Chris Harrison will reportedly not be returning for Bachelor in Paradise this summer and will be replaced by a group of celebrity guest hosts, including actor David Spade.
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The decision for Chris to sit out the new season of Bachelor in Paradise follows his recent racism controversy and voluntarily leave of absence.
Chris announced in February he'd be "stepping aside" from his hosting duties "for a period of time" to educate himself on a "profound" level after defending The Bachelor contestant Rachael Kirkconnell's racially-ignorant and insensitive actions in the last several years.
Bachelor in Paradise's hosting position will therefore be filled be celebrity comedians, and the sources claim David, an outspoken super fan of The Bachelor franchise, will be one of them.
As of Wednesday, David's deal with ABC was reportedly finalized; however, the network has yet to close deals with other potential guest hosts and offers were still being considered.
ABC and Warner Bros. TV declined comment when contacted about Chris' future involvement with The Bachelor franchise.
But Variety reported no official decision has been made as to whether Chris will regain his permanent hosting job going forward.
ABC is reportedly taking a "wait-and-see" approach in which executives intend to gauge the viewer response and reaction to this summer's The Bachelorette season starring Katie Thurston to help determine Chris' fate on the show.
A person close to Chris told Variety that his Los Angeles-based power attorney Bryan Freedman is "outraged" over how the matter is being handled.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' COUPLES NOW: WHO DID 'THE BACHELOR' STARS AND THEIR BACHELORETTE PICKS ACTUALLY END UP MARRYING? (PHOTOS)
In Fall 2021, ABC is also airing the eighteenth season of The Bachelorette starring The Bachelor star Matt James' runner-up Michelle Young.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOWTwo separate sources told Variety it's "highly unlikely" Chris will return as the host for Michelle's season later this year.
If the network ever welcomes Chris back, it appears he won't serve as host again until The Bachelor's 26th season premiering in January 2022 at the earliest.
Chris is reportedly hoping for a second chance because he cares deeply about the franchise and all of its members, according to sources close to the longtime host.
Chris even said himself during a March appearance on Good Morning America, "I plan to be back and I want to be back," but Bachelor Nation seems conflicted over whether his reinstatement would send the right message considering viewers have been pleading for more diversity and racial equality in the franchise for years.
Chris initially came under fire when he 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 offensive actions during an early-February Extra interview with The Bachelorette's first Black leading lady, Rachel Lindsay.
Chris issued multiple apologies and then chose to step aside from The Bachelor franchise, which resulted in Chris missing out on hosting After the Final Rose in March, which featured sports analyst, author and former NFL player Emmanuel Acho interviewing Matt and his Final 2 women.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOW: WHOM DID 'THE BACHELORETTE' STARS AND THEIR BACHELOR PICKS ULTIMATELY END UP WITH?! (PHOTOS)
Members of Bachelor Nation reportedly turned down the opportunity to appear on Bachelor in Paradise this year due to the racism scandals.
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According to several sources, "many" The Bachelor and The Bachelorette alums from seasons past declined their invitations to look for love in paradise, E! News reported in April.
"Some members of Bachelor Nation are apprehensive to sign up," one insider shared at the time. "Some are wondering what direction the season will take and are curious if it will strictly focus on contestants falling in love."
Another source said, "A lot of people are removing themselves from the franchise."
Even though many familiar faces from the franchise may have opted out of Bachelor in Paradise during these challenging times, a third source previously told E! News, "This could be the best cast ever."
"There is talk of having two years' worth of cast due to no Bachelor in Paradise last year," the third source explained in April, referencing how ABC skipped the 2020 edition of Paradise.
"They are in talks with multiple former leads. For the first time in franchise history, there will very likely be former Bachelors and Bachelorettes hitting the beach in Mexico."
Former The Bachelor stars who are still single from the past five or so years include Peter Weber and Chris Soules.
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As for single The Bachelorette stars, they include Becca Kufrin, Andi Dorfman and Ashley Hebert, who recently separated from her husband JP Rosenbaum.
Postponed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, Bachelor in Paradise will be airing in the summer months for the first time in two years.
Bachelor in Paradise's seventh edition will feature The Bachelor and The Bachelorette alums receiving a second -- or third -- chance to find love on reality television.
"They may have left their respective seasons brokenhearted, but now they have the opportunity to travel to a romantic paradise in hopes of turning a potential summer fling into the real thing," ABC recently teased of Bachelor in Paradise in a press release.
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When it was announced Chris would not be hosting The Bachelorette's new season, ABC Entertainment and Warner Horizon issued a joint statement to The Hollywood Reporter that read, "We support Chris in the work that he is committed to doing."
"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."
"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 added.
Season 17 of The Bachelorette will mark the first time someone other than Chris will host a season of either The Bachelor or The Bachelorette since the franchise began in 2002.
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
