Amid the ongoingBachelorfranchise controversy,Michael Strahandid not walk away from his interview withChris Harrisonsatisfied with the longtimehost’s apology.
For more on Chris Harrison’sGood Morning Americainterview, listen below to the episode of PEOPLE Every Day.
“It was a mistake, I made a mistake,” Harrison, 49, told Strahan. “I am an imperfect man, I made a mistake, and I own that.”
At the end of the interview, Harrison eyed a return to the franchise, saying, “I plan to be back and I want to be back,” adding that he is “committed to progress, not just for myself, also for the franchise.”
“This interview is not the finish line,” he said. “There is much more work to be done. And I am excited to be a part of that change.”
Strahan agreed that there’s work to be done, and later told his co-hosts that Harrison’s apology felt superficial.
“His apology is his apology, but it felt like nothing more than a surface response on any of this,” he said. “I mean, obviously, he’s a man who clearly wants to stay on this show, but only time will tell if there is any meaning behind his words.”
Chris Harrison.Eric McCandless/Getty Images
Earlier in his interview with Strahan, Harrison extended an apology to Lindsay, 35, as well as the Black community, for initially questioning the “lens” of 2021 compared to 2018 and saying people should have “a little grace, a little understanding, a little compassion” in the wake of Kirkconnell’s resurfaced photos.
“There is not [a difference between 2018 and 2021]. Antebellum parties are not okay, past, present, future. Knowing what that represents is unacceptable,” he said. “I am saddened and shocked at how insensitive I was in that interview with Rachel Lindsay. I didn’t speak for my heart, that is to say I stand against all forms of racism … I’m sorry to Rachel Lindsay, and I’m sorry to the Black community.”
RELATED VIDEO: Rachel Lindsay Says It Was the ‘Right Decision’ for Chris Harrison to Step Aside asBachelorHost
Upon receiving backlash for his remarks about Kirkconnell during theExtrainterview, Harrison firstapologizedon Feb. 10. A few days later, heapologized for a second timeand said he would be “stepping aside” from the franchise for an unspecified amount of time.
Acho will also sit down with the final three women: Kirkconnell, Bri Springs and Michelle Young.
The Bachelor: After the Final Rosewill air on Monday, March 15 at 10 p.m. ET on ABC, immediately following the season finale ofThe Bachelor.
source: people.com
