THE Bachelor alum Peter Weber claimed the show will “regret” firing Chris Harrison from his hosting duties.
The 49-year-old was fired from the popular ABC franchise following racism accusations.
While speaking to Entertainment Tonight about the longtime host’s exit, the 29-year-old pilot said: “I think, if anything, the show is going to miss him. I think they do.
“I think ratings, I mean, those don’t lie. They’re kind of already showing that.”
Peter continued: “It’s sad for all parties involved, to have it end the way it did with him having been such a prominent role in that franchise, and really, I think, being the biggest reason why it grew to be as big as it has become.”
The pilot starred as the leading man on The Bachelor during Season 24, which aired in 2020.
Peter ended the season engaged to Hannah Ann Sluss, though the pair soon called off their relationship and he began dating contestant Kelley Flanagan.
Peter and Kelley, 28, dated for a year until they called it quits in December.
Less than 24 hours after the premiere of the latest season of The Bachelorette, Chris confirmed on Instagram that he was leaving his spot as the host of the franchise for good.
Alongside a photo of him during a reunion show, he wrote: “I’ve had a truly incredible run as host of The Bachelor franchise and now I’m excited to start a new chapter.
“I’m so grateful to Bachelor Nation for all of the memories we’ve made together.
“While my two-decade journey is wrapping up, the friendships I’ve made will last a lifetime.”
His announcement came months after Georgia contestant Rachael Kirkconnell was discovered to have attended an Antebellum plantation-themed party in 2018.
Rachael competed on- and eventually won- Matt James’ season of The Bachelor.
After Rachael received backlash for her social media history, Chris found himself at the center of the controversy when he stood in her corner during an interview with former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay on Extra.
Chris later apologized while being interviewed by Michael Strahan.on Good Morning America, though fans said his comments were “insincere.”
An insider close to the show previously explained that Chris was “mortified” he wasn’t coming back to the ABC franchise.
The informant revealed: “He pushed very hard with execs at the network. He was persistent for weeks, checking in and promising to do whatever it took to keep the job, almost to the point where he was begging.
“I don’t think he ever thought there would be a world without him as host. He really believed he would be asked to come back.
“And he never in a million years thought they would do a season without him.”
However, the longtime host seemingly burned his bridges after he hired a lawyer and refused to cooperate further with ABC.
Chris shared he officially left the franchise shortly after fans praised Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe as “the best hosts ever.”
