Bachelorette: Chris Harrison Not Quarantined In New Mexico With Cast & Crew
It’s been some time since Chris Harrison, host of The Bachelor franchise, landed in hot water for his racially insensitive comments during his interview with Rachel Lindsay. Many fans and Bachelor Nation alum think the franchise needs to pause before rushing into a new season, but the network has decided to go full steam ahead. New reports say production on The Bachelorette season 17 is already underway. But though Chris Harrison has said he does not want to resign from the franchise, so far he hasn’t been spotted with the cast and crew.
After his disastrous interview with Rachel Lindsay, Chris’ future with the franchise was in jeopardy. Chris stepped down from his role as host, but many fans want him to exit the series permanently. Emmanuel Acho was brought in to host the post-finale After the Final Rose special in place of Chris Harrison, and the decision about who will host the franchise is still up in the air. Despite the issues facing the series, ABC is not slowing down its production schedule for the next season of The Bachelorette.
According to TMZ, the cast and crew of The Bachelorette season 17 has arrived at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa near Albuquerque, New Mexico, and have begun quarantining. But Chris Harrison is not currently a part of that quarantine bubble. The news outlet reports that though pre-production meetings are underway, the network has not decided who will host the season. ABC is reportedly waiting to see viewers’ response to Emmanuel Acho as host before making a decision. With the quarantine bubble already in place, the clock is ticking for the network to select a host.
The news means there’s still time for ABC to chose to take the Bachelor franchise in a different direction. There are many fans and Bachelor Nation alum who would love to see Emmanuel Acho take the helm as the series’ permanent host. But it’s not surprising that the network would want to wait to see fans’ reception before putting all its eggs in the Acho basket. The pre-taped After the Final Rose special is set to air in a few days’ time, so fans won’t have to wait much longer to find out who will be the show’s host moving forward.
The Bachelor franchise has a hefty amount of content in the production pipeline, and time is ticking away for the network to make crucial decisions about the series’ future. Chris Harrison has been the host of the franchise for decades, but there’s no denying he’s garnered ill will from fans recently. Though some are reluctant to see the long-time face of the franchise leave, there are many more who are eager for a fresh take on the series. With the quarantine bubble already in place, the announcement of the season’s host should be made any day now.
The Bachelor airs Mondays at 8pm EST on ABC.
Source: TMZ