BACHELORETTE Rachel Lindsay quit Instagram because of “hate and harassment” from Bachelor fans as the co-host slammed her trolls.
Rachel had asked Chris Harrison what he thought about the controversy surrounding Rachael Kirkconnell’s Antebellum plantation-themed party and he seemingly defended her.
Following weeks of Rachel speaking out against and slamming both Chris and Rachael for perpetuating historical racism, the first black Bachelorette was forced to leave Instagram after trolls made her life on social media impossible.
Her Higher Learning co-host, Van Halan, shared a video on Instagram, where he said: “My co-host on Higher Learning, Rachel Lindsay, disabled her Instagram earlier today. She did it because that’s how much she’s getting from Bachelor fans who are spamming her with all kinds of rude and hateful things.
“Y’all gotta get a f**king life, seriously. Rachel is not responsible for Chris Harrison, a 49-year-old man who can’t read the room in these present 2021 times. She’s not, she’s not responsible for that. It’s not her job to make excuses or provide cover for someone who doesn’t understand what the f**k triggers people in today’s world. It’s not.
“You’re going after the wrong person and just to let you guys know, I know you love the show but it’s The Bachelor, it’s not worth harassing somebody else over it. Get a f**king life. Rachel, we’re with you, we love you.”
Along with the video, he wrote: “Leave Rachel the f**k alone.
“This harassment is going too far. My co-host has zero today with the words of a grown-a** man who still doesn’t get it. @chrisbharrison are you okay with people getting at Rachel to the point she can’t even exist on IG.
“Is anyone from the entire ‘Bachelor Nation’ going to stand up and condemn this harassment of a Black woman? Yo it’s just a f**king TV SHOW, y’all need to relax for real. I love you RACH. F**k these people.”
Unfortunately, Rachel L has gotten involved in the messy controversy where Chris found himself out as Bachelor Nation host after he defended Rachael K going to a problematic party.
After the problematic picture of Rachael surfaced, Chris actually told Rachel L during an interview: “We all need to have a little grace, a little understanding, a little compassion. Because I’ve seen some stuff online… again, this ‘judge, jury, executioner’ thing where people are just tearing this girl’s life apart.
He continued: “I haven’t heard Rachael speak on this yet, and until I actually hear this woman have a chance to speak, who am I to say [anything]?”
Following his comments, Rachel has spoken out against him and Rachael repeatedly.
A few days after his initial comments, Chris revealed he was ashamed of his comments and said he was stepping down as the host of the franchise.
“To my Bachelor Nation family – I will always own a mistake when I make one, so I am here to extend a sincere apology.
“I have this incredible platform to speak about love, and yesterday I took a stance on topics about which I should have been better informed.
“While I do not speak for Rachael Kirkconnell, my intentions were simply to ask for grace in offering her an opportunity to speak on her own behalf.”
He continued: “What I now realize I have done is cause harm by wrongly speaking in a manner that perpetuates racism, and for that I am so deeply sorry.
“I also apologize to my friend Rachel Lindsay for not listening to her better on a topic she has a first-hand understanding of, and humbly thank the members of Bachelor Nation who have reached out to me to hold me accountable. I promise to do better.”
Responding to the backlash the Georgia contestant has continued to receive online, Chris, 49, asked for Bachelor Nation to have “compassion” for the reality contender.
Following the backlash against both the contestant and the host, The Celeb Report revealed that Chris won’t be coming back as producers make the effort to add diversity to all levels of the show.
The insider exclusively told The Celeb Report: “It’s only a matter of time before an announcement is made that Chris isn’t returning.
“At this point it’s not if, it’s when. There are still talks of keeping him as an executive producer.
“But unless Chris somehow turns this around, his role on-camera is done.”
In addition to changing things up on-camera, behind the lens will be highly impacted too.
“There’s been big staffing changes on all levels. More people of color have been hired as producers, editors, sound engineering, administrative positions and everything in between.
“ABC is also implementing more diversity training for everyone involved on the show,” the source added.
The informant added: “Chris was the loose thread that unraveled the whole production but the problems stem across the board.”
Reps for ABC did not respond to The Celeb Report’s request for comment.
Previously, an insider revealed to The Celeb Report that Chris stepping away indefinitely from hosting was a “mutual decision” as he knew ABC had to “take action.”
The source continued to explain: “As of right now, execs don’t believe he can continue being the sole host of the show.
“Whether or not he has some kind of a co-host or is removed on-camera completely remains to be seen.”
However, the tone has since changed as the informant alleged Chris has been “iced out” of crisis talks with ABC execs.
“He was originally being included in all conversations of how to proceed but has been iced out the past few days as execs figure out how to handle this mess,” an informant revealed.
In fact, a third informant revealed to The Celeb Report that producers are looking towards Robin Roberts or Michael Strahan to replace Chris.
Michael will bring “a level of stability” to the hit dating competition show, a source said, as he is eyed to replace troubled Chris, while Robin “would be an excellent choice to bring some gravitas and seriousness.”
