Tayshia Adams says Chris Harrison stepping aside from Bachelor franchise is a ‘really good thing’

The Bachelorette’s Tayshia Adams has broken her silence following longtime show host Chris Harrison’s decision to take time away from the Bachelor franchise amid racially insensitive remarks.

Harrison felt pressure to step down from the series for an undisclosed period of time, after he defended a white contestant on the current season of The Bachelor for previous racist behavior before issuing an apology following fan outrage.

The 30-year-old reality star – who is of Mexican and Black heritage – called his parting ‘a really good thing,’ as she opened up about the situation on the Click Bait with Bachelor Nation podcast on Thursday.

Being the first biracial bachelorette on the franchise, she said, ‘His words affected a lot of people, you know, myself included.’

‘After reading his apology there’s a few things that stuck out to me, it hit my heart a little bit more to know he actually meant what he was saying,’ she shared, adding that she does think he took ‘ownership’ over his actions. 

She continued, ‘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,’ calling his exit ‘absolutely’ the right move. 

Last week, Harrison landed in hot water after he seemed to absolve current Bachelor contestant, Rachael Kirkconnell (who is vying for the heart of the first Black bachelor), from problematic behavior that came to light over the past month. 

Photos of the Georgia native at a plantation-themed fraternity party went viral on social media, as Harrison seemed to diminish the offensive nature of the situation in speaking with first Black bachelorette Rachel Lindsay on Extra TV. 

‘I saw a picture of her at a sorority party five years ago and that’s it,’ he said, prompting Lindsay to say that it ‘wasn’t a good look.’

He replied, ‘Well, Rachel, is it a good look in 2018? Or, is it not a good look in 2021? Because there’s a big difference,’ adding, ‘I am not the woke police.’ 

Following Bachelor Nation outrage over his remarks, Harrison issued an apology on social media in which he said he was ‘deeply remorseful,’ while acknowledging his ‘ignorance,’ calling himself ‘uniformed’ and ‘so wrong.’ 

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.’ 

Tayshia said that many parts of Harrison’s lengthy mea culpa felt necessary to her as she said his writing, ‘By excusing historical racism I defended it,’ was the ‘absolute truth’ in her opinion. 

‘The fact that he called that out and owned up to that and he acknowledges that, means a lot to me,’ she said, adding that his writing about a ‘commitment to a much greater understanding,’ and ‘actively’ working to better himself each day also ‘meant a lot,’ in addition to stepping down. 

Above all she said she would not crucify him for his actions. ‘I feel like we have to allow people to prove us wrong, and prove themselves,’ she shared.

Lindsay – who provided the platform for Harrison’s on-camera undoing said of his exit from the show: ‘It was never my intention to see Chris Harrison step aside, but it was my intention for others to hear and see this interview. It’s important to further and highlight these types of discussions. Let’s not label, let’s not cancel, but let’s hold people accountable for their actions.’