The cast of the upcoming season of The Bachelorette has officially begun quarantining in New Mexico without longtime franchise host Chris Harrison.
Sources close to production told TMZ on Friday that while the contestants have arrived at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa, Harrison is nowhere to be seen.
Last month the host announced his decision to ‘step aside’ from the show following outrage, after he defended a contestant on the current season of The Bachelor who has been accused of racially insensitive social media posts.
Will he host? The cast and crew of the upcoming season of The Bachelorette has begun quarantining in New Mexico, but sources told TMZ that longtime franchise host Chris Harrison is nowhere to be seen after stepping aside last month following racial controversy
It is unclear whether or not the network has decided to replace Harrison for the upcoming season, but earlier this week he was photographed golfing in Los Angeles.
It was announced that Former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho — who found viral fame for his series Uncomfortable Conversations With A Black Man on Instagram — will be hosting After The Final Rose in lieu of Harrison.
Though The Bachelorette for the upcoming season has not been officially announced, blogger Reality Steve reported that the show has tapped Katie Thurston — a 30-year-old contestant from the current Bachelor season — as lead.
Harrison stepped aside last month after he defended show frontrunner Rachael Kirkconnell — who is vying for first Black bachelor Matt James’ heart — after photos of her at a plantation themed fraternity party emerged.
The location: The upcoming Bachelorette season will be filmed at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa in New Mexico
Replacement: Acho who found fame in the summer after his Instagram series Uncomfortable Conversations With A Black Man went viral is taking Harrison’s place for the After The Final Rose special; pictured February 27
The new Bachelorette? Blogger reality steve has reported that Thurston, 30, from James’ current season of The Bachelor has been tapped as lead for the upcoming season though ABC has not officially announced
The Georgia raised designer also has been accused of bullying a girl in highschool for liking Black men and sharing right-winged conspiracy theories among other things.
In conversation with Rachel Lindsay, the first Black Bachelorette, Harrison made remarks that angered Bachelor nation.
Lindsay asked Chris about the resurfaced photos of Kirkconnell saying it ‘wasn’t a good look, to which he responded ‘Well, Rachel, is it a good look in 2018? Or, is it not a good look in 2021? Because there’s a big difference,’ later adding, ‘I am not the woke police.’
Harrison issued an apology on social media following outrage for his remarks in which he said he was ‘deeply remorseful,’ while acknowledging his ‘ignorance,’ calling himself ‘uniformed’ and ‘so wrong.’
Will he host? It is unclear whether or not the network has decided to replace Harrison for the upcoming New Mexico season, but earlier this week he was photographed golfing in Los Angeles
Insensitive remarks: In conversation with Lindsay, the first Black Bachelorette, Harrison made remarks that angered Bachelor nation, later issuing a mea culpa and stepping aside for an undisclosed period of time
Apology tour: Harrison’s apology preceded his announcement to step aside from the show as he called himself ‘uninformed’ and ‘so wrong’ while vowing to do better; February 13
He ultimately said, ‘To that end, I have consulted with Warner Bros. and ABC and will be stepping aside for a period of time.’
Kirkconnell also spoke out about her past behavior following Harrison’s statement, saying in an excerpt: ‘I didn’t recognize how offensive and racist my actions were but that doesn’t excuse them…I was ignorant but my ignorance was racist.’
She is currently in the top two, her love story with James perhaps ending in a proposal, which will be revealed on this week’s finale episode.
James also responded to the Harrison situation via social media.
‘Chris’s failure to receive and understand the emotional labor that my friend Rachel Lindsay was taking on by graciously and patiently explaining the racist history of the Antebellum South, a painful history that every American should understand intimately, was troubling and painful to watch.’
Controversy: The longtime host defended show frontrunner Kirkconnell — who is vying for first Black bachelor James’ heart — after photos of her at a plantation themed fraternity party emerged
Last season’s Bachelorette Tayshia Adams — who is of Mexican and Black heritage — called Harrison’s parting ‘a really good thing.’
‘I think that by him taking ownership, and just not just saying an apology and then just going back to work the next day like nothing happened, speaks volumes on his behalf,’ she shared, calling his exit ‘absolutely’ the right move.
Lindsay — who has removed herself from any and all association with the show — expressed outrage over the fact that ABC has continued to move forward with the next iteration of the series in New Mexico.
Speaking on the Bachelor Party podcast she said: ‘I just don’t think that things have been fixed in the right way. Anybody that’s standing up for change, I don’t understand how you could be a part of this current season, because…there is still so much work to be done.’
A swift exit: Last season’s Bachelorette Tayshia — who is of Mexican and Black heritage — called Harrison’s parting ‘a really good thing’
