FORMER The Bachelorette star Rachel Lindsay quit the show’s podcast as she “ended her ABC contract.”
The news comes after the 36-year-old accused host Chris Harrison of racist behavior.
Rachel’s final episodes of the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast, which she co-hosts with fellow The Bachelorette star Becca Kufrin, will air as a two-part celebration starting on April 27 and ending on May 4.
The final two episodes will have Rachel and Becca reminisce about their favorite memories from the show.
Rachel concluded Tuesday’s episode by sharing the news, stating: “I’m going to make this short and sweet: All good things must come to an end and I feel like certain things run their course and for me I have run my course when it comes to the podcast.”
The former Bachelorette star continued: “We started off this podcast talking about how much fun it is, and it is, and the community that we’ve started and we’re already here with 100 episodes and I’m proud of it and what it’s become and it started off with Ali who’s fantastic — I feel like I don’t give her enough praise.”
Becca stepped in as the podcast’s co-host when Ali Fedotowsky left the show.
Rachel told Becca: “Then Ali had to go and you came in and you like didn’t miss a beat and that’s been a lot of fun to see our friendship grow through the podcast, just to have fun with all the new blood that’s coming in from the show to work through hard moments, to come here and vent when we’re going through something like that’s what the podcast gives you, that community.”
Despite Rachel’s departure, the podcast is not coming to an end as a new co-host will be announced soon.
Rachel’s decision to end her association with the franchise comes after she accused longtime host Chris, 49, of racist behavior.
The controversy began when photos resurfaced of contestant Rachael Kirkconnell attending an “old south” party.
Rachael K. competed to win over Matt James on The Bachelor, while she eventually won the season.
Chris defended the contestant while being interviewed by Rachel on Extra, stating: “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.”
Following backlash, Chris stepped down from the show and publicly apologized to Rachel.
While talking to GMA’s Michael Strahan, Chris said: “I am saddened and shocked at how insensitive I was in that interview with Rachel Lindsay. I can’t believe I didn’t speak against antebellum parties, what they stand for.
“I stand against all forms of racism, and I am deeply sorry to Rachel Lindsay and to the Black community.”
He claimed that he apologized to Rachel and did so once more on the interview, stating: “To anyone who is throwing hate at Lindsay, please stop. It is unacceptable.”
Since the initial interview, Rachel was forced to deactivate her Instagram account after some Bachelor fans claimed she ruined the franchise.
Rachel has since returned to Instagram, while she also revealed she had accepted the hosts’s apology.
The former star said she had not spoken directly with Chris since the GMA interview aired, but confirmed that she did watch it.
She also told TMZ that they spoke about three weeks ago when the scandal first happened, adding that he apologized directly to her at the time.
