The Bachelor host Chris Harrison issued an apology for his comments during an interview with former The Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay that received a tremendous amount of criticism on social media.

This season of The Bachelor has created quite a stir since the premiere of this history-making season of having Matt James as the first Black Bachelor. Rachael Kirkconnell’s alleged past has made headlines as of recent after TikTok’s “Is This You?” campaign revealed some incriminating information.

Kirkconnell has yet to speak about the allegations, though it is rumored she could be making a statement soon. Harrison took the opportunity to wade in on the discourse with Lindsay for Extra. Lindsay was the first-ever Black Bachelorette in 2017. Lindsay has been a vocal alum when it comes to holding the franchise accountable in regards to diversity.

Among the information revealed is the fact that Kirkconnell attended an “Old South” party thrown by a college fraternity. Lindsay believed the party was “not a good look ever” for Kirkconnell, but Harrison argued differently

“Well, Rachel, is it a good look in 2018, or is it not a good look in 2021?” he questioned Lindsay. “Because there’s a big difference…That was not the case in 2018. I’m not defending Rachael, I just know that, I don’t know, 50 million people did that in 2018. That was a type of party that a lot of people went too. … Where is this lens we’re holding up and was this lens available, and were we all looking through it in 2018.”

“First and foremost, I don’t know [exactly what’s going on],” Harrison said. “I haven’t talked to Rachael about it, we all need to have a little grace, a little understanding, a little compassion. I have seen some stuff online. Again, this judge, jury, executioner thing where people are just tearing this girl’s life apart … Until I actually hear this woman have a chance to speak, who am I to say any of this … I saw a picture of her at a sorority party five years ago that’s it.”

As fans created petitions to get Harrison fired from the franchise, he issued an apology on social media.

“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,” the apology reads in part. “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. 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.”

Lindsay made a post on Instagram which some people think is referring to Harrison’s apology. She wrote, “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, and Wisdom to know the difference ????.” In the comments, several stars from The Bachelor and The Bachelorette gave their support.

Rachel Kirkconnell