Chris Harrison, host of 鈥淭he Bachelor,鈥� says he is stepping down from his TV role and is 鈥渁shamed鈥� for his handling of a swirling racial controversy at the ABC dating show.
In a new statement posted Saturday, Harrison apologized again for defending the actions by a contestant that are considered offensive. 鈥淏y excusing historical racism, I defended it,鈥� he wrote.
Harrison came under fire after an interview on 鈥淓xtra鈥� when he was asked about racially insensitive past
Past photos of her resurfaced in which she is dressed in costume as a Native American and at an antebellum plantation themed ball. Kirkconnell later issued an apology for what she calls her past 鈥渞acist and offensive鈥� actions.
In the interview, Harrison defended Kirkconnell against what he called the 鈥渨oke police鈥� on social media. 鈥淲e all need to have a little grace, a little understanding, a little compassion," he said in the interview.
Harrison apologized on Saturday, saying 鈥渕y ignorance did damage鈥� and he was 鈥渁shamed over how uninformed I was.鈥� He said he is stepping aside from his TV show 鈥渇or a period of time鈥� and will not be hosting the 鈥滱fter the Final Rose" special that will follow the season finale of 鈥淭he Bachelor.鈥�
Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press
