Chris Harrison’s girlfriend Lauren Zima is finally addressing the controversial comments about racism that pushed her longtime host boyfriend to step down from The Bachelor.
The 33-year-old Entertainment Tonight host, who has been dating the ABC mainstay since early 2019, took to her Instagram Story on Saturday to share a brief message about her man’s most recent backlash.
“What Chris said was wrong and disappointing. Defending racism can never happen. Accountability comes first, what’s next is learning and growth.”
Related: Bachelor’s Rachael Kirkconnell Addresses Reaction To Her Racism Apology
Wow, is that all you had to say, Lauren?? Really??
The reporter’s post about her guy came just hours after the franchise host announced on IG that he was “stepping aside for a period of time and will not join for the upcoming After the Final Rose special,” for Matt James’ season. In the reveal, he said:
“My ignorance did damage to my friends, my colleagues, and strangers alike. I have no one to blame but myself for what I said and the way I spoke. I set standards for myself, and I have not met them. I feel that with every fiber of my being.”
Ch-ch-check out the entire statement (below):
https://www.instagram.com/p/CLPmjrFgEv8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
The television personality decided to take a break from the reality dating series after he faced a ton of heat for defending current contestant Rachael Kirkconnell in an interview with Rachel Lindsay for Extra. In the shameful conversation, he addressed multiple claims of her previous racist behavior, saying that the “woke police” were out to get the 24-year-old. Chris also added everyone needed to offer her a little “grace” amid the unsettling controversy.
As a reminder, it is not your place, Chris, to tell anyone to offer “grace” to someone who has wrongfully hurt an entire community through her alleged past actions. In case you didn’t know, the graphic designer was accused of bullying a classmate for dating Black men, having previously “liked” racially charged social media posts, and attended an antebellum plantation-themed party in college.
Fans and former Bachelor Nation stars slammed the host for his harmful words, forcing him to release an apology on IG earlier this week. Afterward, Kirkconnell broke her silence about the controversy in her own lengthy Insta post on Thursday, writing:
“While there have been rumors circulating, there have also been truths that have come to light that I need to address. I hear you, and I’m here to say I was wrong. At one point, I didn’t recognize how offensive and racist my actions were, but that doesn’t excuse them. My age or when it happened does not excuse anything. They are not acceptable or okay in any sense. I was ignorant, but my ignorance was racist.”
There still hasn’t been any news on who will replace the 49-year-old’s spot on the popular special and how long his exit will last. But who do U think will take on his role for the future episodes? Thoughts about Lauren’s message to fans? And who do U think we will hear from next? (Yeah, we’re still waiting on you, Mike Fleiss.) Let us know in the comments (below)!
[Image via Avalon/WENN]
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