Alabama native Hannah Brown is in trouble again for showing racial insensitivity on social media.
The former “Bachelorette” star – who faced a backlash in May 2020 for saying the word N in an Instagram Live video – recently deleted an Instagram photo that showed her wearing a beautiful southern outfit.
The photo, taken in May 2013, showed Brown posing at a presentation ceremony for Tuscaloosa Belles, a service organization for high school girls that is linked to the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society.
Dresses that evoke the Old South – with skirts, pantalettes and petticoats – appear to be the pattern for Tuscaloosa Belles at the ceremony Brown attended in 2013, as well as for parades, the annual Dickens Downtown event in Northport and other public appearances.
People who support these costumes say they are a tribute to southern traditions and heritage and a way to preserve history. But critics say the clothes glorify the south before the war and celebrate the culture of plantation, while ignoring the horrors of slavery.
Brown’s photo as a southern beauty – and her exclusion on Instagram – was pointed out by observers as @ TeaAndRoses21 on Twitter, amid a controversy by the Nation of Singles about racism in the franchise and another image of belle sulista.
Although Brown is not at the center of the current controversy, it has become part of the aftermath. Here’s what’s going on:
Rachael Kirkconnell, contestant for “The Bachelor” this season, is among the four women who remain on the show, hoping to establish a romantic relationship with Matt James. He is the first major Black in “The Bachelor” in the series’ history.
Kirkconnell, who is white, made headlines earlier this month when photos appeared on Reddit, showing her in beautiful southern costume at a formal plantation-themed fraternity party in 2018. TikTok users also found evidence that the Georgia native likes social media posts with the Confederation flag sharing QAnon conspiracy theories.
The controversy became more intense when “Bachelor” presenter Chris Harrison appeared on the “Extra” program, defending Kirkconnell in a conversation with Rachel Lindsay, a former “Bachelor” contestant and the first black protagonist in the “Bachelorette” story. Among other things, Harrison said Kirkconnell was a victim of the “awake police” and the plantation-themed formalism she attended happened “a long time ago.”
During the “Extra” conversation, Lindsay said that Kirkconnell’s presence in the photos of the Old South “was not a good look.”
“Rachel, are you looking good in 2018 or not looking good in 2021?” Harrison asked. Lindsay said, “It never looks good.”
Harrison’s interview with Lindsay caused an intense reaction among fans of “Bachelor” and generated a hashtag #FireChrisHarrison on social networks. In response, Harrison apologized twice, announcing in the second apology that he was leaving the show until further notice. He has been the host of “The Bachelor” since the series’ debut in 2002.
“I have spent the past few days listening to the pain my words have caused and I am deeply sorry,” wrote Harrison. “My ignorance has hurt my friends, colleagues and strangers. I have no one to blame but myself for what I said and the way I said it. I set standards for myself and didn’t stick to them. I feel it with every fiber of my being. Now, just as I taught my children to get up and recognize their actions, I will do the same. In excusing historical racism, I defended it. I invoked the term ‘policeman awake’, which is unacceptable. I’m ashamed of how uninformed I was. I was so wrong. “
Meanwhile, Kirkconnell released a statement on Instagram apologizing for his behavior and “truths that have surfaced”.
“At one point, I didn’t realize how offensive and racist my actions were, but that doesn’t excuse them,” wrote Kirkconnell. “They are not acceptable or ok in any way. I was ignorant, but my ignorance was racist … I hope I can earn your forgiveness through my future actions. “
More consequences: after the controversial interview with Harrison, Lindsay said he will not renew his contract with the franchise “The Bachelor”. She hosts a Bachelor Nation podcast and makes appearances in several episodes over several seasons. Basically, Lindsay said she was frustrated with the program and tired of pushing to make it more racially inclusive.
“I’m exhausted. I really had enough,” said Lindsay in the February 12 episode of her podcast for The Ringer, “Higher Learning” with Van Lathan.
And there’s more.
On February 15, Lindsay and Lathan joined an “Ask Me Anything” session on Reddit, answering questions from fans. During this discussion, one participant mentioned that Brown removed a photo of the beautiful southern woman from his Instagram and asked: “Did she at least contact you? What do you think about her ‘growing and learning’ since her apology last year? ”
(Brown apologized twice for using the word N in his 2020 video, with a brief written statement and an 18-minute video, both on Instagram.)
Lindsay replied, “Wait seriously? That is why actions speak louder than words. That’s why we have an uncomfortable conversation and this could have been a really great teaching moment. We cannot continue on the path of pretending that things have not happened or running away from them. We don’t ‘learn and grow’ with it. “
Lindsay also said Brown’s comments on the current “Bachelor” controversy – the one involving Kirkconnell and Harrison – “lacked substance”. Brown addressed the problem, more or less, in an Instagram Stories video posted on February 12.
“I’ve been updating and reading about everything that’s going on at Bachelor Nation and God knows I made mistakes,” said Brown. “But I learned last year, if we want to move on, we have to face where we fall short. And it is so important that we raise and listen, value and encourage voices that are not represented. We just have to be better and, at the same time, being responsible has helped me to evolve a lot, and I’m still not a perfect person, but I’m still committed to the job. And I am so humble and truly grateful to be on this journey and I can only hope to encourage others to make the journey as well. “
So far, Brown has remained silent about the beautiful Southern photo on his Instagram and has not explained why he deleted it.