Chris Harrison can give “The Bachelor” a legal presentation rather than a rose.
Harrison has retained power attorney Bryan Freedman, the same lawyer who represented Gabrielle Union in her recent dispute with “America’s Got Talent” on NBC.
It is not yet clear what legal action, if any, is being explored. But a friend of Harrison’s told us on Friday about the move: “Chris has had a flawless record for 20 years … He’s always been the good man in the company, however, after the way he’s been treated by producers and executives. for the last couple of weeks, his cheeks are running out. “
The colleague added: “He is now ready to tell the truth about how things really work there, and he has a lot of evidence to support him.”
Freedman rejected Union in its “AGT” dispute last year after he complained of racism and a “toxic environment” on the talent show and had been released as a judge. The case was resolved in September. Freedman, in June, had filed a complaint with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing on behalf of Union, after NBC had completed its own investigation.
Harrison, 49, would no doubt know where the bodies of the Bachelor franchise are buried. He hosted the 25 seasons of “The Bachelor,” as well as the 16 seasons of “The Bachelorette,” before leaving the show amid last month’s controversy.
He retired after a commotion when he defended contestant Rachael Kirkconnell in a failed interview with Rachel Lindsay, who had been the first black bachelorette in the franchise. Images had surfaced of 24-year-old Kirkconnell attending a plantation-themed party in 2018 as a student, and she was also accused of “liking” race-insensitive social media online posts. Harrison said fans should offer Kirkconnell “a little grace, a little understanding.”
He later apologized and said of the interview: “Excusing historical racism, I defended it. I invoked the term “wake up the police,” which is unacceptable. I am ashamed of how uninformed I was. I was wrong. ”
He also said in a statement, “I have consulted with Warner Bros. and ABC and will be sidelined for a period of time and will not join the special ‘After the Final Rose.'”
He did not specify how long his departure would last, but “The Bachelorette” announced last week that Kaitlyn Bristowe and Tayshia Adams will be co-hosts of the show’s next season. “The Bachelor” finished its final season this week, with a high score, but was reported to be below last season’s final numbers.
Following Harrison’s comments to Lindsay about Kirkconnell, the contestants for season 25 of “The Bachelor” released a statement saying, “We are deeply disappointed and want to make it clear that we are denouncing any defense of racism.”
But this week, Matt James, the first black bachelor, expressed his hope that Harrison could return eventually.
“I don’t think anyone is trying to cancel it,” James told Bill Simmons. “We should call him to do that job he sketched out and wants to do. He takes a step back and promises to do it. I look forward to seeing him do that.”
Freedman has also fired former Grammy chief Deborah Dugan in her recent explosive dispute with the Recording Academy.