Chris Harrison has done by apologizing publicly for his words during the interview. He also temporarily left Bachelor Nation as its host, but it was confirmed a few weeks ago that the change would be permanent. At the time, it was reported that Harrison would be receiving a substantial eight-figure payout for his exit. According to Variety though, it is only just so, with his settlement including $9 million as well as “remaining contractual fees.”

Other reports have indicated, however, that just because he is out from Bachelor Nation that things are not so dire for Chris Harrison. He has had the support of a lot of fans and even more Bachelor alums. And supposedly, a source recently claimed that he has “all kinds of offers on projects” and that “this isn't the end” of Harrison’s hosting career.

Meanwhile, the Bachelor Nation train continues on without Chris Harrison at the helm. Replacement hosts Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe are faring pretty well in Katie Thurston's current season of The Bachelorette, which is airing now. In fact, the two seem very engaged with Thurston's journey and decision process. However, the jury is still out as to whether the two women will remain as permanent hosts of the franchise or if ABC will implement rotating celebrity hosts as it apparently is for Bachelor in Paradise.

At the very least, the messy situation regarding Chris Harrison and ABC's Bachelor franchise appears to be finally coming to an end. There's no telling where the host will end up next but, if reports are to be believed, he could be back on TV sooner rather than later.

Chris Harrison’s longtime gig as host of the Bachelor franchise may have ended dishonorably, but it’s fair to say that Harrison weathered a number of Bachelor Nation storms during his tenure before the split, particularly with the more loosely structured spinoff Bachelor in Paradise. Harrison and the cast somehow overcame the sexual assault scandal from Season 4 that temporarily shut down production, and the former host witnessed countless meltdowns, with gallons of contestant tears shed. Harrison was even the target of some verbal abuse when Season 3 contestant Chad Johnson got kicked out of paradise, so anyone taking his hosting spot will have their work cut out for them.

Now that Harrison has been officially removed from the franchise, who will be helping the Bachelor in Paradise cast navigate those rough waters when Season 7 returns in August? It doesn't seem like the Bachelor's producers are ready to give their final rose to any one new host just yet, as they’re bringing a variety of celebrity guest hosts who will alternate duties. The diverse selection of temporary hosts indicates The Bachelor's powers that be might not be exactly sure which direction they want to take the franchise, but it’s going to be a lot of fun while they figure it out, judging by these names. Let's take a look at everyone who has been announced by ABC as guest hosts for the upcoming season of Bachelor in Paradise.

David Spade

Longtime Bachelor fan David Spade caught fans’ attention with his hilarious (and R-rated) Instagram commentary, and what makes the choice so interesting is that Spade absolutely loves to make fun of the show and its contestants. I don’t think the Joe Dirt and Tommy Boy funnyman will be the shoulder to cry on that past contestants got in Chris Harrison, but more intentional humor and self-awareness on Bachelor in Paradise are definitely things I’ll show up for. As far as hosting goes, the format shouldn’t be a problem for the Saturday Night Live alum, who most recently hosted his own beloved late-night talk show, Lights Out with David Spade, in 2019 and 2020 before COVID-19 shut everything down.

Lil Jon

Lil Jon is not the obvious choice for Chris Harrison’s successor, but I’m here for this, OKAY?!? The rapper may just be the hype man that paradise never knew it needed. This stint won’t even be Lil Jon’s first appearance within the franchise, either, as he was first featured on an episode of The Bachelorette’s Season 14, during a one-on-one date between Becca Kufrin and eventual Bachelor in Paradise villain Blake Horstmann. Lil Jon provided the music and moral support as Becca and Blake took their rage out on a race car, champagne bottles, TVs and more. I’d love to see Lil Jon inject some MTV Spring Break vibes into the show's casual, lounging atmosphere.

Lance Bass

Lance Bass of NSYNC fame is definitely a fun choice for Bachelor in Paradise guest host. Let’s be honest — pretty much every NSYNC song could be a tag line for the Bachelor franchise. "Bye Bye Bye," "It’s Gonna Be Me," "Dirty Pop," and the list goes on, amirite? The former boy-bander’s hosting experience comes via his radio show, Dirty Pop with Lance Bass, which provided insight into the pop music industry. He’s also made numerous guest appearances, mostly as himself, on TV and film over the years, including an episode of Netflix’s competition show The Circle. And if you remember the pop culture enigma On the Line from 2001, you know that looking for love is right in Bass' wheelhouse.

Tituss Burgess

This multi-hyphenate is a big win for the Bachelor franchise. Perhaps best known as the randomly musical Titus Andromedon on Netflix’s Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Tituss Burgess has touched all corners of the entertainment industry, from Broadway performances to releasing music albums to multiple appearances on the big and small screens. He's also hosted taken on hosting duties before, heading up the Netflix gameshow Sing On! in 2020. Burgess isn’t the type to shy away from any topic on the planet, so I’m excited to see him interact with the franchise alums in Bachelor in Paradise's carefree environment. I can totally see Burgess providing (presumably high-volume) empowerment to the love-seekers, and his overall presence is so enjoyable to watch.

Wells Adams and Sarah Hyland (Rumored)

Though this news has not yet been confirmed, the rumored involvement of Wells Adams and his fiancee Sarah Hyland, seems destined to happen. Adams has been a Bachelor in Paradise mainstay, first as a contestant in Season 3, and since then as the resort’s trusty bartender, while the former Modern Family actress is a longtime Bachelor superfan who connected with Adams on Instagram after watching him on JoJo Fletcher’s season of The Bachelorette. The couple started dating in 2017, but had to postpone their wedding in 2020 due to COVID. Would an impromptu beach wedding be out of the question? Anything can happen in paradise.

Chris Harrison’s exit from Bachelor Nation came after racial controversy surrounded the 25th season of The Bachelor, in which Matt James — the first Black lead in the series’ history — vied for love. The ultimate “winner” of the season was Rachael Kirkconnell, who became mired in a backlash after past photos of her at an Antebellum party resurfaced during the season’s airing. Harrison overtly defended Kirkconnell in an interview with Rachel Lindsay, who was the Bachelor franchise's first Black lead for The Bachelorette Season 13. After making a public apology in which he admitted the interview "perpetuates racism,” Harrison took a step back from the franchise, and the break became permanent.

Bachelor in Paradise has always been the less-serious, less-structured Bachelor Nation spinoff, and the choices for guest hosts seem to back that theory up. While The Bachelorette chose former contestants Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe to host Katie Thurston’s current season, this selection of alternating celeb hosts should breathe new life into Bachelor in Paradise, and I’ll be tuning in. The Bachelorette airs at 8 p.m. ET on Mondays on ABC, and Bachelor in Paradise is set to premiere Aug. 16. In the meantime, check out all of the new and returning shows in our 2021 summer TV schedule.

Bachelor Nation has been riding out a heck of a lot of drama this year, and it might take a short novella to recap all of it. It started with a race controversy surrounding one of the contestants of Matt James’ Bachelor season, who he eventually got back together with after seemingly dumping her in the After the Final Rose special. Then there was Chris Harrison’s interview with Rachel Lindsay about the controversy, which led to a backlash and him being labeled as "racially insensitive." Harrison had to step down from his hosting duties, which many believed to be temporary. Turns out, Harrison’s departure from the ABC franchise is a permanent one, though, and he is allegedly frustrated by the procedures unfolding.

Chris Harrison bid farewell to ABC’s Bachelor Nation franchise on his Instagram on Tuesday, just after reports leaked of an eight-figure deal being hashed out between his lawyer and WBTV’s Warner Horizons. But as of right now, things aren't quite set in stone. According to a source for US Weekly:

After the announcement of Chris Harrison’s initial exit as host from Bachelor Nation in February, reports started to hint that the ousted host was lawyering up with Bryan Freedman, who represented Gabrielle Union during her dispute with NBC's America’s Got Talent. Allegedly, negotiations were being made for Harrison to leave the franchise comfortably, on the condition that he wouldn’t air whatever dirty laundry he might possess about ABC and the franchise.

Judging by this source’s new alleged insight, however, it would seem Chris Harrison’s saga with ABC may not be finished. He might be getting the big payout, depending on the number of years left in his contract, but he also might have to wait out a grace period before he can accept a new contract with a competitor. Supposedly though, Harrison is optimistic about his future endeavors. The source also said:

It's no question that Chris Harrison has hosting experience that any network would be eager to have in their arsenal. He hosted the live pre-show for the 2008 American Music Awards, had stints doing red carpet awards coverage, and even filled in for Terry Crews during the 2015 season of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. And of course, he juggled The Bachelor and all of its spinoffs for 19 years. However, it remains to be seen if other shows are willing to take on Harrison’s past controversy.

Former contestants rallied to support Chris Harrison in the wake of his first exit, and some fans vowed to boycott Season 17 of The Bachelorette without the familiar host. But it seems more people were curious about how replacement hosts Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe would do in their new roles. Per TV Insider, the premiere of Katie Thurston’s season topped the night in ratings, even over The Good Doctor's season finale.

So Bachelor Nation is clearly moving forward without Chris Harrison as host, regardless of what his feelings might be. We'll just have to wait and see what lies ahead for both him and the franchise he hosted for nearly two decades.

It wouldn’t be a late night talk show without an opening monologue that takes no prisoners. On the June 8 airing of The Tonight Show, complete with the return of the live audience, Jimmy Fallon aimed his roast-fest at some not-too-surprising targets. Specifically, he joked about Chris Harrison’s exit from Bachelor Nation, The Bachelorette Season 17 premiere, with a little bit about Floyd Mayweather and Logan Paul’s fight for good measure.

The majority of Jimmy Fallon’s roast on The Tonight Show honed in on the recent news of Chris Harrison’s departure from ABC’s Bachelor franchise, after 19 years as host. Harrison had technically already left, but many assumed it was temporary, not permanent. And the jokes about it were pretty funny. Fallon quipped,

Of course, late night jokes are always a bit of low-hanging fruit. In his roast, Jimmy Fallon wisely aimed clear of the reason behind Chris Harrison’s exit as host of Bachelor Nation, which actually resulted from his controversial interview with Rachel Lindsay that was deemed racially insensitive amidst an already growing race scandal on the last season of The Bachelor. It probably wouldn’t have been the most self-serving of jokes for Fallon to compare the situation to his own controversy from a couple months ago.

Jimmy Fallon didn’t stop with Chris Harrison’s exit, however. He also roasted the premiere of Katie Thurston’s Bachelorette season on June 7. This time he did make a comparison, albeit one to that Logan Paul/Floyd Mayweather match. He said,

Fans were also having a bit of fun at Logan Paul’s expense, even clowning him for being knocked out by Floyd Mayweather. Spectators were already assuming the match was manufactured simply for clout-chasing purposes. And the rule change that there was to be no official winner only seemed to confirm it. At least in The Bachelorette, there is usually a final rose winner - whether they take that rose (and keep it) is another story.

In between the taunts against Chris Harrison and Logan Paul, Jimmy Fallon also joked about the contestants involved this season on The Bachelorette. But Conner B. with his ukulele in the bathtub and the “surgical skins salesman” were only the tip of the humor from the premiere. There was also replacement hosts Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe eating popcorn while watching the gimmicky guys roll out of limos.

But all in all, Chris Harrison is reportedly walking away from Bachelor Nation with eight figures. Meanwhile, Logan Paul might've been cold-clocked but he has a $1 million Pokemon chain. So maybe they have the last laugh after all, no matter what Jimmy Fallon has to say.

Months after longtime Bachelor Nation host Chris Harrison necessarily took a step away from The Bachelor during Matt James' season, it appears as if the severing has been completed, with Harrison now officially exiting the reality TV franchise in full. While it appears there are more details to be fully ironed out before the ink has dried on Harrison's departure agreement, early details indicate that ABC is spending a lot of money to push the host out of the door with as little noise made as possible.

While the majority of hardcore Bachelor and Bachelorette viewers probably didn't expect for Chris Harrison to make a full-fledged return to the hosting position at any point in the near future, considering the racially charged manner in which he lined up his own ousting, the lack of updates on the matter had many wondering when, if ever, an official resolution would come. Now, Deadline is reporting a deal was worked out between Harrison's legal team (fronted by Bryan Freeman) and WBTV's Warner Horizons, with the host reportedly landing a "mid-range eight-figure payoff" to walk away from the franchise without spilling anymore bad blood, metaphorically speaking.

Clearly, getting paid more than $10 million to leave a job that one's own controversial comments influenced is a win for Chris Harrison, though the reason for the high-dollar payday is allegedly to keep Harrison from pulling more of The Bachelor franchise's skeletons out of the closet. It appears the former host's lawyers were threatening to go forward with a major lawsuit against ABC and others that would have reportedly exposed further dirty secrets. It was only after days of financial negotiations that both parties came to an agreement, according to those close to the matter.

The timing of this news is certainly not coincidental, with ABC having premiered Season 17 of The Bachelorette on Monday night, with franchise vets Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe taking over full-time as the hosts in Chris Harrison's wake. It was announced in the aftermath of Harrison's initial forced vacation that ABC announced Adams and Bristowe would be taking over for the latest season of The Bachelorette, and now we know he won't be making his return when The Bachelor gets its next season together, nor when Bachelor in Paradise returns, whenever that may actually be.

Interestingly enough, comedian and veteran TV host David Spade has been tapped as one of several guest hosts who will fill the Chris Harrison-sized void when the all-stars spinoff returns for a new season. It'll probably take a few weeks to see how well audiences are adapting to having two new hosts without Harrison around, and for the weekly audience numbers to level out. So that's probably when the rumors will surface about what might come next in the franchise's future.

Chris Harrison has apologized on multiple occasions for the comments that got him in trouble in the first place, which included his defense of Rachael Kirkconnell after her racially insensitive "Antebellum Party" photos surfaced. Still, not everyone believes such apologies hold water, so here's hoping his official departure will help close this unfortunate chapter in Bachelor Nation's history book, and that it only leads to more understanding and change behind the scenes.

The Bachelorette airs Monday nights on ABC at 8:00 p.m. ET, and is just one of many awesome TV shows hitting primetime during the 2021 Summer TV season.

Warning: spoilers ahead for the Season 17 premiere of The Bachelorette on ABC. 

The Bachelorette is back for another season on ABC, and it would be difficult for Katie Thurston's romantic journey to take as many wild twists as when Clare Crawley's season turned into Tayshia Adams' season last year. That said, Season 17 already stands out from every other season of Bachelor Nation in one key way: Chris Harrison is nowhere to be seen, and with former Bachelorettes Kaitlyn Bristowe and Adams hosting instead. So, now that the two-hour premiere has aired, were they the right replacements for Harrison?

It was announced months ago that Chris Harrison wouldn't be hosting The Bachelorette Season 17 due to the same racism scandal that saw him replaced in the

"After the Final Rose" special that wrapped Matt James' season of The Bachelor. As popular former Bachelorette leading ladies who know their way around the reality TV search for love, Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe each made sense as a replacement host, but they were also inexperienced with the hosting position in Bachelor Nation, and fans haven't experienced a season hosted by more than one person before. So, how did they do?

Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe as a hosting duo guaranteed that Season 17 felt different from all the seasons that came before right off the bat, and there was a lot more giggling with them supporting Katie Thurston than Chris Harrison. The format wasn't as organized with two hosts instead of just the one, and they didn't have the ease of Chris Harrison that can only come with nearly 20 years of hosting experience. Plus, not a ton of interaction with the men.

That said, I'm officially on Team Tayshia And Kaitlyn after the Season 17 premiere. Going into the season, my biggest question was if The Bachelorette could even work with two hosts instead of one, and I wasn't sure if it was the right call to bring in both Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe instead of just one. After watching them watch the procession of men meeting Katie Thurston from afar, however, I discovered that a twosome opened the hosts up to deliver some banter-style commentary and open up a new perspective on the season.

The commentary really worked for me, especially since meeting contestant after contestant can drag sometimes. And it also worked for me because it delivered something that I've been wanting from The Bachelorette for a long time: more of the female perspective in a season centered on a woman's emotional journey. Now, I'm well aware that the audience for Bachelor Nation is mostly comprised of women. In fact, I always have fun trying to see how many men are in the audience at the "After the Final Rose" specials. There were plenty of ladies around with Chris Harrison as host.

But I've also always wanted the Bachelorettes to have the regular input of another woman rather than just Chris Harrison when going through the struggles that inevitably arise during a season. The Season 17 premiere showed a level of comfort and understanding between Katie Thurston and Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe that isn't usually present with Chris Harrison as host of The Bachelorette. Thurston's hosts are people who can relate to her in more ways than Harrison would have been able to, as women and former Bachelorettes.

Plus, one of my hangups during the latest season of The Bachelor was that things started to feel contrived and formulaic, and two former Bachelorettes as hosts is the kind of change that will mix things up in some big ways. Whether those big ways go over well with the audience at large remains to be seen, and I could well change my mind about Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe as hosts as the weeks pass, but I'm very glad that something is being done differently to potentially spice things up. This isn't more of the same, and I didn't find myself missing Chris Harrison at all during the premiere, although that's not the case for everybody.

Be sure to vote in our poll below about Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe as hosts of The Bachelorette, and tune in to ABC on Mondays at 8 p.m. ET to see what happens next for Katie Thurston in her search for love. A new season of Bachelor in Paradise will follow The Bachelorette Season 17, and Chris Harrison will remain absent, but Adams and Bristowe haven't been tapped to host. As for what else you can watch now and in the coming weeks. check out our 2021 summer TV premiere schedule.

This poll is no longer available.

Following the intense backlash for his interview with Rachel Lindsay, Chris Harrison stepped down from his hosting duties within Bachelor Nation. There has been a lot of speculation that the change might only be a temporary one. Yet it was recently confirmed that Harrison would not be returning even for the much-anticipated next season of Bachelor in Paradise, which was postponed last year due to COVID-19, and one Bachelor alum thinks that was Harrison’s choice.

Bachelor Nation fans might remember the name Ali Fedotowsky from pilot Jake Pavelka’s Bachelor season in 2010. She was forced to quit after her employer, Facebook, issued an ultimatum for her return. However, Fedotowsky doesn’t believe Chris Harrison was forced out of his hosting duties for Bachelor in Paradise. She said to US Weekly:

After 20 years as both host and executive producer himself, Chris Harrison certainly has a relationship with the crews that work on Bachelor Nation. It was reportedly rather awkward and difficult on set of Katie Thurston’s Bachelorette season, which was taken over by replacement hosts Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe.

In the initial controversial interview, many believed that Chris Harrison was defending contestant Rachel Kirkconnell’s unearthed racially insensitive behavior and that he was simultaneously tampinig down Rachel Lindsay’s perspective as a Black woman. Harrison would later apologize. But Ali Fedotowsky thinks that the situation actually caused Harrison (who was once hopeful last year about the return to the Mexico beaches) to purposefully not want to return as host for Bachelor in Paradise. She said:

Several other former Bachelor Nation contestants have come forward in defense of Chris Harrison. Bachelor in Paradise alum Tanner Tolbert believes the ratings will go down without Harrison. Another BiP alum, Eric Bigger, said that Harrison shouldn’t be “cancelled” because of one mistake. As for Ali Fedotowsky, she affirms that Harrison made “a big mistake” but feels he’s truly “committed to that growth to come back.”

Chris Harrison hasn’t made it public knowledge how he potentially is learning and growing from the controversy, but Bachelor in Paradise is continuing on without him, regardless. It was recently revealed that celebrity hosts will rotate for Season 7, much like Jeopardy!, with David Spade confirmed as a host for a two-week stint. We’ll see how all fare in their new roles in the coming weeks.

Katie Thurston’s Bachelorette season premieres Monday, June 7, at 8 p.m. on ABC, while Bachelor in Paradise is set to premiere on Aug. 16.

Longtime Bachelor Nation host Chris Harrison got himself into hot water during the latest season of The Bachelor due to some racially insensitive comments, resulting in him being ousted from hosting the "After the Final Rose" special and subsequently the upcoming season of The Bachelorette. Now, Harrison is evidently out for the upcoming Season 7 of Bachelor in Paradise, but his replacement isn't happening how we expected.

When Chris Harrison had to miss some of the most recent season of The Bachelorette (for reasons unrelated to the scandal during Matt James' season of The Bachelor), former Bachelorette JoJo Fletcher stepped up. Then, when news broke that Harrison wouldn't be hosting Season 17 of The Bachelorette (which premieres next week), fans learned that former Bachelorettes Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe would host. So, it seemed only natural that if Harrison was going to be out for another season or more in Bachelor Nation, then he would be replaced by another Bachelor Nation alum.

Instead, Variety reports that Bachelor in Paradise will bring in celebrity comedians as guest hosts, with David Spade as the first and currently only confirmed celebrity who will step in during Season 7. Even though Bachelor Nation bringing in newcomers to host isn't unprecedented thanks to who landed the job of hosting the "After the Final Rose" special, David Spade seems like a pretty surprising selection. ABC has not commented one way or the other on reports of Spade stepping up as a guest host, and Spade himself hasn't posted about it on social media at the time of writing.

That said, David Spade is also a noted fan of Bachelor Nation, posting commentary about the shows on his Instagram, and even going on a rant about Peter Weber's season of The Bachelor on Jimmy Kimmel Live that I think pretty much anybody who watched that season could relate to, complete with mentions of Weber's mom Barb, her love for Hannah Ann Sluss, Hannah Brown's knack for turning up, and of course Madison Prewett's eyelashes. He's a kindred spirit to Bachelor Nation fans if ever there was one! Take a look:

Me too, David Spade. Me too. It should be interesting to see if Bachelor in Paradise finds more celebrity Bachelor Nation fans to step in as guest host. While I have to say that a rotating cast of guest hosts who have never appeared in the franchise before sounds like it could get messy pretty quickly, Bachelor in Paradise is always messy anyway. That's a big part of the fun, right? If there was any Bachelor Nation show that could afford to experiment and get away with it, Bachelor in Paradise is it.

As for Chris Harrison's future in the Bachelor franchise, there are no details available just yet about whether he could return following Bachelor in Paradise Season 7. It should be interesting to see the fan reaction to the first season of The Bachelorette hosted by somebody other than Harrison, followed by Bachelor in Paradise with David Spade and more comedians.

Production on the next season of Bachelor in Paradise begins next week, and Season 7 is slated to premiere on August 16. The Bachelorette's next season premieres on Monday, June 7 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC in the summer TV premiere schedule.

The last season of The Bachelor held a lot of off-camera controversy when it came to race, privilege and how those in leadership tackle those issues. Some believe Chris Harrison fell short in this regard, inciting a backlash that led to his exit as host. Now, Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe are taking the reins as co-hosts for the next two seasons of The Bachelorette for the first time in the show’s history, but one Bachelor Nation alum has some thoughts on how they’ll fare in comparison.

Tanner Tolbert actually competed on Kaitlyn Bristowe’s season of The Bachelorette in 2015. Unfortunately for him, he was booted in Week 6 but eventually found love through Bachelor in Paradise with Jada Roper (now Tolbert). But he doesn’t seem to have much faith that Bristowe and Tayshia Adams’ new hosting gigs bode well for the next Bachelorette seasons. Tolbert told US Weekly:

The situation surrounding Chris Harrison’s exit as host from Bachelor Nation has certainly been divisive. He was labelled “racially insensitive” after his interview with Rachel Lindsay, but others think the consequences he received were unfair. In fact, many other Bachelor Nation alums have already rallied to Harrison’s defense. The contestant with the most-ever Bachelor Nation appearances, Chris Bukowski, said Harrison shouldn’t be fired, and Eric Bigger reasoned that Harrison should be suspended but not completely “cancelled.”

Tanner Tolbert also seems to be taking a more balanced perspective on the situation. He believes the ratings will go down but that it would be “silly” for people not to watch The Bachelorette simply because the longtime host isn’t there. In all likelihood, though, Bachelorette ratings could see an all-time high if everyone tunes in to see Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe rise or fall to the occasion.

As for Tanner Tolbert, much like some fans, he’s still holding out for Chris Harrison, who officiated his wedding in 2016. He continued:

Rumors are most definitely swirling about the longevity of Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe’s hosting duties on The Bachelorette. One source even said recently that the crew were “specifically” told during the filming of Katie Thurston’s season that the new hosts were not permanent positions.

But with no Chris Harrison for the next two Bachelorettes and no word from ABC regarding who will take over for the next Bachelor in Paradise and Bachelor, it's likely fans will also become more doubtful of a Harrison return.

The Bachelorette Season 17 premieres June 7th on ABC.

Fans who have been watching The Bachelorette for the last 18 years will be in for something completely new this go-around. Chris Harrison stepped away the franchise following a bout of controversy, and former contestants Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe were brought as replacement hosts for Katie Thurston and Michelle Young’s back-to-back seasons. Reportedly, the new hosts are attempting to adjust to their duties and the shadow of Harrison’s absence.

Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe aren’t new to Bachelor Nation. Both have competed on the flagship show and several of the spinoffs over the years. But of course, going on dates and being marooned on a Mexico beach is a bit different than managing the dramas of dozens of contestants on a reality show. US Weekly recently learned more about how Adams and Bristowe are faring as hosts now that Katie Thurston’s season has wrapped. One of their sources said:

The concept of co-hosting does sound a bit finicky. I mean, do they trade off speeches? Are they assigned their own team of contestants that they manage? Answers to these questions remain unknown until the back-to-back Bachelorette seasons air in the summer and fall. But Kaitlyn Bristowe did open up recently about the hosting experience on her podcast and said it brought out some latent "trauma or anxiety" that she hadn't dealt with from her own Bachelorette season.

However, it has been reported that The Bachelorette set feels different and slightly awkward for the cast and crew for several reasons. The most obvious one is that many are apparently sentimental for Chris Harrison’s “father figure” presence that Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe lack. A source even indicated to E! News that the men of the show felt they couldn’t have “therapy sessions” with the new hosts. Allegedly the two hosts have had to learn to emulate Harrison’s ability to be “the voice of reason” on set.

The supposed complaints are somewhat understandable for the franchise, which hasn’t made too many changes over the last two decades. But growing pains are bound to happen with Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe taking on the hosting duties. Another source confirmed to US Weekly, however, that the two are doing everything they can to make good impressions. They said:

Supposedly though, the production team behind The Bachelorette was told “specifically” that Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe are “not replacing Chris.” Moreover, the changing of the guard is not a “permanent position.” This ominous message makes it seem as though the door is being kept open for Harrison’s return once the backlash from the Rachael Kirkconnell controversy dies down.

Perhaps though, Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe will deliver something as hosts that fans will really respond to. We will find out when Katie Thurston’s season premieres June 7 at 8 p.m. E.T. on ABC.

Bachelor Nation was shooketh to the core after the fallout from Chris Harrison’s interview with Rachel Lindsay led to his untimely exit as host of the franchise. With nearly 20 years of experience under his belt, it was bound to be somewhat different with Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe taking over as replacements for The Bachelorette’s Season 17 this year. Katie Thurston’s season is done filming now, and insiders reveal why exactly it felt so different for the cast and crew.

Katie Thurston decided to continue to pursue her quest for love on TV after an unsuccessful bid for Matt James’ heart on The Bachelor. This time she’s shining in the driver’s seat as The Bachelorette herself, or so one would think. Yet, now that her season is complete, the biggest difference on set appears to be that the focus is on the new female hosts instead of the leading lady. One of the sources for E! News hinted, that, "It was a lot of female energy in one bubble and hard for Katie to have the full spotlight," with another adding:

“Female energy” should be commended – but not if it was at the expense of another woman, who was supposed to be the lead. If this was indeed the case on the current Bachelorette, it doesn't sound like it was done intentionally. The controversy surrounding Chris Harrison probably followed Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe onto the set, as they attempted to fill his shoes as hosts.

Still, it seems others on The Bachelorette Season 17 production were nostalgic for what they knew for so long. Another source conveyed that male contestants viewed Chris Harrison as “a wise older guy” and the women saw him as “a father figure,” who Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe obviously couldn’t mimic even if they had tried.

This is really interesting, because, on the one hand, Harrison’s persona as the leader of the franchise enabled contestants to look to him as a trusted figure. On the other hand, Harrison was accused of behaving in the exact opposite way during his interview with Rachel Lindsay, prompting the hosting change to be necessary in the minds of the network executives after his comments drew much fire.

Some thought that Chris Harrison’s modus operandi as The Bachelorette host also seemed to be missing from the newcomers. A Bachelor Nation source said that, in contrast, Harrison was “the mediator and voice of reason on set.” On the flip side, another said,

Undoubtedly, Chris Harrison has put in more time than Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe as the host for Bachelor Nation. But, he also played the significant role of executive producer for the franchise. As a result, it’s easy to see how he was able to command respect due to the weight of his title and combined experience.

Something was not quite right with “the vibe,” on set however. A source described it as not necessarily “competitive,” but still very much apparent. The cast and crew often focused in on what Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe managed to bring to their hosting efforts, and their "extremely outgoing personalities" may have led pulled attention away from Katie.

If 2020 taught us anything, though, it’s that change is hard, no matter how you slice it. So, while ABC might want to take these concerns under consideration as Michelle Young’s Bachelorette season gets underway later this year, they will also have to figure out how to make sure the crew, at least, puts Michelle in the spotlight better if Tayshia and Kaitlyn return.

Following the backlash for Chris Harrison’s interview with Rachel Lindsay, ABC saw fit to make some changes concerning Bachelor Nation. Harrison stepped down as the almost 20-year-long host of the dating franchise, while former contestants Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe were brought in as his replacements for the next two back-to-back seasons of The Bachelorette. Allegedly, however, the set feels pretty different without Harrison’s familiar face around.

The situation has unfolded rather quickly, what with the Rachael Kirkconnell controversy and the subsequent interview and fallout happening within the span of only a few months, as The Bachelor continued airing in what felt like the background. Now as The Bachelorette has taken up filming for Season 17 and 18, for Katie Thurston and Michelle Young, respectively, the longtime crew are supposedly missing Chris Harrison’s presence. One source told US Weekly:

Chris Harrison was heavily criticized for the way he discussed Rachael Kirkconnell’s controversial past actions with Rachel Lindsay. He was labelled “racially insensitive” and “dismissive,” among other things. Yet it’s understandable to an extent that The Bachelorette set feels different for production nowadays. Imagining Survivor without Jeff Probst, for example, sounds downright unfeasible.

Much like Jeff Probst on Survivor, many people don’t know that Chris Harrison also pulled double duty as both the host and executive producer on Bachelor Nation. So he actually did a lot more on the shows than the brief minutes that fans would see of him talking to contestants as host. Another source said:

The controversy surrounding Chris Harrison has been swirling non-stop since his on-screen faux pas. He admitted that his words were a mistake and agreed to step down, albeit the statement seemed to allude to the move being more temporary than permanent. Harrison allegedly lawyered up after the continued backlash and Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe’s takeover of his hosting roles.

At the time, Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe posted their own enthused reactions to the news of their hosting gigs on social media. But apparently, others on The Bachelorette set are still looking to the past and Chris Harrison for leadership. As the second source put it:

The two replacement hosts for The Bachelorette might not be completely familiar with all of the production team behind the show, but fans know them well from their time as contestants. Tayshia Adams recently said on the Going to Bed with Garcelle podcast that “the world needs something fresh and new” and that the fans are going to be “really excited” with where they take Bachelor Nation.

Still, change is a hard thing. ABC gave fans slightly familiar faces in Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe to seemingly ease the blow of them not seeing Chris Harrison. We can only know how the two host perform when the upcoming seasons air in the summer and fall.

Despite the shake-up from Chris Harrison’s exit as the franchise’s longtime host, Bachelor Nation is steadily moving into less turbulent waters. Alums Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe will be taking over as hosts for the back-to-back seasons of The Bachelorette this year, and they haven’t been shy about being pretty darn excited. Adams’ fiancée has also shared some of his thoughts on her hosting duties for this season – and it sounds like things might be dramatic…

Tayshia Adams first met soon-to-be husband Zac Clark during her season on The Bachelorette last year. Things were tricky for a moment – what with Clare Crowley bowing out early to be with Dale Moss. Adams took over as the leading woman, and things turned out fine, with Adams and Clark still currently in the planning stages for their upcoming nuptials. Now, Clark has taken on the duty of gassing up his fiancée’s hosting duties ahead of Season 17 of The Bachelorette. Here’s what he said to People:

Zac Clark is right, Bachelor Nation doesn’t need much more news or hints to be buzzing about the future of the franchise. Fans are already speculating on their own time about how Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe will fare as co-hosts on The Bachelorette. It's likely the task won’t prove too difficult, short of any drama, as the host doesn’t usually have much of a presence beyond moving things along. But maybe with all these dramatic changes, ABC will continue mixing things up even further and somehow make it new and refreshing post-Chris Harrison’s exit.

The racism controversy at the center of the past season of The Bachelor saw to not only Chris Harrison’s fall from grace but also the unpredictable nature of future seasons. Bachelor in Paradise will officially go ahead with Season 7, but reports indicate that many past contestants are supposedly fearful of the Bachelor Nation spotlight now, enough to prevent some from getting on board. When asked about Bachelor in Paradise, Zac Clark only had similar speculations:

As for Tayshia Adams and Zac Clark, plans are still in motion to complete their fairytale ending. Adams has already moved to New York to live with Clark, but he said there isn’t a wedding date set as of yet. He told Us Weekly recently that the two will likely not televise their wedding as other Bachelor Nation newlyweds have. It’s too bad, because Bachelor Nation surely needs more good news to look forward to.

After 19 years and 25 seasons of hosting The Bachelor and all of its spinoffs, Chris Harrison made his exit from the franchise following the backlash from his interview with Rachel Lindsay. Though at first it seemed rather temporary, replacements are being brought in amidst the growing debate about whether Harrison should be completely “cancelled” for his mistakes. It has divided fans of Bachelor Nation, but one of the franchise’s alums has thrown his support behind the former host.

Like many contestants of Bachelor Nation, Eric Bigger has competed multiple times over the years for the chance at love. He hasn’t found it yet but knows Bachelor Nation better than most after playing on The Bachelorette (Season 13), Bachelor Winter Games and Bachelor in Paradise (Season 5). According to him, Chris Harrison deserves more compassion, telling US Weekly:

Chris Harrison’s “mistake” has been discussed relentlessly following the racism scandal at the heart of The Bachelor’s Season 25. After his interview with Rachel Lindsay, wherein he urged her and others to be forgiving of contestant Rachael Kirkconnell and her past, Harrison was accused of being “racially insensitive” in that moment. He went on to admit it was a mistake and apologized, but ultimately, stepped down from hosting Bachelor Nation, saying in his announcement that it was for "a period of time."

However, there has still been a level of discontent with Chris Harrison returning to Bachelor Nation at all. A former Bachelor producer spoke out directly against Harrison, as well as several current Bachelor producers condemning the treatment of Rachel Lindsay online but not of Harrison. In response, Harrison has reportedly lawyered up. But Eric Bigger believes that Harrison shouldn’t be totally iced out in this way. He said:

Like Eric Bigger, there are other Bachelor Nation alums who are supportive of Chris Harrison during this contentious time. Chris Bukowski, the contestant with the most appearances on the entire franchise, also urged that Harrison should not be fired and that the issues being discussed were systemic and not limited to just Harrison.

Many fans have also come to Chris Harrison’s defense, frequently stating that he is “the face of the franchise.” On the reverse side, however, the new replacements Tayshia Adams, Kaitlyn Bristowe and Emmanuel Acho bring in some much-needed fresh air to a franchise that has been accused of never changing. For Eric Bigger, though, this kind of black-and-white divide doesn’t exactly spell progress. He continued:

This year, there will be two back-to-back seasons of The Bachelorette and even, finally, a new Bachelor in Paradise. Chris Harrison will not be part of those productions, leaving the ultimate future of the former host up in the air. Check back in as we bring you further updates on the situation.

It’s certainly no secret that Bachelor Nation is going through a rocky patch. The Chris Harrison interview controversy and his subsequent exit from hosting duties has prompted a domino effect of changes for the longstanding reality franchise. Most recently, it seems one of Bachelor Nation’s spinoffs is facing troubles for a new season.

Bachelor in Paradise’s Season 7 was initially shelved in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. It has since been reported that the new season could potentially happen this year amidst filming for the two back-to-back seasons of The Bachelorette. Yet sources have indicated to E! Online that Bachelor in Paradise is having a hard time actually casting for the new season. Supposedly, most want no part in it. According to one of the sources,

The apprehension of these former members is evidently rooted in not wanting to be associated with Bachelor Nation following the Chris Harrison controversy. This isn’t too far-fetched, either. It isn’t the best idea to come back into a franchise on the heels of various faux pas and misdeeds, unless you are completely sure you wouldn’t embarrass yourself. Case in point, I doubt Rachael Kirkconnell is being asked back to Bachelor Nation, or would even consider coming back, given the backlash to her past actions that were revealed while The Bachelor Season 25 was airing.

Sources actually allege that “most of the women from Matt [James]’s season” are not being considered for the next season of Bachelor in Paradise. If that is the case, perhaps the goal is to avoid the inevitable follow-up questions and gossip surrounding this past controversial season. Regardless, the question of including women from The Bachelor Season 25 or not could be a difficult tightrope to walk on, because they could be damned if they did or damned if they didn’t.

On the other hand, the sources allege that the likes of Blake Horstmann (Bachelor in Paradise Season 6), Tia Booth (Bachelor in Paradise Season 5) and Becca Kufrin (The Bachelorette Season 14) are among some of those being eyed by the ABC network. There is even speculation that “two years’ worth” of cast will be brought in to make up for last year. That’s potentially dozens more lovesick hopefuls running around a Mexico beach…

As of yet, none of the details on casting or production for Bachelor in Paradise have been publicly confirmed. But if the rumors are true and former Bachelor Nation contestants are afraid to sign up for love, the likelihood of a new season happening on such a tight schedule seem smaller and smaller. Then again, the rose must go on…right?

Following Chris Harrison's decision to step aside from The Bachelor, contestants past and present have been sharing their thoughts on whether or not the long-time host of the franchise should be permanently removed from his hosting duties. Now, on the heels of the news that Harrison could be taking legal action, one former contestant of The Bachelorette has recalled why he thinks Harrison is a "total douchebag."

I recently spoke with Josh Seiter, who was a contestant during The Bachelorette Season 11, and I asked what his thoughts were on the current situation with Chris Harrison. The reality star was quick to share why he doesn't think of Harrison as a stand-up guy – which is putting it lightly – and also talked about his past experiences with the host during Seiter's time on the show. In is words:

Josh Seiter went on to say that even during the relatively short time he was on The Bachelorette, he was still shocked by Chris Harrison's behavior. For those that don't remember, Josh Seiter was eliminated in Week 1 of Season 11 after he stripped his clothes off for Kaitlyn Bristowe and Britt Nilsson. Needless to say, nobody gave a rose to Seiter, but Chris Harrison apparently gave him a hard time about it.

To that end, Josh Seiter isn't too upset that Chris Harrison may never host The Bachelor or any of its spinoffs again. Seiter agreed that Harrison's defending Rachael Kirkconnell was out of line, and added that he already had it out for Harrison after what happened shortly following his Season 11 elimination from The Bachelorette.

For all those reasons, as well as for Chris Harrison's current controversy, Josh Seiter wasn't sad to see the long-time host step away for any amount of time. He's not the only former contestant to express similar opinions either, even though Harrison has found some support out there from former contestants. Meanwhile, ABC has still not officially signaled what Harrison's fate with the franchise could be going forward.

What has been confirmed is that Chris Harrison will not host the upcoming season of The Bachelorette, and hosting duties will actually fall on Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe for the upcoming season. For now, Harrison will be away, but given the network hasn't officially fired him, there's still a chance he may return.

Chris Harrison’s exit as host, after nearly 20 years in the role, sent shockwaves through Bachelor Nation. Fans have been divided somewhat on whether it was an essential decision following Harrison’s controversial interview with Rachel Lindsay or too harsh of a fallout. Now, the contestant with the most ever appearances on Bachelor Nation is advocating that Harrison should not be fired from the franchise.

Chris Bukowski competed on almost every iteration of Bachelor Nation multiple times: The Bachelorette, Bachelor Pad and Bachelor in Paradise. So by now, he is very familiar with ex-host Chris Harrison. The franchise alum was frank in his appraisal of the situation, telling Us Weekly that the move is “an easy way out.” He said:

It seems Chris Bukowski is encouraging ex-host Chris Harrison and ABC to learn this lesson a different way. Instead of outright firing the longtime host, he wants Harrison to stand in front of future contestants and millions of fans and show growth when it comes to talking about sensitive issues such as race. Following his conversation with Rachel Lindsay, Harrison admitted that he made a mistake and that his comments were “unacceptable,” yet he did still make an appearance on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune. With Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe taking over as new hosts for The Bachelorette, it remains uncertain whether Harrison will get the opportunity to tackle these concerns in the show.

The bigger issue than just one man’s faux pas, though, is a work culture and society that perpetuates Harrison’s line of argument as well, according to Chris Bukowski. The Bachelor in Paradise winner said:

Chris Bukowski makes some good points here. Bachelor Nation has lacked diversity and conversations surrounding race for years. Unfortunately, It is an endemic problem in most competitive reality shows. But the question remains if Chris Harrison’s exit is a way to usher in the necessary change.

Others from Bachelor Nation have chimed in on the issue, as well. Emmanuel Acho, who took over for Chris Harrison during this last season of The Bachelor, said he doesn’t “believe in cancel culture” and questioned what would be truly best for the franchise. A former Bachelor producer, who went on to satirize reality show productions like The Bachelor in UnReal, firmly believes Harrison’s exit is completely justified and a long time coming for the franchise.

Hosting duties on Bachelor Nation are notoriously short and sweet, so the buzz surrounding Chris Harrison’s sudden exit might seem overblown to some. But to others, he is the most recognizable face of the franchise. If Harrison hadn’t reportedly lawyered up recently, one might have been forgiven for thinking his time on the show was coming to an end.

Members of Bachelor Nation may remember James McCoy Taylor, a contestant for the memorable Season 12 of The Bachelorette who was eliminated in Week 7 of that series when it aired in 2016. Since then, the Texas native has built up a considerable fanbase on social media and launched a music career. More recently, he’s signed on with another member of Bachelor Nation to kickstart a defamation lawsuit.

Reports from James McCoy Taylor himself indicate that he has signed on with Erica Rose, who appeared on The Bachelor and Bachelor Pad, to file a defamation lawsuit against several media outlets. According to the reality personality himself, Rose's firm, the Rose Sanders Law firm, is going to help James McCoy Taylor, “save my reputation and prove I’m not a traitor / insurrectionist.”

But first, how did we get here? In order to figure out why a defamation lawsuit is even being filed, we really need to hop back to January to figure out what this defamation lawsuit is even about. On January 5th, James McCoy Taylor sent a Tweet out to his followers online which seemingly indicated he was planning to attend the most famous of the Trump rallies in recent months with a “see y’all there." This is the same rally which later turned to rioting in the Capital. You can see the tweet below.

A separate tweet from the former Bachelorette star also mentioned, “See y’all at the #MarchForTrump rally in DC.” Only, according to James McCoy Taylor, he did not go to the Capital on January 6 when the riots occurred. Yet, outlets reported he had allegedly attended, particularly after a second set of tweets from the Bachelorette contestant went out on January 11.

Then, these reports about this alleged attendance after the riots then came to higher prominence after another major Bachelor name, Ben Higgins, also commented on the matter, seemingly having believed that Taylor had, in fact, been a part of what happened at the Capital in January. Higgens spoke to Insider about what had been alleged, reportedly telling that outlet:

By March, James McCoy Taylor opted to return to Twitter to give his side of the story. He noted he did not attend the riots and also claimed on Instagram that journalists “did zero research” when they were writing on the story. Here’s part of what he had to say online as the story spread.

James McCoy Taylor also released a statement on why he decided to sue. He has hired representation, though at the time of this writing it is unclear which outlets will be target in the defamation lawsuit. He did explain why he feels the need to sue in a statement, revealing:

In addition, he mentioned Ben Higgins on an Instagram post and said the other star could have reached out and texted instead of commenting on the matter. We’ll have to wait and see if and when a lawsuit is filed and what the next steps will be for the former Bachelor Nation stars. Meanwhile, it’s been revealed that former Bachelor host Chris Harrison also reportedly lawyered up recently after leaving the franchise following his exit for an undetermined period of time. We’ll have to wait and see if that leads to specific legal action as well.

The accusations of bullying and racism have consumed this past season of The Bachelor. The issues only intensified when Chris Harrison stepped down from his longtime hosting duties, following his highly criticized interview in which he defended Rachael Kirkconnell. Many thought the controversy would end there. Now, though, things have taken a wild turn for ABC.

It would seem that Chris Harrison is lawyering up after his exit from The Bachelor. Page Six reported that Harrison has employed attorney Bryan Freedman, but there are no formal indications as of yet what legal course Harrison plans to pursue. Freedman was reportedly represented Gabrielle Union during her dispute over America’s Got Talent's "toxic work culture." An alleged friend of Harrison’s told Page Six:

Then there seem to be only two probable legal options for Chris Harrison to pursue with a lawyer. Either he is doing a Bachelor tell-all concerning the controversy, with receipts, or he might be planning to sue the network for some form of wrongful termination. Needless to say, both options wouldn't be ideal for ABC.

On the public side of things, it previously looked as though the network and Chris Harrison were still on a good rapport, even with his exit as The Bachelor host. Harrison apologized multiple times for his comments during the Rachel Lindsay interview. Moreover, in his statement announcing that he would be stepping aside, Harrison insinuated that the decision was a mutual one between himself, Warner Brothers and ABC.

Perhaps with the news that Emmanuel Acho will be taking over as host of The Bachelor and Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe for The Bachelorlette, it's possible the change might be more permanent than Chris Harrison anticipated. As mentioned by Page Six's source, another probable reason for Harrison's alleged sudden legal action is how other producers have spoken in the press about the controversy. The Bachelor executive producers put out a statement on March 1 condemning the harassment that Rachel Lindsay faced but did not mention Harrison. In addition, former Bachelor producer Sarah Gertrude Shapiro recently took Harrison to task in her own blunt statement.

Despite the messiness of the initial issue, it seemed that all parties were attempting to wade out of the more controversial waters and into something more positive. CinemaBlend will keep you updated on the situation as more news arrives.

As a former Bachelor producer and co-creator of the reality spoof show UnReal, Sarah Gertrude Shapiro knows a thing or two about the mechanisms behind the world of reality television production. In fact, she has built her career on it. With this in mind, Shapiro has some pretty blunt thoughts about her former show and the controversy surrounding Chris Harrison and Rachael Kirkconnell.

The Emmy-nominated writer and producer of UnReal didn't hold back her harsh criticism of host Chris Harrison and The Bachelor franchise as a whole, which jumpstarted her career. She told Us Weekly:

For those unfamiliar with Chris Harrison or don't subscribe to the "Bachelor Nation" fandom, Harrison received serious backlash for defending contestant Rachael Kirkconnell who was accused of liking racially insensitive posts and going to an Antebellum-themed party prior to her run on The Bachelor. In an interview with contestant Rachel Lindsay, who criticized Kirkconnell, Harrison accused her of being the “woke police” and “tearing [Kirkconnell]'s life apart.”

Needless to say, Sarah Gertrude Shapiro's statement is a huge shot taken at Chris Harrison. Her show UnReal, which was inspired by her time as producer on The Bachelor, does in fact address the uncomfortable race dynamics in reality television. In the first season, characters laughed off the fact that Black people don't last long on reality TV, with one producer even saying, “It is not my fault that America is racist.”

Reality television has been criticized for stereotyping and for rarely featuring people of color – more so than “scripted” television arguably because reality TV isn't held in as a high regard as serialized storytelling. It doesn't quite stop at The Bachelor, either. The Bravo network is home to the Real Housewives franchise, which has only recently started adding more women of color, despite being on the air for more than 15 years.

Following the backlash for his comments, Chris Harrison was replaced by two women as hosts of The Bachelorette. According to Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, the change is a necessary one for the franchise. She continued:

In ABC's statement about the host change-up, it calls Chris Harrison's exit an “absence,” implying that he might make a return to his hosting duties. Harrison has since apologized and regrets his controversial comments, but it's possible that a return would draw a mixed response from the public.

Chris Harrison's decision to step down after almost two decades of hosting ABC's The Bachelor and The Bachelorette wasn't too much of a surprise given the massive backlash he received due to his controversial race-related comments. In the wake of his departure, ABC announced that former contestants Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe will take over as The Bachelorette co-hosts -- and they've now reacted after landing their new jobs.

Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe both participated on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette in past seasons. ABC's choice to replace former host Chris Harrison with the two women for the next season is a conscious decision that doesn't seem lost on the two. Bristowe posted a celebratory dance of the two with the caption “Let's go girls….” Check out the hilarious (and awkward) dance, set to the backdrop of Busta Rhymes’ “Get It” below:

Likewise, Tayshia Adams posted a photo of herself on Instagram, in which she can be seen basking in a halo of light. She wrote:

Kaitlyn Bristowe and Tayshia Adams’ excited reactions to their new hosting gigs are well-earned. The unfortunate circumstance following Matt James' season of The Bachelor is proof positive that new blood is needed to shake the dust off the dating show. Lady hosts leading the charge for the next Bachelorette will surely bring a more relatable and sensitive energy.

A shift in the conversation is certainly what the ABC network is hoping for with the decision. However, in its joint announcement with Warner horizon, the network revealed that Kaitlyn Bristowe and Tayshia Adams’ new hosting duties are technically only through next season in Chris Harrison's “absence.” In the post, they also wrote:

It is unclear, then, whether the hosting change will extend long term. There's always the chance the network is considering a possible return for Chris Harrison at some point in the future.

Female viewers make up the majority demographic for both The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, but their reactions on Twitter seem divided on the network dropping Chris Harrison for former contestants. Die-hard traditionalist fans are vowing to never watch the show again without Harrison, others are saying the two women are “the perfect choice.” Many pointed out that it doesn’t make much of a difference, since the host only has a minimal screen time anyway.

For the moment, though, Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe are choosing to celebrate the changing of the guard. Tune in this summer to see how they fare!

This poll is no longer available.

The past month has been a wild time in Bachelor Nation, and not in the normal ways of fantasy suite complications or contestants appearing on shows for the wrong reasons. Longtime host Chris Harrison found himself in hot water after defending The Bachelor Season 25 frontrunner Rachael Kirkconnell for her attendance of an Antebellum party, and even Kirkconnell has acknowledged that she deserves to be held accountable for racist behavior. Chris Harrison stepped back from The Bachelor after stirring up controversy with his interview Rachel Lindsay, and now it appears that The Bachelorette has officially replaced him as host with familiar faces.

Yes, that's familiar faces, plural. Bachelor Nation spoiler guru Reality Steve took to Twitter with the latest spoiler report that reveals The Bachelorette Season 17 (said to be starring Katie Thurston despite previous rumors of a recasting) will be the first not to be hosted by Chris Harrison, but rather by two others. Here's what Steve has to say about the situation:

Reality Steve is almost always reliable as a source of spoilers when it comes to Bachelor Nation, and his report that Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe are quarantining at the Hyatt Tamaya in New Mexico seems to corroborate earlier reports that suggested Chris Harrison could be out for Season 17. Adams and Bristowe are of course very familiar faces in the Bachelor franchise, both having appeared for some heartbreak on The Bachelor before starring in a search for love on The Bachelorette.

Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe are also likely fresh in the minds of ABC viewers, as Adams is the most recent Bachelorette after she stepped into Season 16 once Clare Crawley stepped out early, and Bristowe is fresh off winning Dancing with the Stars Season 29. Adams was also the first Black Bachelorette since Rachel Lindsay (and only the second of two Black leads of the entire franchise before Matt James became Bachelor).

All things considered, Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe aren't shocking choices to step in for Chris Harrison, if The Bachelorette was looking for new hosts within the Bachelor Nation family rather than bringing in somebody new, as is the case with Emmanuel Acho stepping in to host the "After the Final Rose" special of The Bachelor Season 25. Interestingly, another former Bachelorette served as temporary host of Adams' season as leading lady, but it was JoJo Fletcher who filled in.

That said, Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe will come back to The Bachelorette with very different experiences, and not just because Adams' season was bonkers overall. Bristowe found love in Bachelor Nation and seems likely to get engaged to her current partner, but he isn't one of the men who appeared on any of the Bachelor Nation shows with Bristowe. Bristowe is with Jason Tartick, who appeared in Becca Kufrin's season of The Bachelorette. As for Adams, she remains engaged to Zac Clark. One of the women is a Bachelorette success story; the other, less so.

So, how will these Bachelor Nation veterans but inexperienced hosts measure up to Chris Harrison? Only time will tell, assuming spoilers are correct, but production is definitely moving forward on the next season of The Bachelorette. A big question now is whether or not Harrison has a future in Bachelor Nation beyond The Bachelorette Season 16. There are undoubtedly more Bachelor and Bachelorette seasons to come, not to mention my personal favorite that is the trainwreck called Bachelor in Paradise.

Season 25 of The Bachelor was supposed to be a new beginning for the franchise. Fans have been clamoring for more diversity for several years on the flagship show, as well as The Bachelorette, and we were finally given both a black male lead in Matt James, and a season with the most BIPOC ever seen at once. Unfortunately, there have been several behind the scenes controversies regarding racism, not to mention some on-camera difficulties with representation, which have stopped many fans dead in their tracks, including host Chris Harrison having to step down after making some comments which angered many. We still have questions as to whether or not Harrison will return, but some new details have emerged.

Here's what's going on. We knew that the franchise was desperate to get back on its regular filming schedule and stick to it after the extended delays of 2020, which would mean The Bachelorette beginning to film at some point in March. According to a new report from TMZ, the entire cast and crew for The Bachelorette Season 17 is now quarantining at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico (which is between Albuquerque and Santa Fe), so that they can begin filming on the new season in a couple of weeks. But, if you're eager to see Chris Harrison at the start of Season 17, he isn't currently in the quarantine bubble.

Of course, it's hard to tell right now whether or not this actually means that Harrison will be on the shelf for at least the entirety of The Bachelorette. From what the site's anonymous sources close to the show said, The Bachelorette is actively in pre-production, with a flurry of video meetings and calls currently going on, and the plan is still to begin filming late this month, but no firm decision has been made on whether or not Harrison will return to his post during Season 17, later, or not at all.

Apparently, not only has a decision not been made on Chris Harrison's potential return, but no one knows for sure who will host The Bachelorette Season 17 yet, even though filming is still said to be just a couple of weeks away. It's being speculated that the producers and ABC are waiting to see what will come of The Bachelor finale and After the Final Rose, which air this coming Monday. The ATFR portion of the finale was filmed last week, and saw former NFL linebacker and host of YouTube's Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, Emmanuel Acho, step in for Harrison and lead the proceedings.

Meanwhile, all fans can do is wait and see. The Bachelor airs its last Season 25 outing with Matt James on Monday, March 15, at 8 p.m. EST, but for more to watch on the small screen in coming weeks, check out our guide to winter / spring 2021 TV.

Spoilers ahead for the February 25 episode of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune on ABC. 

As The Bachelor deals with controversy related to longtime host Chris Harrison, ABC made a rather surprising move in its primetime programming. Thursday's episode of the primetime spinoff Celebrity Wheel of Fortune featured Harrison as a contestant, alongside Alfonso Ribeiro and Robert Herjavec. Viewers who have kept up on the controversy currently surrounding Chris Harrison had thoughts about the message that ABC was sending with the Celebrity Wheel of Fortune episode.

ABC did run a disclaimer along the bottom of the episode, noting that the episode of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune had been filmed December 20th. The disclaimer wasn't enough to prevent criticism from viewers, who questioned why ABC felt it so important to continue to showcase Chris Harrison given all that's happening.

Chris Harrison's appearance on Celebrity Wheel Of Fortune comes less than two weeks after Harrison announced he'd be stepping aside from The Bachelor franchise and would not be attending the "After The Final Rose" special. Harrison created controversy after an interview in which he admittedly "perpetuates racism" by defending surfaced actions of The Bachelor Season 25 contestant Rachael Kirkconnell. Given Harrison's willingness to step aside, some questioned ABC's decision to go ahead and run the episode regardless of when it was filmed.

And while no one can presume to know ABC's intentions in airing this particular episode of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune with a disclaimer, others are outraged one even ran at all. There are many upset about the fact that Chris Harrison was showcased on ABC with the message.

For those curious, Chris Harrison did net the most amount of money in the episode and earned $52,650 for the charity Feeding America. You wouldn't know from looking at ABC's official Twitter though, which quietly showcased the winnings by second-place finisher Robert Herjavec instead.

ABC does not have evidence of Chris Harrison's appearance on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune on its Twitter account at the time of writing. Regardless of what side you are on in the issue, he's a controversial topic, which once again leaves many wondering why the episode was aired in the first place.

The situation with Chris Harrison and The Bachelor is ongoing, and it's still up in the air what his future with the franchise will be. Some former contestants have already stated they wouldn't feel comfortable returning to the franchise with him involved, though an official decision has not been announced on whether he will return.

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune airs on ABC Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Do you think ABC made a mistake in airing an episode with Chris Harrison so close to the controversy? Sound off in our poll and see what The Bachelor's Matt James had to say about the controversy here.

This poll is no longer available.

The past several weeks in Bachelor Nation have been filled with way more controversy than ever before. After what many former leads, contestants, and fans would likely call a very disappointing interview with former star of The Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay, host and executive producer Chris Harrison has stepped away from the franchise after apologizing for "wrongly speaking in a manner that perpetuates racism." We don't know yet if or when Harrison will return to the shows, but now former contestant Ivan Hall, who made it quite far on Tayshia Adams' Season 16, is sharing his thoughts on the serious matter.

Ivan Hall, who was pretty universally loved by fans while appearing on Tayshia's recent season of The Bachelorette, appeared on E!'s Daily Pop to discuss the franchise and all of the controversy over Chris Harrison. When asked whether or not he thought that Harrison stepping back from his duties was the right move, Ivan responded, but also added in his thought about this year's potential Bachelor in Paradise season, and noted:

In Chris Harrison's apology, he offered a "promise to do better" to those who'd come out to hold him accountable for defending current contestant Rachael Kirkconnell and her past of racist behavior, which was revealed online once Matt James' season of The Bachelor began. The impact of both her past actions (which she finally apologized for shortly after Harrison did) and the defense of those actions by Harrison, who has been the public face of the franchise since its inception, during the long-hoped for first season with a black Bachelor, has not been lost on millions of fans, who've wanted the shows to be more inclusive for a very long time.

Chris Harrison's comments and the fallout from them have led to an even more public division between fans, as there are now two petitions on Change.org about his future, with one calling for him to be reinstated at some point, and one calling for him to be fired. Many former leads, like Rachel Lindsay, along with former contestants such as Taylor Nolan and Mike Johnson, have spoken out against both what Harrison said in the interview and him coming back any time soon.

In addition, Matt, who's still watching his season of The Bachelor unfold on TV, recently spoke out about the "devastating and heartbreaking" situation, and how the "franchise has fallen short on addressing" issues of racism behind the scenes.

Many of the women of Matt's season also banded together after Harrison's initial interview to post a joint statement to each of their social media accounts, noting that they were "deeply disappointed" and "denounce any defense of racism." Again, there's no word right on on whether or not Chris Harrison will return to the franchise, but it's clear that many wouldn't feel that such an idea would be a good move.

While contestants have come and gone over the years, Chris Harrison had long been the factor keeping continuity between seasons of ABC’s The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. In fact, he’d actually kicked off the series as its host back in 2002. But after a comment was made during an interview with contestant Rachel Lindsay that “perpetuated racism”, as he noted in an apology, the longtime host, in consultation with the network and studio, has decided to also take a step back from The Bachelor franchise for an undisclosed period of time.

In a lengthy Instagram post, Chris Harrison himself announced the news that he will be “stepping aside for a period of time” on the long-running reality competition series. He touched on being “uninformed” and also noted he was “ashamed” for having “invoked the term ‘woke police,’” before launching into his explanation for why he is taking a step back from the franchise that his name is somewhat synonymous with.

The news comes a few days after Chris Harrison and Bachelorette contestant Rachel Lindsay did an interview together on Extra in which another contestant’s actions became a topic of conversation. That contestant, Rachael Kirkconnell, had attended an Antebellum party while in school, which Rachel Lindsay expressed her own thoughts on. At the time, Harrison had then asked for “grace” for Kirkconnell, leading to backlash online and from Lindsay herself.

The controversy led Rachel Lindsay to say she’ll also be stepping back from her prominent role in The Bachelor franchise. The former contestant first appeared on a season of The Bachelor before landing her own season of The Bachelorette. She is also a part of a popular podcast about the long-running series which she co-hosts with Becca Kufrin called Bachelor Happy Hour.

In an interview, she noted she’s “contractually bound” in some ways, but will be quitting the franchise when she can. She also said she’s “exhausted” by the franchise, but that had been a theme prior to the more recent interview with Harrison, as she previously also said "it's embarrassing" to be affiliated with the franchise.

The Bachelor is currently airing its 25th season on ABC featuring Matt James, the show’s first Black Bachelor. He’s spoken out about the pressures of being cast with that distinction, with some people “assuming” he’ll pick a white woman and how race and not personality have factored into a lot of the conversations. Rachael Kirkconnell is a participant in Season 25.

The Bachelor airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, but keep your eyes keyed onto CinemaBlend as we’re often sniffing out spoilers.

This has already been quite the week for Bachelor Nation. While we should have been focused on the latest happenings on Season 25 as Matt James tries to find love, that search has been overshadowed by the pre-show behavior of current contestant Rachael Kirkconnell. Several people online have pointed out the racist activities which Rachael has been a part of over the past several weeks. But, things really came to a head when former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay asked franchise host Chris Harrison about the controversy, and he appeared very determined to defend the contestant. Harrison soon issued an official apology, but now Lindsay is saying she will not renew her contract with the franchise.

Rachel Lindsay spoke about her interview with Harrison on the podcast she co-hosts with Van Lathan, Higher Learning, and was clearly fed up with acting as a representative for the Bachelor franchise. After talking about how she needed to stay completely calm so that people wouldn't pay attention to her reaction, but what Chris Harrison was saying, Lindsay noted that she decided to sit back and let him talk so his seeming defense of the contestant could stand for itself. When asked by her co-host where this leaves her with the franchise, Lindsay said:

As anyone who pays attention to Bachelor Nation will know, not only does Rachel Lindsay make appearances on the shows from time to time, she also co-hosts the franchise's official podcast with another former Bachelorette, Becca Kufrin. And, In the past year especially, Rachel has had to speak out a lot when it comes to racial bias, racism and other huge problems within the franchise. When 2019's Bachelorette, Hannah Brown, put up a video on her social media where she used a racial epithet while singing along to a song, Lindsay consulted with her and spoke out against it, but also noted at the time how tired she was of having to deal with such issues in Bachelor Nation.

While speaking about her interview with Harrison and the aftermath, Rachel Lindsay also said that he appeared completely comfortable with what he had to say, seeing as how he didn't do the interview with any public relations people joining in, and noted, in part:

She also said that he later apologized to her personally before putting out his public apology. But, according to Lindsay, the order of what happened in the aftermath doesn't sit well with her:

For what it's worth, Rachael Kirkconnell, just last night, finally issued her own apology for her past behavior, and appears to have taken full responsibility for her actions. But, it sounds like it could all be too late for Rachel Lindsay, who seems to be past her breaking point when it comes to problematic activity in the Bachelor franchise.

As far as I know, while several contestants and leads of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette (and the show in general) have been subjected to a lot of public scrutiny after saying or doing things that fans have not liked, host Chris Harrison has never really been in the line of fire before. But, it appears that that time is over, as Harrison took a lot of heat online for a recent chat with former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay, and he's now apologizing and admitting his interview "perpetuates racism."

Here's what happened. Chris Harrison spoke to Rachel Lindsay on Extra about a current contestant on Matt James' Season 25 of The Bachelor, Rachael Kirkconnell. This particular contestant has been under fire herself quite a bit recently for what's seen as a lot of problematic and racist behavior, and even more now that a photo has come out of her celebrating at an Antebellum party in 2018. When Harrison was asked about his thoughts on Kirkconnell, instead of simply saying that we should let her speak for herself, he defended her and spoke out against cancel culture.

Now, he's apologizing for his remarks, and took to Twitter with this statement:

Part of the problem that a lot of people had after hearing Harrison's comments about Rachael Kirkconnell was how much he stood up for her and tried to walk the line of saying what she did was wrong, but also excusing her behavior simply because some people were less aware of what a party like that actually stands for, and the fact that it embraces a life afforded to people of the time period explicitly because they were slave-holders. And, of course, all of this is exacerbated by the fact that she was cast on a season with the First Black Bachelor.

As Rachel Lindsay pressed Harrison during the interview, he continued to hold his position that Kirkconnell should be given "grace" and "time" to speak out. This is even though the point was made that the allegations about her behavior have been present since the debut of Matt's season, which was the first week of January. Meanwhile, as this article was being written, Kirkconnell responded to all of the racism allegations in an Instagram post, which you can read in full for yourself.

In the rest of his apology, Harrison also said:

Hopefully, this isn't just a public apology so that Chris Harrison doesn't have to face any more negativity online, but his "promise to do better" really means that he's going to take a look at why his comments angered so many fans and learn about the issue at hand.

Matt James' season of The Bachelor continues every Monday on ABC, at 8 p.m. EST.

It has taken Charming quite a long while to make its way to the United States. Released internationally back in 2018, following an extended production, the fairy tale spoof finally arrives on Netflix starting Friday, January 8th. Featuring the voice talents of Wilmer Valderrama, Demi Lovato, Ashley Tisdale, and Sia, this Canadian-American production hopes to appeal to the same family audiences who love revisiting Shrek and other irreverent animated larks. But while the movie hasn't received the same glowing praise, the high-profile ensemble might win over viewers young and old anyhow.

If you're curious to know who lent their voices to this new(ish) animated movie, we're here to help. Here's where you recognize the voice cast of Charming.

Demi Lovato (Lenore)

As Lenore, a jewel thief who's cursed never to love, Demi Lovato plays our female lead in Charming. The musician-actress first found fame when she starred in Disney Channel's Camp Rock and Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam, with the original's single, "This is Me," becoming a top 10 hit. She also found success with her album, Don't Forget, and its follow-up, Here We Go Again. Her other albums include Unbroken, Demi, Confident, and Tell Me You Love Me.

Additionally, as an actress, Demi Lovato starred in Disney Channel's Sonny with a Chance and Princess Protection Program, while also playing a recurring role in Glee. Later, Lovato served as a judge/mentor on The X-Factor. Her other acting credits include Barney & Friends, Prison Break, As the Bell Rings, Grey's Anatomy, From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, Will & Grace, and a voice role in Smurfs: The Lost Village. Additionally, Lovato acted in Netflix's Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.

Wilmer Valderrama (Prince Charming)

In the titular role of Prince Charming, a handsome prince cursed with making women fall in love with him, even though he cannot return their love, Wilmer Valderrama voices the main male character in the animated film, Charming. Most notably, Valderrama is best known for his long-standing role in Fox's That '70s Show. He also voiced the title character in Handy Manny and hosted MTV's Yo Momma. Currently, he's part of the main cast for NCIS. The actor also had a prominent part in From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series and recurring roles in Grey's Anatomy and The Ranch. His other acting credits include Party Monster, Fast Food Nation, Larry Crowne, Unaccompanied Minors, Beauty Shop, The Adderall Diaries, From Prada to Nada, Zoom, School Dance, and Summer Catch.

Additionally, as a voice actor, Wilmer Valderrama can be heard in Clifford's Really Big Movie, Robot Chicken, The Cleveland Show, Trouble (which he also produced), and Onward. His other television credits include NCIS: New Orleans, Suburgatory, The Sopranos, Awake, Royal Pains, Wizards of Waverly Place, and MADtv.

Sia (Half-Oracle)

As Half-Oracle, Sia voices a meaningful role in Charming. A musician throughout the 90s and 00s, Sia found fame around 2008, though it wasn't until 2014's studio album, 1000 Forms of Fear, and especially the single "Chandelier," that she became an enormous mega-superstar. Following this album's acclaim, she released 2016's This is Acting, followed by 2017's Everyday is Christmas. Recently, outside of collaborations, Sia has also been working on her feature directorial debut, Music, which will come out on January 14, 2021 internationally, followed by its February 12 release in the U.S. Alongside the movie, Sia is also unveiling a tie-in album with the original music she composed.

Outside of her music, Sia acted in 2014's Annie, Nobodies, and Transparent. She can also be heard in My Little Pony: The Movie, Peter Rabbit, South Park, and Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? Additionally, Sia is composing Everything I Ever Wanted To Tell My Daughter About Men.

Avril Lavigne (Snow White)

Playing the part of Snow White, one of Prince Charming's three fiancés who's often quite paranoid, Avril Lavigne lent her voice to Charming. During her teenage years, Lavigne rose to fame with her hit singles, "Complicated" and "Sk8er Boi," both of which came from her debut studio album, Let Go. Meanwhile, her second studio album, Under My Skin, went on to sell 10 million copies worldwide. Additionally, Lavigne continued to find success with her subsequent albums, which included The Best Damn Thing, Goodbye Lullaby, and the self-titled Avril Lavigne. Last year, Lavigne released her sixth studio album, Head Above Water.

While she's more famous for her music, Avril Lavigne has also provided a couple of voice roles. Most notably, she's heard in Over the Hedge and the video game, Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff. Additionally, Lavigne acted in Fast Food Nation and The Flock.

Ashley Tisdale (Cinderella)

In the role of Cinderella, another one of Prince Charming's impatient fiancés, Ashley Tisdale voices a prominent supporting character in Charming. As an actress, Tisdale gained a great deal of success with her role in Disney Channel's The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and, later, High School Musical, along with its sequels and the spin-off film, Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure. She's also well-known for lending her voice to Phineas & Ferb, while she also acted in Hellcats, Scary Movie 5, Clipped, Carol's Second Act, Aliens in the Attic, Merry Happy Whatever, Sons of Anarchy, Clipped, Skylanders Academy, Amateur Night, and Picture This. Additionally, Tisdale did voice work for Kim Possible.

Outside of acting, Ashley Tisdale is also an accomplished musician, notably with her studio album, Headstrong, and its follow-up, Guilty Pleasure. In 2019, she released her third album, Symptoms. Additionally, Tisdale has gained prominence as a producer, particularly with ABC Family's Young & Hungry.

G.E.M. (Sleeping Beauty)

Playing the part of Sleeping Beauty, one of Prince Charming's three fiancés, G.E.M. made her voice acting debut in Charming. The singer-songwriter made her introduction in the Hong Kong music scene in 2008 with her self-titled EP, G.E.M. She followed up this release with 2009's 18 ..., 2010's MySecret, and 2012's Xposed, though she found fame when she earned second place in the singing competition series, I Am a Singer, in 2014. Since then, G.E.M. earned acclaim for her 2015 album, Heartbeat. This album was followed up with Fairytale Trilogy, which was a series of EPs, and 2019's City Zoo. Over the years, G.E.M. has gained international recognition, particularly as she's the first female Chinese singer with three music videos with 100 million views on YouTube. She's also currently the most followed female Chinese singer on Spotify.

Outside of this voice performance, G.E.M. previously played herself in 2009's Trick or Cheat. She also starred in Love Connected that same year. Additionally, G.E.M. was the subject of the 2017 documentary, G-Force.

Nia Vardalos (Nemeny Neverwish)

Playing Nemeny Neverwish, a bitter evil fairy hellbent on exacting revenge on Prince Charming, Nia Vardalos voices an antagonistic personality in Charming. Most prominently, Vardalos is well-known for writing and starring in 2002's indie smash hit, My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Later, Vardalos followed it up with 2016's My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2. Additionally, Vardalos wrote and starred in Connie and Carla, co-wrote Larry Crowne, and wrote, directed, and frontlined I Hate Valentine's Day. Meanwhile, on television, Vardalos wrote, created, and headlined in CBS's My Big Fat Greek Life.

Outside of her writing credits, Nia Vardalos starred in My Life In Ruins and acted in McKenna Shoots for the Stars, Helicopter Mom, and Car Dogs. Her other acting credits include Dealin' with Idiots, For a Good Time, Call..., A Taste of Christmas, and episodes of Graves, The Catch, Law & Order: SVU, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Jane the Virgin, Grey's Anatomy, Cougar Town, My Boys. She also did voice work for Star vs. the Forces of Evil and DuckTales.

Jim Cummings (King Charming/Goat Maître D')

In the dual roles of King Charming and Goat Maître D', Jim Cummings added another credit to his ever-expanding acting resume with Charming. As one of the most prolific and accomplished voice actors in the industry, Cummings has played over 400 characters throughout his career, though he's most notably known for voicing Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Pete, and the Tasmanian Devil in an assortment of films, TV shows, cartoons, and more.

Viewers have heard Jim Cummings' voice work in The Brave Little Toaster, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Aladdin, The Lion King, The Pagemaster, Pocahontas, Toy Story, Balto, A Goofy Movie, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Tarzan, The Tigger Movie, Chicken Run, Titan A.E., Shrek, Monsters Inc., Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Pooh's Heffalump Movie, Despicable Me, and Wreck-It Ralph, as well as Winnie the Pooh (2011), Minions, The Secret Life of Pets, Babe: Pig of the City, Small Soldiers, The Garbage Pail Kids Movie, The Princess and the Frog, Christopher Robin, and several more projects.

Chris Harrison (The Painter)

As The Painter, Chris Harrison voiced a supporting character in Charming. Most notably, Harrison is the host of ABC's The Bachelor, as well as its spin-off shows, The Bachelorette. Bachelor Pad, Bachelor in Paradise, Bachelor Live, and The Bachelor Winter Games. Additionally, he hosted Who Wants To Be A Millionaire from 2015 through 2019. As an actor, meanwhile, Harrison appeared in Date Movie and episodes of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Hot in Cleveland, and Single Parents. Additionally, outside of Charming, Harrison did voice work for Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice.

John Cleese (Fairy Godmother/The Executioner)

In the dual roles of Fairy Godmother and The Executioner, John Cleese is another prominent voice actor heard in Charming. Most famously, Cleese co-founded Monty Python and starred in/co-wrote Monty Python's Flying Circus, as well as Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Life of Brian, and The Meaning of Life, with the comedy troupe. Outside of this group, Cleese also co-wrote and acted in Fawlty Towers. He later wrote and frontlined A Fish Called Wanda, for which he was Oscar-nominated, and Fierce Creatures. His other notable acting credits include Silverado, The Great Muppet Caper, Time Bandits, Yellowbeard, Clockwise, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Rat Race, The World Is Not Enough, Die Another Day, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, and The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee.

Additionally, John Cleese can be heard in Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, and Shrek Forever After, as well as Absolutely Anything, Winnie the Pooh, George of the Jungle, An American Tail: Fievel Goes West, Trolls, and Arctic Dogs.

Tom Kenny (The Blessing Fairy)

Playing the part of The Blessing Fairy, Tom Kenny is one of several supporting players in Charming. Most notably, Kenny is the Emmy-winning voice behind SpongeBob SquarePants in the show of the same name, along with the spin-off films, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, and The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge of the Run. Additionally, he's also well-known for his voice work in Rocko's Modern Life, Adventure Time, CatDog, Talking Tom and Friends, and the video game series, Spyro the Dragon. He also worked on The Edge and Mr. Show.

As a voice actor, Tom Kenny can also be heard in Dr. Dolittle 2, The Powerpuff Girls Movie, Eight Crazy Nights, Hoodwinked, Ant Bully, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Winnie the Pooh (2011), Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Frankeneweenie, Hotel Transylvania, Meet the Robinsons, and Happily N'Ever After, to name a select few.

Steve Aoki (Matilijia DJ)

In the role of Matilija DJ, Steve Aoki voices a minor character in Charming. As one of the highest-grossing dance artists in North America, Steve Aoki is a prolific DJ, record producer, and music executive who has collaborated with will.i.am, LMFAO, Linkin Park, Iggy Azalea, Backstreet Boys, Rise Against, Fall Out Boy, BTS, blink-182, Lil Jon, and Kid Cudi. Certainly, his influence on modern chart-topping music can be heard through a variety of artists.

As an actor, meanwhile, Steve Aoki can be seen in Why Him?, Point Break (2015), Safety First: The Movie, and Arrow. Charming is his first voice-only role, though he's also lending his pipes to Extinct.

Charming will stream on Netflix starting January 8th.

It's. Finally. Over. The Bachelorette Season 16, which saw Tayshia Adams take over as lead after Clare Crawley and Dale Moss got engaged in just a couple of weeks during the season, has come to a close. There were tons of surprises waiting for fans as Tayshia chose between her final three suitors during fantasy suite dates and after introducing a couple of them to her family. But, it's possible that there's one thing Bachelor Nation was really surprised by as the credits rolled on the season for the last time: the lack of a live special to wrap up her love story. Now, though, we know why The Bachelorette didn't give Tayshia an After the Final Rose special.

This has been one of the weirdest seasons of any Bachelor franchise show, ever. Cast and crew members had to wait several months for filming to even start, as the original timeline of the show was pushed back (along with all other filming) in March. Then former lead Clare found love with Dale about 12 days into her stay. Tayshia came in as the new Bachelorette, but the production, obviously, couldn't travel to any exotic (or even domestic) locales to help spice things up, and were forced to do everything from a resort in Palm Springs, and never even filmed at the famed Bachelor Mansion.

On top of all of those major changes for The Bachelorette in Season 16, there was no audience and far fewer men in attendance for the Men Tell All Special last week. While host Chris Harrison thinks that that happened to turn out great for the show, and believes they'll do something similar in upcoming seasons, he isn't so keen on there being no After the Final Rose, and took to Twitter to explain why they couldn't give Tayshia the typical send-off, saying:

While it did suck to not get to catch up with Tayshia and her forever love in real time during a live AFR last night, it's completely understandable why it just couldn't be done. At least with the Men Tell All, they were still filming the regular season, and could have kept anyone recently sent "home" at the resort for filming in a few days. Part of the lengthy process for this season of The Bachelorette involved everyone quarantining at the resort and receiving a negative test before being allowed to film, and it wouldn't have been possible to bring people back for that process in order to film the AFR.

Spoilers ahead if you haven't watched the finale yet! Tayshia came into the last two hours of her two-part finale needing to decide what to do after Brendan Morais dumped her, Ben Smith returned to declare his love, and her two remaining picks from fantasy suites, Ivan Hall and Zac Clark, waited on her decision. Tayshia sent Ivan home (NOOOOO), and let Ben and Zac meet her family, but eventually chose Zac as her one and only, and they ended the season engaged. End spoilers!

While many fans (including myself) have complained about Tayshia not getting a full or even remotely normal season as she tried to find true love, it doesn't seem to have stopped her from making this already odd process, which was made even odder by the new rules of 2020, work for her. And, as Chris Harrison said, hopefully The Bachelor will be able to find a way to give Matt James and his ladies the After the Final Rose they deserve in a few months.

The Bachelor is filming right now in Pennsylvania, and will begin airing really soon, on Monday, January 4, at 8 p.m. EST, so be sure to stick with CinemaBlend for all of your Bachelor Nation updates! For more to watch in the coming weeks, check out our guide to all of the winter / spring 2021 premieres!

The Bachelorette had to make pretty big behind-the-scenes changes in Season 16. Instead of jetting around the world for international and hometown dates, the cast and crew quarantined and filmed entirely at La Quinta Resort & Club near Palm Springs. While the series had its spring premiere slot delayed to the fall, Bachelor in Paradise wasn’t able to film at all for its next season because of health and flight restrictions. Recently, however, host Chris Harrison soothed fans by revealing when Bachelor in Paradise might return for its new season.

Bachelor in Paradise was in a tricky situation this year due to the pandemic, which prevented international travel over obvious health and safety concerns. The ABC series typically flies its cast and production team to Mexico to film the season, but that obviously couldn’t happen very easily in the summer of 2020. Is there any hope that viewers will finally get to watch a new season of Bachelor in Paradise next year? Here’s what Chris Harrison told Variety:

His answer isn’t exactly a full-blown confirmation that Bachelor in Paradise will actually film a new season over the impending summer months, but that possibility is definitely much higher now that COVID-19 vaccines have begun rolling out across the U.S. That said, it remains to be seen how quickly the country and world can get back to normalcy even with the vaccine. According to the CDC, it will take weeks for the body to build immunity after getting the vaccine, and masks will likely still be required to some extent. I'm sure ABC execs will continue monitoring the situation while hoping that the situation becomes even more optimistic before filming would be set to start in the summer.

Bachelor in Paradise may not have had a 2020 season, but there was a surprising divorce that happened behind the scenes. Krystal Nielson and Chris Randone, who met during Season 5 of Bachelor in Paradise, got married in the summer of 2019. However, they separated in February and officially announced their divorce in August. Here’s hoping that when the series does return (whenever that might be), any and all new couples will be better matches.

Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for updates on Bachelor in Paradise’s return to ABC. You can watch The Bachelorette Season 16 finale when it airs on December 22 at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC. Meanwhile, Matt James will make his debut in a new season of The Bachelor when it begins airing in January. Be sure to check out our 2021 winter and spring TV premiere schedule for more viewing options.

The events of this year have heavily affected the way movie and TV productions have gone about filming. Casts and crews have had to quarantine before the cameras officially rolled, testing and masks are required, and social distancing measures are in place. For the most part, the changes are barely noticeable to viewers. However, there is one specific change implemented during The Bachelorette Season 16 that host Chris Harrison thinks will stick around even after the pandemic is over.

During The Bachelorette’s Men Tell All episode, the number of returning contestants was cut in half. Rather than have all of the men from Clare Crawley and Tayshia Adams’ season appear, only some of them were invited to attend. The decision was largely due to COVID-19 restrictions, which doesn’t allow for large groups of people to be in one place. Chris Harrison actually loved having a smaller group for the episode. Here’s what he told ET:

Although Chris Harrison says that he would love to have the live audience back for the Tell Alls, it sounds like he’s fine filming the episodes with only half of the contestants in the future. Despite the smaller group who were invited to the Men Tell All, there was still plenty of drama thanks to Yosef Aborady.

In addition to the changes made to the Men Tell All episode of The Bachelorette, Tayshia Adams did not get a chance to visit the men’s hometowns. Rather, it was their family members who flew out to visit them at the filming location of the La Quinta Resort & Club in Palm Springs. Chris Harrison liked how that turned out, and is optimistic that the producers can keep this particular change in future seasons as well. Here’s what he had to say about it:

This year has certainly changed a lot of things (in our real lives and within the TV industry), but it seems The Bachelorette is adjusting nicely to the alterations to Season 16. With the circumstances driving the behind-the-scenes decisions, I think the series did the best it could do and it turned out pretty well.

The Bachelorette Season 16 airs Monday and Tuesday nights at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC. For more on what to watch in the coming months, be sure to check out our updated 2021 winter and spring TV premiere schedule.

Those of us who've been following The Bachelorette in 2020 have been along for a truly wild ride, which is very representative of the craziness of this year. After all of the waiting just to get to see Season 16, we are now nearing the end of Tayshia Adams' journey to try and find love, and, because of that, we were treated to the show's famous Men Tell All installment last night, when the suitors she sent home return to talk about their experiences on the show. But, the setup for the episode was very different from in previous years, and host Chris Harrison is revealing why he thinks it was "better" without all of the men present.

Normally, when The Bachelorette films its Men Tell All episode (or when The Bachelor films its Women Tell All, for that matter), they go all out to make the event special so that it really stands apart from a typical episode. It's taped after production on the main season has finished, and everyone who was sent home by the lead comes back. There's an audience, a stage, and generally around 20 or more men on hand who can have their say. But, this time, we only saw eight of the guys who tried to woo Tayshia (plus one man who was sent home by Clare Crawley) return. As Chris Harrison told The Hollywood Reporter, though, he believes it made for a much better show, and noted:

Obviously, this year was a challenging one in which to film The Bachelorette, and those challenges continued as the producers were setting up the Men Tell All. Seeing as how it was taped after the season was done filming, this meant that everyone they brought back would have to quarantine again and get clear virus tests before being allowed on set. It was far easier for them to only bring back those who'd been sent away after having the most impactful / funny stories play out on camera, than to try and get the full cast of 35 men to return.

In addition, the MTA wasn't even filmed at the Palm Springs resort where Tayshia's season filmed, but at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Pennsylvania where they are currently still filming on Matt James' Season 25 of The Bachelor, which begins airing in early January. While I'm sure Chris Harrison and the producers would love to get back to filming the MTA in front of a live audience, it's not the lack of that aspect that Harrison thinks will become a staple going forward. Instead, he points to the "intimate" nature of their only being a few men involved, and he makes a good point about that.

As it was, the arguing and in-fighting got pretty loud and ridiculous with only eight of Tayshia's men returning. It would have been positively insane to have roughly 30 dudes sitting around and yelling at each other. Or, have that many men in attendance when only a few really had stories we actually wanted to hear more about. Every MTA has several former suitors who get all dressed up and come out to basically just sit around and look pretty for an hour or so. It was much better to hear something from everyone who was brought back, and I do hope they arrange future Men Tell All / Women Tell All episodes like that in coming seasons.

We still have three episodes of The Bachelorette left in Season 16, so be sure to tune in to ABC tonight, December 15, and next Monday and Tuesday at 8 p.m. EST to see who Tayshia chooses!

Spoilers ahead for The Bachelorette Season 16's Men Tell All episode.

The Bachelorette Season 16 went full-steam ahead with its Men Tell All episode, revisiting past moments from early on in the season's run, when former Bachelorette Clare Crowley was the main focus ahead of Tayshia Adams’ arrival. When one particularly contentious incident from earlier in Season 16 was brought up during the telecast, it made Crowley wish she’d been allowed to attend the Men Tell All event.

Here’s what happened. In an October episode of The Bachelorette Season 16, contestant Yosef Aborady expressed being appalled and humiliated about the strip dodgeball date (which he was not a part of) and accused Clare Crowley of not setting a good example for his daughter. That conversation escalated into a fight that caused Clare to walk away from Yosef once he kept interrupting her as she tried to say her piece.

During the Men Tell All episode of The Bachelorette's latest season, the incident was brought up again, and Yosef Aborady still had no regrets about what he said or how he handled the situation with Clare Crowley. He went on to say that if his daughter went on a date that included strip dodgeball, Yosef would have wanted someone to call her out on it, too. The rest of the contestants took Yosef to task and even host Chris Harrison jumped in to offer Yosef some advice (that he of course didn’t listen to). Though Clare wasn’t in attendance to defend herself, she took to Twitter to thank the rest of the men for defending her. Here’s what she wrote:

The Bachelorette Season 16 has featured its fair share of drama, but that strip dodgeball date was a definite point of contention for some viewers, as well as former Bachelor Ben Higgins, who argued that there was a “double standard” on The Bachelorette. In his mind, there was no way that a season of The Bachelor would allow the female contestants to strip down to their underwear without it being considered a major issue.

In her defense, Clare Crowley has implied that the strip dodgeball game was not her idea, and she has liked tweets speculating that the producers were actually the ones who wanted that particular date to happen on The Bachelorette. Either way, I think we can all agree that the way Yosef Aborady spoke to Clare and his lack of remorse for the way he handled the situation isn’t the greatest look. But, hey, at least she knows the rest of the guys have her back.

The Bachelorette Season 16 airs every Monday and Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC. For more on what to watch in the coming months, be sure to check out our 2021 winter and spring TV premiere schedule.

Wheel of Fortune has fared quite well since it returned from its COVID-influenced delay, with TV viewers seeking out the kind of comfort programming that game shows fit into perfectly. (Especially now that Jeopardy! will be airing Alex Trebek's final episodes soon.) To capitalize upon its decades-long success, Wheel of Fortune is gearing up for a set of celebrity-filled primetime episodes, and ABC has now announced exactly who viewers will see buying vowels and solving puzzles, with The Price Is Right host Drew Carey in the mix along with The Bachelor's longtime host Chris Harrison.

Wheel of Fortune released a new video promo that revealed all of the 24 celeb contestants that will be competing for various charities during the game show's nighttime run in early 2021. Check out the full list below, which also includes names such as Grey's Anatomy star Chandra Wilson and Pee-Wee Herman himself, Paul Reubens.

Celebrity-infused special events are often a mish-mash of lesser-known actors and entertainers past their prime, but this lineup for Wheel of Fortune's primetime episodes is filled with big names from all over the TV-sphere. Beyond the aforementioned hosts Drew Carey and Chris Harrison, we've got other front-persons such as Queer Eye hist (and Dancing with the Stars vet) Karamo Brown, Nailed It host and comedian Nicole Byer, Card Sharks' Joel McHale, America's Funniest Home Videos' Alfonso Ribeiro, Supermarket Sweep's Leslie Jones, former The View host Sherri Shepherd, and Holey Moley's Rob Riggle and Joe Tessitore. Not to mention Jeannie Mae, who has been on The Real and Holey Moley. Kinda sounds like there's a bit of host bias happening here.

Beyond all those talented folks, Wheel of Fortune is also welcoming Joel McHale's fellow Community vet Yvette Nicole Brown – six seasons, a Wheel of Fortune episode and a movie? – Hallmark and Criminal Minds actress Rachael Leigh Cook, 90210's Jennie Garth, Supergirl vet Teri Hatcher, skateboarding icon Tony Hawk, Shark Tank's Robert Herjavec, the WWE's Maria Menounos, This Is Us' Chrissy Metz, SNL vet Kevin Nealon, A.P. Bio's Patton Oswalt, Pee-Wee and Mosaic vet Paul Reubens, Grey's Anatomy's Chandra Wilson, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. vet Constance Zimmer.

With 24 contestants, it's presumed that there will be at least eight different episodes of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune to go around, unless there are additional episodes for winners to face off or something along those lines.

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune will make its grand debut on ABC on Thursday, January 7, at 8:00 p.m. ET. While waiting to see Drew Carey popping up on a completely different game show set, head to our Fall 2020 TV premiere schedule and our 2021 Winter and Spring TV rundown to see what new and returning shows are on the way soon.