Embattled Bachelor host Chris Harrison has retained the services of a noted Los Angeles power attorney.
Page Six reports that the TV host, 49, has hired Bryan Freedman, the same lawyer who represented Gabrielle Union in her spat with NBC’s America’s Got Talent last year.
While it is not yet clear what, if any, legal actions are being pursued, a friend of Harrison’s told the publication, ‘Chris has had a spotless record for 20 years… He has always been the good company man, but, after the way he’s been treated by producers and executives over the past couple of weeks, he’s run out of cheeks to turn.
Lawyering up: Embattled Bachelor host Chris Harrison has retained the services of a noted Los Angeles power attorney Bryan Freedman
‘Now he’s ready to tell the truth about how things really work over there — and he has plenty of evidence to back him up,’ the insider added.
The news comes after it was reported that Harrison will NOT return as host for upcoming season of The Bachelorette, which the impending cast is currently quarantining for in New Mexico.
‘Harrison will not be hosting the next season of The Bachelorette. We support Chris in the work that he is committed to doing,’ read a statement by ABC Entertainment and Warner Horizon, which was recently obtained by Variety.
Power player: Freedman is the same lawyer who represented Gabrielle Union in her spat with NBC’s America’s Got Talent last year
Instead, Harrison will be ‘temporarily replaced by rotating fan-favorite alums from the franchise,’ specifically Bachelorette stars Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe.
‘In his absence, former Bachelorettes Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe will support the new Bachelorette through next season.
‘As we continue the dialogue around achieving greater equity and inclusion within ‘The Bachelor’ franchise, we are dedicated to improving the BIPOC representation of our crew, including among the executive producer ranks.
The news comes after it was reported: Harrison will NOT return as host for upcoming season of The Bachelorette, which the impending cast is currently quarantining for in New Mexico
Temporary replacements: Instead, Harrison will be ‘temporarily replaced by rotating fan-favorite alums from the franchise,’ specifically Bachelorette stars Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe
‘These are important steps in effecting fundamental change so that our franchise is a celebration of love that is reflective of our world,’ the statement concluded.
The news comes just hours after sources close to the production told TMZ that while the contestants have arrived at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa in New Mexico, Harrison was nowhere to be seen.
Last month the host announced his decision to ‘step aside’ from the show following outrage, after he defended a contestant on the current season of The Bachelor who has been accused of racially insensitive social media posts.
Controversial: Last month the host announced his decision to ‘step aside’ from the show following outrage, after he defended a contestant on the current season of The Bachelor who has been accused of racially insensitive social media posts; Tayshia and Chris pictured
It is unclear whether or not the network has decided to replace Harrison for the upcoming season, but earlier this week he was photographed golfing in Los Angeles.
It was announced that Former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho — who found viral fame for his series Uncomfortable Conversations With A Black Man on Instagram — will be hosting After The Final Rose in lieu of Harrison.
Though The Bachelorette for the upcoming season has not been officially announced, blogger Reality Steve reported that the show has tapped Katie Thurston — a 30-year-old contestant from the current Bachelor season — as lead.
Harrison stepped aside last month after he defended show frontrunner Rachael Kirkconnell — who is vying for first Black bachelor Matt James’ heart — after photos of her at a plantation themed fraternity party emerged.
The location: The upcoming Bachelorette season will be filmed at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa in New Mexico
Replacement: Acho who found fame in the summer after his Instagram series Uncomfortable Conversations With A Black Man went viral is taking Harrison’s place for the After The Final Rose special; pictured February 27
The new Bachelorette? Blogger reality steve has reported that Thurston, 30, from James’ current season of The Bachelor has been tapped as lead for the upcoming season though ABC has not officially announced
The Georgia raised designer also has been accused of bullying a girl in highschool for liking Black men and sharing right-winged conspiracy theories among other things.
In conversation with Rachel Lindsay, the first Black Bachelorette, Harrison made remarks that angered Bachelor nation.
Lindsay asked Chris about the resurfaced photos of Kirkconnell saying it ‘wasn’t a good look, to which he responded ‘Well, Rachel, is it a good look in 2018? Or, is it not a good look in 2021? Because there’s a big difference,’ later adding, ‘I am not the woke police.’
Harrison issued an apology on social media following outrage for his remarks in which he said he was ‘deeply remorseful,’ while acknowledging his ‘ignorance,’ calling himself ‘uniformed’ and ‘so wrong.’
Will he host? It is unclear whether or not the network has decided to replace Harrison for the upcoming New Mexico season, but earlier this week he was photographed golfing in Los Angeles
Insensitive remarks: In conversation with Lindsay, the first Black Bachelorette, Harrison made remarks that angered Bachelor nation, later issuing a mea culpa and stepping aside for an undisclosed period of time
Apology tour: Harrison’s apology preceded his announcement to step aside from the show as he called himself ‘uninformed’ and ‘so wrong’ while vowing to do better; February 13
He ultimately said, ‘To that end, I have consulted with Warner Bros. and ABC and will be stepping aside for a period of time.’
Kirkconnell also spoke out about her past behavior following Harrison’s statement, saying in an excerpt: ‘I didn’t recognize how offensive and racist my actions were but that doesn’t excuse them…I was ignorant but my ignorance was racist.’
She is currently in the top two, her love story with James perhaps ending in a proposal, which will be revealed on this week’s finale episode.
James also responded to the Harrison situation via social media.
‘Chris’s failure to receive and understand the emotional labor that my friend Rachel Lindsay was taking on by graciously and patiently explaining the racist history of the Antebellum South, a painful history that every American should understand intimately, was troubling and painful to watch.’
Controversy: The longtime host defended show frontrunner Kirkconnell — who is vying for first Black bachelor James’ heart — after photos of her at a plantation themed fraternity party emerged
Last season’s Bachelorette Tayshia Adams — who is of Mexican and Black heritage — called Harrison’s parting ‘a really good thing.’
‘I think that by him taking ownership, and just not just saying an apology and then just going back to work the next day like nothing happened, speaks volumes on his behalf,’ she shared, calling his exit ‘absolutely’ the right move.
Lindsay — who has removed herself from any and all association with the show — expressed outrage over the fact that ABC has continued to move forward with the next iteration of the series in New Mexico.
Ready to go: Adams and Bristowe are reportedly quarantined on-site with Katie Thurston, who is expected to be the show’s leading lady, according to Variety; Bristowe seen in 2019
Speaking on the Bachelor Party podcast she said: ‘I just don’t think that things have been fixed in the right way. Anybody that’s standing up for change, I don’t understand how you could be a part of this current season, because…there is still so much work to be done.’
Adams and Bristowe are reportedly already quarantined on-site with Thurston, the show’s presumed leading lady, according to Variety.
Both women have found love through Bachelor Nation with Adams getting engaged to Zac Clark over the summer and Bristowe dating Jason Tartick.
Happy couple: Both women have found love through Bachelor Nation with Adams getting engaged to Zac Clark over the summer and Bristowe dating Jason Tartick
The Dancing With the Stars champ and Tartick met on while recording an episode of her podcast, Off the Vine, not long after she ended her three-year engagement with Shawn Booth in November 2018.
Bristowe and Booth met and fell in love on season 11 of The Bachelorette.
Neither Adams or Bristowe’s gigs are permanent, according to Variety, which reported their roles are temporary.
‘The door has been left open for Harrison’s future,’ the outlet reported, noting ‘the situation has been described by sources as a “wait-and-see” approach.’
Next Bachelorette? Adams and Bristowe are reportedly quarantined on-site with Katie Thurston, who is expected to be the show’s leading lady
Thurston, a 30-year-old bank marketing manager from Washington, made a memorable limo entrance on Matt James’ Bachelor season by arriving with a vibrator.
Last month, she refuted a report she had been named as the next star of The Bachelorette.
The reality contestant took to Instagram Stories to shut down a Twitter post by podcast host Stephen Carbone aka Reality Steve.
Bachelor star: Last month, she refuted a report she had been named as the next star of The Bachelorette
‘(SPOILER): At the ”Women Tell All’ taping this past Thursday, Katie Thurston was announced as the next ”Bachelorette”. Katie gets eliminated on Monday’s episode during her 1-on-1 with Matt,’ RealitySteve tweeted.
‘News to me,’ she quipped along with an emoji of brunette with her left palm facing upward as she mimicked the avatar with her own pose.
Katie has made her presence felt on the ABC reality show since she emerged from the limo at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Pennsylvania to meet Matt James, 29, the first black Bachelor lead of the franchise since its premiere in March 2002.
Sure bet: Katie was the network’s top pick to be the next Bachelorette and two sources familiar with the casting decision said she was a sure bet, according to an article Monday by Variety
She carried what Matt described on Monday’s episode as a ‘cactus-sized vibrator’ as she got out of the limo and later emerged as a fierce prosecutor of ‘mean girls’ who were bullying contestants on the show.
Katie and Matt went on a one-on-one date in which they pulled a prank on his best friend and former The Bachelorette contestant Tyler Cameron, 28.
Matt during their dinner date held up a rose, but held back from giving it to her as he admitted that his relationships with other women had progressed further than theirs.