'The Bachelor' Finds a New Host

The Bachelor has found a new host to replace Chris Harrison, who left the show earlier this year after making controversial comments abut racism. The new host will be Jesse Palmer, a former Bachelor contestant, NFL football player, and ESPN analyst. The TV franchise has been dealing with a string of racism-related controversies nearly constantly for the past few years, and it remains to be seen whether the addition of Palmer, who is white, will help change that. Read on for details.

Via Page Six.

Jesse Palmer has been named the new host of “The Bachelor.”

The former NFL player, 42 — who led “The Bachelor” Season 5 in 2004 — announced on Tuesday that he will be the one to replace longtime host Chris Harrison.

“For more than 20 years, ‘The Bachelor’ has brought the world dozens of unforgettable love stories, including at one time, my own,” Palmer said in a statement.

“Falling in love is one of life’s greatest gifts, and I am humbled by the opportunity to return to the show as host this season to offer the newest Bachelor advice gained from firsthand experience, and I am grateful to play a small part in his journey.”

Though Palmer’s romance with his final rose recipient Jessica Bowlin didn’t last, his run as the “Bachelor” led to a thriving career as a television broadcaster.

In addition to his job as an ESPN sports analyst, he currently hosts ABC’s summer series “The Ultimate Surfer.” He previously hosted the network’s dating competition series “The Proposal” in 2018, also helmed by “The Bachelor” creator Mike Fleiss.

Palmer was chosen to replace Harrison, 50, months after the latter TV personality was ousted from the franchise following backlash for his defense of “The Bachelor” Season 25 contestant Rachael Kirkconnell and her past racist behavior.

Harrison’s insensitive comments were made in February during a now-infamous “Extra” interview with Rachel Lindsay, who became the first black woman to lead “The Bachelorette” in 2017.

Get the rest of the story at Page Six.