Chris Harrison, the embattled host of “The Bachelor” franchise on ABC, said Thursday on “Good Morning America” he has been working with a “race educator” during his hiatus from the dating show.
During his conversation with “GMA” anchor Michael Strahan, Harrison apologized profusely for “perpetuating racism,” referring to his February interview with “Extra” host Rachel Lindsay, when he encouraged people to extend a modicum of “grace” toward “Bachelor” contestant Rachael Kirkconnell, who, as an 18-year-old college student, attended an antebellum-themed sorority party. He held back from condemning Kirkconnell, suggesting it would be better to allow her to speak for herself.
He went on to say there are plenty “woke police” who will criticize her, noting there was no need for him to jump into the fray. He also warned against cancel culture more largely, telling Lindsay it isn’t good for those on social media to become “judge, jury, and executioner.”
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Lindsay went on to excoriate Harrison in a handful of interviews, essentially accusing the popular host of being a racist. She said he “needs to understand he was wrong” for “defending racism” and must “get educated” on his own racism.
Her comments to Ringer’s Van Latham and CNN’s Don Lemon resulted in Harrison apologizing for his “racist” comments and announcing he would step down from his role on “The Bachelor.”
In this latest interview — his first since stepping down — Harrison told Strahan he is “saddened and shocked at how insensitive” he was.
“That is to say I stand against all forms of racism and I am deeply sorry,” he continued. “I’m sorry to Rachel Lindsay and I’m sorry to the black community. … I’m not a victim here. I made a mistake and I own that. Racism, oppression — these are big, dynamic problems and they take serious work. And I am committed to that work.”
He told the “GMA” host that antebellum-themed parties “are not OK,” regardless of when they took place, and people need to know just how “unacceptable” they are.
Harrison went on to reveal he is working with “race educator” Dr. Eric Dyson, who has taught him the idea of “council, not cancel,” encouraging the TV personality to take responsibility and face “full responsibility” for his deeply harmful comments.
Like Lindsay, Strahan seems not to approve of Harrison’s efforts. He said the dating show’s comments in their interview were just “surface responses.”
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