Chris Harrison Was On 'Wheel Of Fortune' & Viewers Had Some Thoughts
By Emily Lee
February 26, 2021
Chris Harrison recently stepped down as host of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette after defending Rachael Kirkconnell's past racist actions, including dressing up as a Native American person and attending an antebellum plantation-themed ball. Kirkconnell is vying for Matt James's heart on the current season of the reality dating show.
Despite the controversy surrounding Harrison's comments, ABC aired a previously taped episode of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune featuring the former Bachelor Nation host. Instead of canning the episode, the network included a disclaimer about the situation before the episode began.
Those who haven't been keeping up with what's going on with Harrison and The Bachelor, however, may have missed the subtle disclaimer. When host Pat Sajak introduced each of the celebrity guests, text popped up on the bottom of the screen to inform viewers that "This episode was previously recorded in December 2020." Harrison announced he was stepping down two weeks ago—long after he was initially asked to appear on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.
Despite ABC making an effort to show that the episode was taped before Harrison's scandal, viewers still had some thoughts about Harrison's appearance. Many shared their opinions of his inclusion on Twitter.
Can't believe when watching #CelebrityWheelOfFortune that Chris Harrison would be on the screen. Sadly not shocked that @ABCNetwork isn't taking seriously the harm continuing to reward him with a platform is doing #FireChrisHarrison
— nyepkin spice latte (@maggiebrevig) February 26, 2021
I’d rather ABC at least air this episode at all. It’s awkward to watch now with the Chris Harrison controversy, but at least we can still watch it, period. #CelebrityWheelOfFortune
— WheelRob (@WheelRob10) February 26, 2021
Watching Pat talk to Chris Harrison about how the Bachelor #WheelOfFortune #CelebrityWheelOfFortune pic.twitter.com/hFVDDrPmyM
— LADY_in_MD (@LADY_in_MD) February 26, 2021
The fact that @ABCNetwork put a disclaimer saying "this episode was filmed in December 2020" but still they wanted to air the #CelebrityWheelOfFortune episode despite all the things that happened with @chrisbharrison recently.
— Samantha Tamayo 🌻 (@samanthalynn913) February 26, 2021
So Chris Harrison is on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune. This didn’t age well..... #CelebrityWheelOfFortune pic.twitter.com/5D2dccLfp4
— WhatHappensInTheDungeon.... (@OneNOnlyOmari) February 26, 2021
Following the backlash for his comments, which were made during an interview with former BacheloretteRachel Lindsay, Harrison apologized for his words and vowed to do better in the future. "I have spent the last few days listening to the pain my words have caused, and I am deeply remorseful. My ignorance did damage to my friends, colleagues and strangers alike. I have no one to blame but myself for what I said and the way I spoke," Harrison wrote on Instagram.
"I set standards for myself, and have to meet them. I feel that with every fiber of my being. Now just as I taught my children to stand up, and to own their actions, I will do the same," he continued. "By excusing historical racism, I defended it. I invoked the term 'woke police,' which is unacceptable. I am ashamed over how uninformed I was. I was so wrong."
It's unclear whether Harrison will return as host on future seasons of The Bachelor, The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise.
Photo: Getty