There was plenty of drama on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette in 2021, which is nothing new to Bachelor Nation. However, the most shocking developments took place behind the cameras.
Longtime Bachelor/Bachelorette host Chris Harrison left the franchise after 19 years. That development was followed by season 24 lead Colton Underwood‘s announcement that he was gay.
Harrison’s exit came after a backlash over racially insensitive comments during season 25 of The Bachelor, which starred Matt James, the first Black bachelor. The comments were made after old photos resurfaced online of contestant, and eventual winner, Rachael Kirkconnell attending an “Old South” antebellum plantation-themed party in 2018.
Harrison defended Kirkconnell in an interview with The Bachelorette alum Rachel Lindsay, the first Black bachelorette, saying Rachael was a victim of so-called “cancel culture” and asking for “some grace.” He later apologized. But the damage had been done, and producers showed Harrison the door. Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe, two former bachelorettes, replaced Harrison for The Bachelorette‘s 17th and 18th seasons.
Meanwhile, the tumultuous relationship between Underwood and Cassie Randolph, who met on season 23 of The Bachelor in 2019, came to a head in October of 2020 when she filed a restraining order against Colton, claiming he was stalking her. Cassie dropped the restraining order a month later.
Then, in April of 2021, Colton came out as gay, telling GMA‘s Robin Roberts, “I’ve ran from myself for a long time. I’ve hated myself for a long time. And I’m gay. And I came to terms with that earlier this year and have been processing it. And the next step in all of this was sort of letting people know.”
Earlier this month, Underwood released a Netflix docuseries, Coming Out Colton. He also introduced fans to his new boyfriend, 39-year-old Jordan C. Brown.
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Related Posts
Adam Driver is a man literally on the edge in tease to Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Megalopolis’
May 4, 2024
ABCOn Saturday morning, May 4, legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola dropped a tease to his…
May the cash be with you: Julien’s putting massive trove of ‘Star Wars’ stuff on the auction block
May 3, 2024
Julien's AuctionsTimed in anticipation of May 4's Star Wars Day, Julien's Auctions and Turner…
New Music Friday: Meghan Trainor, Sia and more
May 3, 2024
This week's New Music Friday features new singles from big names and notable album releases from…
NBC renews ‘Night Court’ reboot for a third season
May 3, 2024
NBC/Nicole WeingartNight Court will stay in session at NBC. The network announced on May 3 that the…
Nicholas Galitzine on how BTS inspired his role in ‘The Idea of You’
May 3, 2024
Alisha Wetherill/PrimeNicholas Galitzine plays Hayes Campbell, the lead singer of the fictional boy…
Fourth season of ‘Emily In Paris’ will be split in two
May 3, 2024
Netflix/Stephanie BranchuOn Friday, May 3, the cast of Netflix's Emily In Paris teased the show's…
Survey says 92 minutes is Americans’ ideal movie length
May 3, 2024
Getty/Klaus Vedfelt(NOTE LANGUAGE) After marathon movies like the Oscar-winning Oppenheimer and the…
Reality Roundup: ‘Gypsy Rose: Life After Lockup’ trailer, Andy Cohen on ‘Vanderpump Rules’ break and more
May 3, 2024
Have no fear, your reality roundup is here! Here's a look at what happened in the world of reality…