Longtime 'The Bachelor' host Chris Harrison says he's 'grateful' for leaving 'a very toxic situation'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Chris Harrison has spoken out for the first time since leaving ‘The Bachelor’ franchise in 2021.

The host for 19 seasons sat down on Jason Tartick’s ‘Trading Secrets’ podcast, a ‘Bachelorette’ alum. Harrison explained that he was ‘grateful’ that he quit the show as it was becoming “a very toxic situation.”

Chris Harrison defended contestant Rachael Kirkconnell which led to his exit from the show

His exit came after he defended Bachelor Season 25 contestant Rachael Kirkconnell when photos resurfaced online of her attending a “plantation-themed” sorority party in 2018.

“What I went through was tumultuous. I don’t wish it on anybody. It was horrifying on a lot of levels — and something that I pray to God my worst enemy never goes through. But, with that said, I knew I had to remove myself from what became a very toxic situation,” Harrison told Tartick.

The 52-year-old added that he “could have figured it out” amidst all the backlash he faced, but he realized that he “had to” remove himself from the reality show, reports Fox News.

“I’m proud that I handled it the way I did and I still look at [the show] as a blessing because it changed my life on so many levels,” Harrison continued, adding “Financially, of course. It changed my life. It changed my kids’ lives.”

Chris Harrisonhost apologized back in 2018

The disgraced host continued, “I had to mourn the loss of something that I didn’t intend to exit then. I would have probably soon, but not then, like that.”

“And so there was mourning a loss there.” He also shared that he had several “immediate offers to get right back into the game,” but he ultimately decided to take a break and reconnect with himself and his wife.

Back then, former 'The Bachelor' host apologized for defending Kirkconnell and said, “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,” Harrison said in his extended  statement continued, reported Entertainment Weekly. “I promise to do better," he added at the time.