Bryan Abasolois supporting his wifeRachel Lindsayin the wake of her interview withChris Harrison, which led the longtimeBachelorhost to announce that he’s “stepping aside” from the franchise for the time being.
On the latest episode of hisTalking It Outpodcast, Abasolo, 41, said that he was “very disappointed” after watching Harrison’s14-minute, unedited interview with Lindsay onExtralast week. During the interview, Harrison, 49, defended a current contestant onMatt James' season,Rachael Kirkconnell, who recently came under fire for resurfaced and racially insensitive photos.
After being accused ofperpetuating racismwithin the franchise, Harrisonissued a public apologyon social media. In a second apology, he also announced he would betaking a break from the show.
“Chris Harrison is someone that I respected highly and I’m not gonna lie, I definitely lost respect for him after watching that interview,” Abasolo told co-host and fellowBachelorettecontestantMike Johnson. “I thought what he said was irresponsible, it was hurtful and it was just flat-out unacceptable.”
Bryan Abasolo, Chris Harrison, Rachel Lindsay.Mireya Acierto/FilmMagic; Eric McCandless via Getty; Noel Vasquez/Getty
“Now, we’re not talking about past contestants of the show, who pretty much come and go, right?” he continued. “We’re talking about the face of this franchise, 20 plus years of this man being on our television screens on a show that’s been needing a diversity makeover for years, I don’t think anybody’s going to deny that.”
Rachel Lindsay and Bryan Abasolo.
Abasolo went on to say that he thought the franchise “started turning the corner” back in 2017 when Lindsay, 35, was selected as the first BlackBachelorette. “And then 2020 happens, and there’s this mad scramble to finally get it right, which may have been a knee-jerk reaction to get it right,” Abasolo added, referring to the franchise’s decisions last year to nameTayshia Adamsas the Bachelorette and James, 29, as the show’s first Black Bachelor in the wake of the nationwide racial injustice protests following George Floyd’s murder.
“It was a very opportunistic reaction,” said Johnson, 33.
Abasolo agreed, adding, “And then Chris comes out and says this, and to me it makes me wonder like, ‘Damn, is this how everyone on the top feels?’ I hope that isn’t the case, but this is the figurehead. Is this the sentiment that we are trying to overcome, still in 2021?”
TheBachelorettewinner explained that while he doesn’t believe the longtime host “should be canceled,” he said Harrison needs to prove that he’s “taking the action to do better.”
Since Lindsay’s virtual sitdown with Harrison, manyBachelorfranchise stars havespoken out in her defense, including James, Adams,Becca KufrinandDale Moss, as well as a group of25 BIPOC contestantsfrom James' season.
During theExtrainterview, Harrison said in part that we should all “have a little grace, a little understanding, a little compassion” in the wake of the resurfaced photos of Kirkconnell — and was met with immediate backlash.
Rachel Lindsay (L); Chris Harrison.Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images; Paul Hebert via Getty Images
After apologizing for a second time, Harrison said in a statement over the weekend that he “will bestepping aside for a period of time” and will not appear in theAfter the Final Rosespecial.
Harrison went on to write that he is “dedicated to getting educated on a more profound and productive level than ever before.”
“I want to ensure our cast and crew members, to my friends, colleagues and our fans: this is not just a moment, but a commitment to much greater understanding that I will actively make every day,” he added. “From here I can only try to evolve and be a better man, and I humble myself before all of you. I hope I will again live up to the expectations you all rightfully have for me and the expectations I have for myself.”
source: people.com
