Former The Bachelor host Chris Harrison will be addressing his racial scandal for the first time in almost two years when he releases a brand new podcast.

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While Matt James' season of The Bachelor was airing in early 2021, Chris sparked major backlash when he defended Season 25 contestant Rachael Kirkconnell's racially-ignorant and racially-insensitive actions in the several years prior.

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The controversy resulted in Chris leaving The Bachelor franchise for good, and he hasn't spoken out about the life-changing events and learning experience until now.

Chris will be hosting a new podcast titled "The Most Dramatic Podcast Ever with Chris Harrison," which pays homage to The Bachelor franchise, and its first episode will be released on January 9, 2023.

On the first episode, Chris will be addressing his controversial exit from Bachelor Nation for the first time.

"I'm a little nervous. I have not spoken publicly for two years about this, and I have a lot of thoughts," the 51-year-old former ABC personality says in the podcast's trailer, which iHeartRadio released on Monday, December 19.

"I think about this every day. Truly, every day of my life I think about this and what I want to say," he continues, "and how important it is that I speak to everyone for the first time."

Chris teased the conversation will be "heavy," adding, "It's really heavy."

"We'll see how it goes. We may scrap this whole thing to be honest, I don't know. But it will be cathartic," Chris says in the preview.

"I'm looking forward to getting this off my shoulders and repairing this, moving forward, and letting everybody hear from me. So are we ready?! Okay, let's do it. Let's see what happens... I think it's time we talk."

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IHeartRadio describes Chris' new podcast as the following: "For two decades, Chris Harrison saw it all. To be honest, maybe too much. Seriously, there are things he just can't unsee. But his nightmares, his lessons, and all that wisdom are now your gain. That's right, your greatest podcast dreams have just come true! Chris Harrison is back. Who knows what he has to say now? You're going to want to find out. It's the most dramatic podcast ever... with Chris Harrison."

Chris will be digging into all things relationships every week -- discussing dating, marriage, love, loss, and more, according to iHeartRadio.

Back in February 2021, Chris had made offensive remarks in an Extra interview with The Bachelorette's first Black leading lady, Rachel Lindsay.

Chris had adopted a dismissive attitude towards photos of Rachael that resurfaced and were circulating online from an antebellum-plantation themed "Old South" fraternity party at Georgia College & State University in 2018.

Chris had called for "grace" and "compassion" for Rachael and also criticized the "woke police" and the "unbelievably alarming" response of anger and frustration to the young woman's actions.

Chris' strong defense of Rachael, who tearfully apologized for the racially-offensive photos, enraged many Bachelor Nation fans.

Chris therefore announced in February 2021 he'd be "stepping aside" from his hosting duties with The Bachelor franchise "for a period of time" to educate himself on racism in society in a "profound" and "productive" manner.

Chris issued a total of three public apologies for his offense, two on Instagram and one verbal apology during a March appearance on Good Morning America.

On GMA at the time, Chris said he hoped to come back to The Bachelor franchise, explaining, "This is a franchise that has been a part of my life for the better part of 20 years and I love it. I plan to be back and I want to be back."

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Rachel said she accepted Chris' apology in March 2021, but other people weren't so lenient.

Katie Thurston refused to star on Season 17 of The Bachelorette in March 2021 if Chris was going to participate, and several sources told E! News in April of last year that "many" The Bachelor and The Bachelorette alums from seasons past were "apprehensive" about signing up for Bachelor in Paradise 7 or even declined their invitations in the wake of Chris' racism controversy.

One insider told the website at the time, "A lot of people are removing themselves from the franchise."

The Bachelorette Season 16 bachelor, Ivan Hall, for example, told E!'s Daily Pop, "If they have future shows and if they were to ask me to be on Bachelor in Paradise or something like that -- and I'm sure a lot of other contestants feel this way as well -- I wouldn't feel comfortable if Chris is there, to be quite frank."

Ivan added, "[I'm] not saying he can't make a recovery, can't learn from all of this, but, you know... it would just be too soon, really."

ABC and Chris then publicly announced in June 2021 that Chris' voluntary leave of absence from The Bachelor franchise would become a permanent one and he would not be returning as host for any future seasons.

Chris wrote in a June 8, 2021 statement on Instagram how he was "excited to start a new chapter" and "so grateful to Bachelor Nation for all of the memories."

Former The Bachelorette stars Kaitlyn Bristowe and Tayshia Adams stepped in as co-hosts of Katie and Michelle Young's back-to-back The Bachelorette seasons, and Wells Adams -- joined by a group of celebrity guest hosts, including singers and comedians -- helmed Bachelor in Paradise's seventh season last year.

Jesse Palmer, a sports analyst who starred on The Bachelor's fifth season, replaced Chris in 2022, having hosted Clayton Echard's The Bachelor season followed by Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia's The Bachelorette season as well as Bachelor in Paradise 8 this past summer.

Jesse is also currently filming Zach Shallcross' season of The Bachelor, which premieres January 23, 2023.

Multiple sources told E! News last year that Chris was "saddened" and "frustrated" about his The Bachelor departure, adding that the show was his "whole life" and he really wanted to come back.

Deadline reported in June 2021 that Chris, who began hosting The Bachelor franchise back in Season 1, which premiered in 2002, reached a mid-range eight-figure settlement with ABC to exit The Bachelor franchise for good.

But Variety subsequently reported Chris only received $9 million as his supposed big payout.

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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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