Controversy over ABC firing Chris Harrison (The Bachelor) – What is his Fate now?
Chris Harrison was the host of the Bachelor from 2002-2021 (Image: Getty)
Chris Harrison may have been the Bachelor Nation host before Jesse Palmer, but fans are seeing a different side of him these days.
Harrison hosted The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Bachelor Pad, Bachelor in Paradise, and various other specials since the franchise launched in 2002 until 2021, when he was let go after defending a contestant who was involved in a rac1sm scandal. After his departure, Palmer, a former Bachelor lead himself, stepped into the role and has held it ever since.
While fans have grown to love Palmer, who doesn’t hesitate to share his thoughts about moments on episodes of the various shows, some have since wondered what happened to Harrison after his departure from the show.
Harrison, now 54, has moved on in several different ways from the franchise that made him a star.
He has also become a husband again since his departure from the show.
Harrison was let go after Matt James’ season of The Bachelor after a rac1sm scandal erupted (Image: ABC via Getty Images)
Harrison faced criticism in 2021 during the airing of Matt James’ season of The Bachelor. While the season played out, social media sleuths uncovered front-runner Rachael Kirkconnell’s photos from attending an Antebellum-style party when she was in college, setting off a rac1sm sc@ndal that coincided with the first-ever Bachelor season with a Black lead.
After tough criticism and questions from the first Black Bachelorette, Rachel Lindsay, Harrison defended Kirkconnell, saying it wasn’t fair to judge her for her past.
And while Kirkconnell did win the season, she and James later split up before reconciling and dating for four years. They split for good at the beginning of 2025.
Harrison, however, announced he would be temporarily stepping down from his hosting duties after the backlash. His permanent departure was later announced in June 2021.
Harrison was offiicially let go from the series in June 2021 (Image: ABC via Getty IMages)
While he is no longer employed by ABC or Disney, Harrison has managed to stay busy with other hosting gigs in various formats.
He launched a podcast titled The Most Dramatic Podcast Ever in January 2023, co-hosting with Entertainment Tonight reporter Lauren Zima, whom he had been dating since 2018.
The two married that November, and several bachelor alums attended the nuptials, including Sean Lowe and Catherine Giudici, Wells Adams, Ben Higgins, Trista Sutter, Bob Guiney, and Arie Luyendyk Jr.
The podcast appeared to be taken off the air after the Dec. 2, 2024 episode, which served as the final one available for fans to listen to.
Harrison wed Lauren Zima in 2023, with several Bachelor Nation alums in attendance (Image: Instagram/Chrisbharrison)
Since then, according to his Instagram account, he has focused on other ventures.
He and Zima, who are based in Austin, Texas, often share photos of themselves attending various charity events, and appear to also have several branding deals on the social media platform as well.
He has also recently held a gig hosting for MLS on Air, which covers soccer-related news.
Outside of reporting and hosting, Harrison has also tried his hand at writing.
Harrison and Zima co-hosted a podcast until it went off the air in 2024 (Image: Getty)
He released a novel, The Perfect Letter, in 2016, prior to his departure from the show.
According to his Instagram account, he is next taking part in a benefit concert on August 17 in Austin, called Band Together Texas, which aims to help raise money for Texas flood victims.
He is set to join other stars who hail from the state, including Miranda Lambert, Parker McCollum, Cody Johnson, Kelly Clarkson, Matthew McConaughey and Dennis Quaid in the efforts.
