Longtime “Bachelor” host Chris Harrison is back for a new dating reality show after he was targeted by cancel culture in 2021 for defending a contestant who attended an Antebellum-themed party.
The teaser trailer for “The Vow,” which premieres November 11 on FOX Nation, subtly takes aim at his former gig, which launched the popular reality show host’s career. In the trailer, a man is seen adjusting his suit before the camera reveals his identity.
“Expecting someone else?” Harrison says as the words “Roses fade. True love lasts forever,” appear on screen. In the video, Harrison almost steps on a single red rose, which is a recognizable symbol from the long-running “Bachelor” and “Bachelorette” franchise.
The premiere season of “The Vow” will follow 30-year-old bachelor Jace Cates as he dates 10 women seeking marriage and long-term commitment, as the New York Post reported. The series will reportedly focus on faith, family, communication, and shared values.
“I’m so excited to be back helping people find love,” Harrison said, calling this project “the most authentic dating show on television today.”
Harrison added that it was inspired by the “faith-driven renaissance happening across America.”
The former “Bachelor” host posted on Instagram earlier this year that casting was open for the series, which was advertised as “dating for traditional marriage,” The Daily Wire previously reported.
Harrison told The Daily Wire, “I will be coming back to TV to do what means the most to me: helping people find love. I want to do a show that is actually about finding that true love. I think that’s been lost, and I think we all want it back. Will there be drama along the way? Absolutely, but in the end it will always be about love.”
“The response to our casting announcement has been incredible,” the longtime reality show host continued. “People are talking, discussing, debating love and relationships; that’s what great reality TV is about. As for what the show is all about… I’ll turn to one of my favorite lines here: you’ll find out, after the break.”
Harrison parted ways with “The Bachelor” after 19 years of hosting the series following controversy stemming from his defense of a contestant accused of racism.
The longtime host was attacked for defending Season 25 contestant Rachael Kirkconnell after she received backlash for attending an Antebellum-themed party before being cast for the show.
“The picture was from 2018 at an Old South Antebellum party. That’s not a good look,” former bachelorette Rachel Lindsay told Harrison during an interview with “Extra” in February 2021.
“Is it a good look in 2018, or is it not a good look in 2021?” Harrison replied.
He said that the audience should “have a little grace, a little understanding, a little compassion” for Kirkconnell attending a party in 2018 when social etiquette was very different. These comments led to extreme backlash and eventually to Harrison resigning as the show’s host and issuing a formal apology.
In 2023, Harrison said leaving the show ultimately had a positive impact on his life.
“I still look at this as a blessing in my life. It was hard at first, obviously, it wasn’t immediate where I felt great about everything because what I went through was tumultuous. I don’t wish it on anybody,” Harrison said during a podcast interview in 2023.
“But, with that said, I knew I had to remove myself from what became a very toxic situation, and I did, and that was a very difficult situation,” he added. “I’m proud of that decision. I’m proud that I handled it the way I did and I still look at it as a blessing because it changed my life on so many levels.”
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