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Did Chris Harrison 'defend' Rachael Kirkconnell? 'The Bachelor' fans say host didn't 'perpetuate racism'

Harrison said: 'While I do not speak for Rachael Kirkconnell, my intentions were simply to ask for grace in offering her an opportunity to speak on her own behalf'

For the past two weeks, 'The Bachelor' contestant Rachael Kirkconnell has been under fire from Bachelor Nation fans over her alleged racist behavior. The franchise has come under scrutiny one more time for not having done enough background checks on people before casting them on the show. In June last year, the franchise had cast Matt James as the first Black Bachelor after facing numerous allegations regarding the lack of diversity on the show. Rachel Lindsay too had spoken about it, fueling a campaign in its own right where fans wanted not just a Black lead but also that they recruit more PoC behind the scenes. 

Cut to the present day, fans erupted with rage after photos circulated showing Kirkconnell at an "antebellum plantation-themed ball" celebrating the Old South. This was followed by accusations that she once allegedly bullied someone in her hometown of Cumming, Georgia, for liking Black men. Kirkconnell has still not commented on these allegations. However, show host Chris Harrison tried speaking on her behalf in an interview with Lindsay. 

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Did Chris Harisson really 'defend' Rachael Kirkconnell?

Speaking about the accusations to Lindsay on Extra, Harrison said that people need to have "a little grace, a little understanding, a little compassion. Because I've 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 and her parents' voting record". Multiple reports state that people got hold of the family's voting records that state that they were supporters of ex-president Donald Trump. She had also reportedly liked multiple MAGA posts on social media.

Speaking about the sorority party photographs that Lindsay said wasn't "a good look", Harrison shot it down saying it might not be a good look in 2021 but in 2018 people weren't that educated. Lindsay opposed once again saying it's never a good look to celebrate slavery-reliant society. Harrison responded saying, "I'm not defending Rachael. I just know that I don't know, 50 million people did that in 2018. That was the type of party that a lot of people went to. And again, I'm not defending it; I didn't go to it," noted an E! News report. 

Harrison also declared that he believes Rachael and the other girls went to that party just to have fun and play dress-up. Lindsay then pointed out the fact that Rachael has still not spoken about these rumors or taken responsibility for her actions, claiming that "there's nothing that contractually stops her" from speaking out. However, Harrison defended her once again saying, "you're not going to please everybody" and later added that "the woke police is out there". 

Harrison then added that he thinks Rachael needs "a little time" to deal with her current situation where she has "just been thrown to the lions". He also said that Kirkconnell will have her time to speak but for the uninformed, Kirkconnell was not present at the 'Women Tell All' taping of this season, according to multiple reports as well as Harrison himself. 

Harrison apologizes for 'perpetuating racism'

Late on Wednesday night, Harrison took to his Twitter page and released an apology for "perpetuating racism". His complete statement read, “To my Bachelor Nation family - I will always own a mistake when I make one, so I am here to extend a sincere apology. I have this incredible platform to speak about love, and yesterday I took a stance on topics about which I should have been better informed. While I do not speak for Rachael Kirkconnell, my intentions were simply to ask for grace in offering her an opportunity to speak on her own behalf. What I now realize I have done is cause harm by wrongly speaking in a manner that perpetuates racism, and for that, I am so deeply sorry."

In the end, he also said sorry to Lindsay, stating, “I also apologize to my friend Rachel Lindsay for not listening to her better on a topic she has a first-hand understanding of, and humbly thank the members of Bachelor Nation who have reached out to me to hold me accountable. I promise to do better.”

'He said NOTHING wrong' 

"I'm sorry but no reason to apologize!!! I am so sick of this cancel culture bullshit!!!!!" tweeted a fan in response to the apology. "Your comments needed an apology?? Really ??! Maybe it’s Ms Lindsay that needs to apologize by seeing everyone in racial terms..." wrote another person. "No apology needed. He said NOTHING wrong. #teamchris," read another tweet. "I don’t think you said anything wrong people are way too excited to burn people to the ground for anything they say," read another tweet.