Last month, the US Bachelor franchise became engulfed in a racism scandal that saw longtime host Chris Harrison announce he would step aside for an indefinite period.
This season of The Bachelor featured their first ever male Black lead in Matt James, who had 32 women vying for his heart - 25 of whom identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of colour). Among the contestants is Rachael Kirkconnell, who has a history of engaging in racist activities.
Here's what you need to know about how the racism scandal has unfolded.
How did the Bachelor controversy start?
The controversy centres around the allegedly racist past of Rachael Kirkconnell, who is one of the front-runners on Matt James' season of The Bachelor.
TikTok user @maddyybierster first raised the alarm, saying Rachael had previously bullied her in high-school for "liking black guys".
The video went viral, attracting millions of views, and prompted other people to allege Rachael of racist behaviour.
One video from @feministmama accused Rachael of having a history of "liking" racially-insensitive photos on social media and also wearing racist costumes.
Further, a photo surfaced of Kirkconnell attending an Antebellum-themed party in 2018.
Kirkconnell, 24, similarly admitted her wrongdoing and apologised for the offence caused by her actions.
"While there have been rumours 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,” she wrote in a statement shared to Instagram. “At one point, I didn’t recognise 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.
“Racial progress and unity are impossible without (white) accountability, and I deserve to be held accountable for my actions. I will never grow unless I recognise what I have done is wrong. I don’t think one apology means that I deserve your forgiveness, but rather I hope I can earn your forgiveness through my future actions.”
Chris Harrison is replaced by two former Bachelorettes.
On Saturday, it was announced that Harrison will not be hosting the next season of The Bachelorette US and will be replaced by two former Bachelorettes Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe.
"We support Chris in the work that he is committed to doing. In his absence, former Bachelorettes Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe will support the new Bachelorette through next season," Warner Horizon and ABC Entertainment said in a statement.
"As we continue the dialogue around achieving greater equity and inclusion within The Bachelor franchise, we are dedicated to improving the BIPOC representation of our crew, including among the executive producer ranks. These are important steps in effecting fundamental change so that our franchise is a celebration of love that is reflective of our world."
Fans of the US Bachelor franchise, will no doubt remember Tayshia Adams, who was the second Bachelorette on season 16. Adams was brought in after Clare Crawley decided to leave the show after getting engaged to Dale Moss within two weeks.
Kaitlyn Bristowe was the Bachelorette on season 11, after first appearing on season 19 of The Bachelor.
This article was originally published on February 14, 2021, and was updated on March 14, 2021.
Feature image: ABC/Mamamia.
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