It was the most dramatic and controversial season ever of "The Bachelor."
Matt James picked Rachael Kirkconnell to be his "Bachelor" season winner, and his final rose was delivered - just without the proper "Bachelor" engagement and happy ending.
His winner, Kirkconnell, was recently under fire after photos of her at an antebellum plantation-themed fraternity party from 2018 resurfaced the internet.
During the "After the Final Rose" ceremony hosted by Emmanuel Acho, James said that he ended things with Kirkconnell once the racism controversy came to light.
"When I questioned our relationship, it was in the context of you not fully understanding my Blackness and what it means to be a Black man in America," James told Kirkconnell during the explosive episode. "It broke my heart, because this is the last conversation I thought we'd be having. I didn't sign up to have this conversation."
Kirkconnell then apologized and explained how she has been "living in ignorance" and "never once asked myself what's the tradition behind this? What does this represent?"
"I could have easily asked myself those questions. I never took the time to make that connection," she explained.
The controversies that surround this season have brought many changes to the franchise.
Related
Bachelor fans learned last week that veteran show host Chris Harrison will not be returning for the next season of "The Bachelorette," and will be replaced by past show contestants Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe.
Harrison's departure along with the co-hosting gigs for Adams and Bristowe were confirmed in a joint statement from Warner Horizon and ABC Entertainment.
"Chris Harrison will not be hosting the next season of 'The Bachelorette,'" the statement said.
The news comes after Harrison was accused of defending the past racist social media posts from Kirkconnell.
Harrison has since apologized for defending Kirkconnell, admitting, “I am not a perfect person.”
Harrison also shared in an interview with GMA that he is working with a “race educator and strategist” as well as faith leaders and scholars, like Dr. Michael Eric Dyson.
"I am saddened and shocked at how insensitive I was in that interview with Rachel Lindsay,” Harrison said in reference to Lindsay, who was the first Black "Bachelorette" in the franchise’s history.
“I didn't speak for my heart, that is to say I stand against all forms of racism ... I'm sorry to Rachel Lindsay and I'm sorry to the Black community," he said, adding that he is "committed to progress, not just for myself, also for the franchise."
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