Rachel Lindsay returned to Instagram.
The 35-year-old former “Bachelorette” and lawyer reactivated her account a little over a week after the co-host of the “Higher Learning” podcast revealed that she disabled her Instagram due to all the “hateful” messages she received from ” enraged “Bachelor fans”.
RACHEL LINDSAY DISABLED INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT ON BACHELOR FAN ONLINE HARASSMENT, CO-HOST SAYS
Lindsay, a former “Bachelorette” star who regularly comments on the ABC franchise, interviewed longtime host Chris Harrison in February on behalf of Extra TV. The interview quickly went viral after fans heard the duo argue about Rachael Kirkconnell, a current “Single” candidate who was accused of racial insensitivity with photos showing her attending an “Old South” sorority party and more.
Chris Harrison has announced that he will no longer host “The ‘Bachelor” after his interview with former “Bachelorette” Rachel Lindsay. The longtime host was accused of perpetuating racism.
(ABC)
Harrison, 49, suggested that Kirkconnell should receive “a little grace, a little understanding, a little compassion”, until she talked about it publicly. But critics reportedly viewed his response as a disdain and perpetuation of racism.
He later made two separate apologies for his response in the interview and temporarily withdrew from presenting the remainder of the 25th season of “The Bachelor”, which features the show’s first black actor, Matt James – a 28-year-old real estate broker and entrepreneur . Harrison’s withdrawal reportedly resulted in fans targeting Lindsay, according to his podcast co-host Van Lathan, 40.
Rachael Kirkonell is a participant in the 25th season of “The Bachelor”. She is competing for the heart of Matt James, the show’s first black actor. (ABC / Craig Sjodin)
“Rachel Lindsay, deactivated her Instagram earlier today,” said Lathan in an Instagram video that he shared on February 26. “She did it because it is how much hatred she is getting from bachelor’s fans who are sending spam with all kinds of rude and hateful things to say.”
‘BACHELORETTE’ RACHEL LINDSAY ACCEPTS CHRIS HARRISON’S EXCUSES: ‘WE NEED TO MOVE ON’
Eight days after Lathan’s video, Lindsay returned to Instagram with a photo showing sunflowers in a vase.
“I want to be like a sunflower, so that even on the darkest days I can stand and find sunlight,” she captioned her post, which references a book by Don S Lane Publishing of the same name.
Rachel Lindsay returned to Instagram after taking a break from the social media platform. She reportedly received hateful messages from “Bachelor” fans after her interview with Chris Harrison. (Noel Vasquez / Getty Images)
Lindsay’s post received overwhelming support from “Bachelor” and “Bachelorette” stars and other public figures.
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“I am very happy to have you back, hoping you are feeling refreshed and loved,” wrote Chelsea Vaughn, a 25th season contestant and “Bachelor” model.
Likewise, in the 6th season “Bachelorette” Ali Manno Fedotowsky left a comment that said: “Here for you. Glad you came back.”
“I love to see you back here as the sunshine you are,” commented Ashley Spivey, author and participant in the 15th season of “Bachelor”.
In addition to sharing Sunflowers, Lindsay showed a mountainous Los Angeles skyline during a hike in her Instagram story. She captioned the slow panning video with “Only good vibes” and a smiling face.
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Before Lindsay’s return to Instagram, “The Bachelor” producers turned to Twitter to condemn any hatred she received from fans of the series.
“As Executive Producers for The Bachelor Franchise, we would like to make it perfectly clear that any harassment directed at Rachel Lindsay after her interview with Chris Harrison is completely inexcusable,” said the Bachelor Nation statement, signed by executive producers.
“Rachel received an unimaginable amount of hatred and was subjected to severe online bullying, which, for the most part, has its roots in racism,” continued the tweet. “This is totally unacceptable.”
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Kirkconnell, 24, who is also at the center of the controversy, issued a statement of his own last Saturday, asking fans not to harass Lindsay.
“Rachel Lindsay and another BIPOC asked me and others to be held responsible. This is necessary and she does not deserve the hatred she is receiving, ”wrote Kirkconnell. “Recognize that she, along with all the people you send hate messages to, are human. We are real people, and she shouldn’t have to deactivate her account to escape this toxicity.”