Chris Harrison offers yet another apology over his comments defending racist behaviour

After announcing his leave of absence from his long-time role as host of the Bachelor franchise, Chris Harrison made yet another apology on Thursday on Good Morning America. Chris has made several statements since publicly excusing a current Bachelor contestant's past racist behaviour.

"I am an imperfect man," he said, speaking with GMA host Michael Strahan. "I made a mistake and I own that. I believe that mistake doesn’t reflect who I am or what I stand for. I am committed to the progress not just for myself but also for the franchise. And this is a franchise that has been a part of my life for the better part of 20 years and I love it."

Indeed, Harrison is the face of the entire Bachelor Nation franchise, including its many off-shoot series. A fact which made it all the more controversial when he defended current Bachelor contestant Rachael Kirkconnell after past social media posts of her dressed in a racially offensive costume while at a plantation-themed party and a history of her liking offensive posts surfaced.

While Rachael received quick backlash from fans and other Bachelor Nation alumni, Chris was the one who found himself in boiling water when he spoke with Rachel Lindsay, the first Black Bachelorette, on a recent episode of Extra, and said viewers should give Kirkconnell some "grace" rather than making her a victim of "cancel culture."

When Lindsay said the photos weren't a good look, Harrison made the odd choice of doubling down, responding, "Well, Rachel, is it a good look in 2018 or is it not a good look in 2021? Because there's a big difference."

"It's not a good look ever because she's celebrating the Old South," Lindsay replied. "If I went to that party, what would I represent at that party?

Shortly after, Harrison announced he'd be temporarily stepping down from the franchise. Lindsay, too, addressed the interview, on her podcast Higher Learning With Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay.

"During that conversation, [Harrison] spoke over me and he spoke at me," Lindsay said. "During that conversation, his privilege was on display, he never gave me room to talk and he never gave me room to share my perspective; he wasn't trying to hear it, he just wanted to be heard."

Although Harrison said he apologized to Lindsay, she's since been the subject of rampant online bullying and deactivated her Instagram account as a result.

"I am saddened and shocked at how insensitive I was in that interview with Rachel Lindsay," Harrison said to Strahan. "I can't believe I didn't speak against antebellum parties, what they stand for. I didn't say it then and I want to say it now: those parties are not okay, past, present, future. And I didn't speak from my heart. And that is to say that I stand against all forms of racism, and I am deeply sorry to Rachel Lindsay and to the Black community. ... To anyone who is throwing hate towards Rachel Lindsay, please stop. It's unacceptable."

Harrison added that he has been speaking to everyone from scholars to teachers to faith leaders to find guidance, and who have spoken to him "about council, not cancel."

Which means he does indeed plan to return to The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, and their many spin-offs, despite kicking off a conversation that has now come to overshadow the fact that current Bachelor Matt James is the first Black lead in the series' very Caucasian history. Oh, the irony.

James, by the way, recently issued a statement in support of Lindsay and speaking out against Harrison's comments, along with previous contestant Dale Moss and recent bachelorette Tayshia Adams.  

"I plan to be back and I want to be back," Harrison added. "And I think this franchise can be an important beacon of change. I know that change is felt, not just by me, but by many others. And we are excited and willing to do the work to show that progress."

Strahan, much like Lindsay and many fans, didn't buy it, however. After their interview, he said Harrison's apology felt like "nothing more than a surface response on any of this."

"Obviously he’s a man who wants to clearly stay on the show," he added. "But only time will tell if there’s any meaning behind his words."

BEFORE YOU GO: ‘Bachelor’ producers speak out against online harassment towards Rachel Lindsay

[video_embed id='2151592']BEFORE YOU GO:  ‘Bachelor’ producers speak out against online harassment towards Rachel Lindsay[/video_embed]