“The Bachelor” contestant Rachael Kirkconnell, who is one of three women who still compete for the heart of the first black bachelor Matt James, is addressing his racist past in a new video. Kirkconnell was surrounded by controversy for weeks after host Chris Harrison was forced to temporarily resign from the franchise for defending Kirkconnell’s offensive photos.
In an Instagram video on Thursday, Kirkconnell responds to the controversy, which includes photos of her attending a pre-war 2018 themed college party, and reportedly liking and sharing social media posts with the Confederation flag and Qanon conspiracies . She had already posted a written statement earlier this month.
At the start of the seven-and-a-half-minute video, Kirkconnell said: “The first big step in all of this is whites stepping up and taking responsibility. Things will never change if we don’t all work together towards this racial progress and this unity that we want . “
The 24-year-old said she had not posted anti-racism links or resources in the past because she did not want it to appear “performative”. However, she says she realized that people’s opinions about her are not “what really matters”.
“This whole movement and where we are in this country, is much bigger than that, and I want and need to use my privilege and my platform that I don’t deserve to just shed light on these issues and try to do what I can to take a step in right direction. “
Kirkconnell said she is telling herself that “this whole experience, with what is happening now, has been a blessing in disguise because maybe it can wake up a lot of people.”
Kirkconnell went on to emphasize the importance of having unpleasant conversations and working to “unlearn” racism.
“Learning never stops. We all need to continue to educate ourselves,” she said, pointing out to viewers the anti-racism features in her Instagram story and biography. It included articles entitled “How I confronted the truth about my fraternity’s racist history” and “Why your native-inspired Halloween costume devalues our indigenous cultures.”
Kirkconnell concluded the video by telling his followers that they should not defend or excuse their previous behavior.
“Please stop. It is not our job to tell people what can or cannot be offended,” she said. “This is wrong and it is part of the problem, so please stop saying that I did nothing wrong. This is not true. If you really want to support me, then encourage me to do better and encourage those around you to do better to accept change to allow others to learn and grow, because we need to work on it together, if something is going to change. “
“I’m sorry,” she concluded. “I just hope I can earn your forgiveness and your grace through my future actions.”
Harrison, who has hosted The Bachelor since 2002, announced earlier this month that he is leaving the program for a “period of time”. Her announcement came after a controversial “Extra” interview with the first black maiden, Rachel Lindsay, in which he defended Kirkconnell after she was accused of racist acts.
During the most recent episode of the show, James met Kirkconnell’s family, and she reiterated that she was falling in love with him.
Earlier this week, James said in a statement that it was “devastating and painful” to know about Kirkconnell’s “incredibly disappointing” photos and Harrison’s subsequent comments.
“Chris’s failure to receive and understand the emotional work that my friend Rachel Lindsay was taking on in explaining gracefully and patiently the racist story of Antebellum South, a painful story that every American should understand intimately, was worrying and painful to watch.”