Chris Harrison is reflecting on his tumultuous exit from The Bachelor franchise with a bit of gratitude. More than two years ago, Harrison stepped away from the franchise following backlash for defending Season 25 contestant Rachael Kirkconnell, who had received her own share of criticism for attending an antebellum-themed party in college.
Now, during an interview on Bachelorette alum Jason Tartick’s podcast, he said he still views the show as “a blessing,” though he also admits it was a “toxic situation” toward the end. “I still look at this as a blessing in my life.
It was hard at first. Obviously, it wasn’t immediate that I felt great about everything, because what I went through was tumultuous,” Harrison said. “I don’t wish it on anybody.
It was horrifying on a lot of levels and something that I pray to God my worst enemy never goes through. But, with that said, I knew I had to remove myself from what became a very toxic situation.” Harrison also speculated that, had he been given the chance, he probably could have weathered the storm and “figured it out.” “We all could have figured it out, but I had to remove myself from that toxic situation,” he continued. “And so I’m proud of that decision.
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