Chris Harrison All Smiles At Rare Outing After ‘Bachelor’ Host Replacement Announced
Fans of The Bachelor franchise haven’t seen much of Chris Harrison in the last few months. But days after ABC’s surprising hosting announcement, Chris Harrison was all smiles in a rare public outing. Keep reading for all the details.
Former Bachelor Nation host staying out of spotlight after controversial exit
To say Chris Harrison has kept a low profile since his tense exit from the ABC franchise is an understatement. He’s been quiet on social media, and hasn’t given many interviews. That’s not to say he’s been hiding in shame. Not at all.
Rather, Harrison has been living a low-key life in Texas, spending time with his girlfriend, Entertainment Tonight host Lauren Zima.
In fact, he took to his Instagram to share a rare post to mark their anniversary. Harrison and Zima started dating in 2018. Despite a photo of them setting off gossip, the couple isn’t married, or even engaged…yet.
ABC announces permanent Bachelor replacement host
Despite his quiet life, Chris Harrison remains in the headlines, especially lately. As the next season of The Bachelor begins filming, the question on everyone’s minds was – who will be the host?
Chris Harrison left the franchise he called home for almost 20 years in a dramatic fashion back in June. The shocking news came months after he found himself at the center of a racism scandal engulfing Season 25 of The Bachelor. While Chris Harrison himself wasn’t accused of racist behavior, he caught heat for defending contestant Rachael Kirkconnell after photos surfaced of her attending an antebellum college party.
Photos have now emerged of Rachael Kirkconnell at an antebellum plantation-themed fraternity formal in 2018 #TheBachelor #BachelorNation pic.twitter.com/TEqmofRPKN
— Rosé (@TeaAndRoses21) February 4, 2021
Immediate after the backlash, Harrison took an extended break from hosting. For Season 17 and 18 of The Bachelorette, the network tapped Kaitlyn Bristowe and Tayshia Adams.
However, they sought a more permanent host for the upcoming season of The Bachelor. They didn’t have to look far, naming Bachelor Nation alum Jesse Palmer (Bachelor, Season 5) as the replacement host. He will preside over Clayton Echard’s season of The Bachelor, expected to air in January 2022.
Chris Harrison makes RARE public appearance with girlfriend
Prior to the scandal that led to his exit, Chris Harrison took some time off during Season 16 of The Bachelorette. Alum JoJo Fletcher stepped in for a few episode so Harrison could take his son to college at Texas Christian University (TCU.)
That’s where the former Bachelor host made a rare public appearance just days after ABC’s hosting announcement. Along with Lauren Zima, Chris Harrison attended a lacrosse game at TCU.
He shared a few snapshots from the game on his Instagram Stories. In one snap, Harrison cuddles up to Zima, writing, “Got my girl to a game day!” on the photo.
Does Chris Harrison look happy and unbothered in the photos of his rare public outing? He has yet to reveal any plans to return to TV, though fans speculate he’ll be back someday.
Do you hope Harrison returns to television? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Check back with us at TV Shows Ace often so you don’t miss out on any Bachelor Nation news.
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