Chris Harrison is taking a forgiving view of The Bachelor’s past, but it doesn’t sound as though he plans to tune in when the ABC franchise returns for Season 30 in 2027.
Harrison hosted the reality dating series for 19 years before his controversial departure in 2021. Now, he is helping people pursue love through faith on FOX Nation’s The Vow. During a visit to DECIDER’s studio, he was asked whether he would watch the newly announced season of The Bachelor.
“Honestly, I have not watched since I left the show,” Harrison said. “You know, it’s one of those things: Do you follow your ex on social media? I don’t recommend it. So I just didn’t. I moved on with my life.”
Harrison described his years with The Bachelor as “a blessed time in [his] life” and said he remains “grateful” for the experience. He also noted that he “still” has “friends” working on the franchise and continues to “wish them well.”
“There’s room for all of us in this dating pool and in love,” he added. “I never wish for anybody to lose their job, so I hope they can right the ship over there. I know it’s messy right now.”
Harrison exited The Bachelor franchise in 2021 after defending contestant Rachael Kirkconnell, whose old photos from an antebellum plantation-themed party during college had resurfaced. According to Deadline, Harrison made comments urging people to show Kirkconnell “a little grace, a little understanding, a little compassion” during an Extra interview with Rachel Lindsay, the franchise’s first Black lead. Kirkconnell appeared on Matt James’ season.
Harrison’s comments about the franchise’s current “messy” situation also came as he was asked about ABC’s decision to shelve The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul’s Bachelorette season. The move followed the release by TMZ of a video recorded by Paul’s ex, Dakota Mortensen, that shows Paul in a physical confrontation with him, including placing him in a headlock and throwing chairs.
“It’s messy over there,” Harrison said. “I think the most fortunate thing is that it’s not my mess [laughs]. I was happy to create The Vow and take our show in the direction we did.”
Even so, he emphasized that he remains close to people working on The Bachelor, including individuals who were “some of the first people to reach out and wish me well” after his departure.
“This is a hard business, and it is a business,” he continued. “In this day and age, it’s really tough to get anything on the air. That’s why we’re so proud of what we’ve done with The Vow. But I hope they keep their jobs over there as well.”
As for his return to hosting, Harrison said he was not necessarily looking to come back to reality television or dating shows, but the opportunity felt natural.
“I don’t know if it was important to even come back to reality TV and dating, but it felt right,” he said.
He explained that developing The Vow with his wife and their team “really lit the fire” and renewed his enthusiasm for the genre. Harrison added that society needs love more than ever and suggested there is a strong desire for a dating series capable of telling a sincere love story. “Hopefully that’s what The Vow will do,” he said.