The bachelorExecutive producers condemned the actions of fans who harassed the former The maiden Instagram star Rachel Lindsay after her interview with Chris Harrison.
“Rachel received an unimaginable amount of hatred and was subjected to online bullying, which, for the most part, has its roots in racism,” wrote the executive producers in a statement posted on Bachelor Nation’s official Twitter account. “This is totally unacceptable.”
The statement came after Lindsay, who was ABC’s first black star The maiden, deleted his Instagram account when he received several messages with racial accusations. Lindsay got involved in Bachelorcurrent racial calculus after she spoke to Chris Harrison to Extra, who defended competitor Rachael Kirkconnell. The graphic designer, who is one of the final contestants of the current season, was attacked after photos of her attending a plantation-themed fraternity party in 2018 resurfaced online.
Kirkconnell has since apologized for the photos and Harrison left the post of host after the Extra interview. On Saturday, ABC announced that Emmanuel I think will replace Harrison in the series’ post-show special The final rose.
Amid the controversy surrounding the show, bachelor Matt James criticized Harrison for his “failure to receive and understand” Lindsay’s emotional work in explaining the “racist story of Antebellum South”.
The executive producers’ declaration came before The bachelor Episode of “Women Tell All” on Monday night, which will still see Harrison in the presenter’s seat, as it was filmed before he resigned. See the full testimonial below.
– Bachelor Nation (@bachnation) March 1, 2021