Many individuals are curious to know if Chris Harrison was fired or left willingly as the host of the beloved show, The Bachelor. Introduced in 2002, he has hosted the dating reality show for almost 19 years. He was later replaced by another host, Jesse Palmer, starting in mid-2021. However, his abrupt departure has made fans wonder if his exit was his decision or the show’s.
So, here’s everything you need to know about why Harrison left the The Bachelor.
Was Chris Harrison fired from The Bachelor franchise?
No, Chris Harrison wasn’t fired; he left the show willingly.
Harrison was involved in a controversy after he defended The Bachelor Season 25 contestant Rachael Kirkconnell, who was criticized for attending an antebellum-themed party in 2018. He temporarily took a break from dating shows and even apologized publicly. While he did plan on returning, he eventually realized that it was in his best interest to quit the franchise.
In an interview with Jason Tartick’s Trading Secrets podcast, he described how the situation went toxic and how it took a toll on him. “What I went through was tumultuous. I don’t wish it on anybody. It was horrifying on a lot of levels — and something that I pray to God my worst enemy never goes through. But, with that said, I knew I had to remove myself from what became a very toxic situation.”
Although he had no plans of quitting initially, he made a hard call and moved on in his career. He didn’t regret his decision later and was “proud” of how he dealt with the circumstances. He further acknowledged that The Bachelor took his career to great heights, changing his and his family’s lives.
Why did Chris Harrison leave The Bachelor?
Harrison had publicly defended Kirkconnell’s alleged racist actions, which led to a massive backlash. Eventually, he decided it was best for him to exit the show.
When asked about the controversy in an Extra interview, Harris said, “We all need to have a little grace, a little understanding, a little compassion, because I have seen some stuff online — again this judge, jury, executioner thing where people are just tearing this girl’s life apart and diving into, like, her parents, her parents’ voting record.”
He later went on to apologize for his statement. In another interview with Good Morning America, he admitted he made a “mistake.” The TV star said, “I am an imperfect man, I made a mistake and I own that.” He further added that his “mistake doesn’t reflect who I am or what I stand for.”
