Thanks to all who tuned into the IG Live Ashley and I did last night. It wasn’t an easy conversation, and judging by a lot of the mentions under my tweet last Thursday in regards to Rachael attending an Old South formal, I’m guessing there are plenty that still don’t understand what the issue is. If that’s your take, I suggest you listen to the live (which I’ve posted below), or, just do some reading about the history of how the Old South formals came to be, what they represent, the Kappa Alpha Order, etc. There’s plenty to follow up on as to why this event is rooted in racism. And again, if you think that because just because people showed up to the event doesn’t mean their racist, please watch our video below. It goes a lot deeper than a surface level question like that. I’m not going to try and pretend I’m some sort of historian on this. I’ve made that perfectly clear. But I am willing to learn and educate myself more on this, which I’ve tried to do these last couple weeks. Some of the stuff I’ve come across has been pretty eye opening. So all we ask is to be open minded to discussion, rather than immediately becoming defensive when people start talking about race. It’s the only way race relations are going to improve in this country.
Here is the live from last night in case you missed it. It’s also on my IGTV on Instagram as well:
View this post on Instagram
Here is the Taylor Nolan podcast called “White People” that I referred to during the live in case you never listened. This really is a must listen when she speaks with Robin DiAngelo. Here’s also a great interview Robin does about her book that breaks down racism in a way that I’m guessing 95% of people don’t look at it. And the book I discussed in the Live is called “So You Wanna Talk About Race” that you can purchase here About halfway through the book and really asks a lot of great questions surrounding race that, again, I’m guessing most people have either never thought about or spent more than a few minutes in thought about.
Chris Harrison took to Extra last night and spoke with Rachel Lindsay about a few things going on this season. First lets discuss a couple topics in this interview he did, most notably Katie as “Bachelorette” and Heather showing up:
So when asked if Katie was the “Bachelorette” Chris’ answer was that she was not named the “Bachelorette” at the “Women Tell All” taping. No one was. Well yeah. I corrected that in my tweet on Monday and in my column yesterday. Thought that was an interesting answer that he just focused on that part of my tweet, but not that there are reports Katie will be named the “Bachelorette.”
Then the Heather stuff, he says they told her not to show up, and basically pinned it all on Heather and Hannah. That was…odd. If you didn’t want her on the show, when she showed up, you would’ve told her to leave. So ridiculous.
And then Rachel did a 13 minute interview with Chris where all they talked about was the Rachael social media scandal. I want all of you to take the time to watch this.
I’m sorry, but that’s flat out embarrassing. Chris Harrison, the spokesperson for this show, cannot and refuses to call out racism when he sees it. Dude should seriously be fired for that stance. I mean, it’s laughable. The answers he gives are EXACTLY everything that Ashley and I talked about last night about WHY this is wrong. Chris might as well have just responded to my tweet with “hey, it was a just a party and they were dressed in costumes. Big deal.” Well actually, that’s pretty much what he DID say. Unreal. Lets see how many podcasts in Bachelor Nation call Chris out for this interview.
And here’s the other thing: Chris stepped in it again by saying that the show shouldn’t comment on it before Rachael does. However, what he’s not letting them know is Rachael HAS wanted to speak out about it for weeks, but the show has not allowed it. It was all covered in the live. It wasn’t until the Old South formal pics were posted on Thursday did the show tell Rachael she should make a statement. The hypocrisy going on behind the scenes is ridiculous and needs to be called out.
“Reader Emails” begins on Page 2…

adelina
February 10, 2021 at 12:33 PM
I watched most of the Rachel Lindsey/Chris Harrison interview and either Chris is running the corporate line or he’s just plain ignorant. None of it surprising since this show has always been mired in a 1980’s vibe.
A huge overhaul of the show would be nice. First to go should be misogynist Mike Fleiss…it all trickles down from there.
justsaying
February 10, 2021 at 3:33 PM
Maybe CB will do the mother of all grilling on Racheal during the ATFR to redeem his ignorant self. There’s no justice in this world
bachfan02
February 11, 2021 at 12:16 PM
Now that Chris H. is in hot water for insensitive/ignorant comments I hope they’re forced to rethink casting another white woman as the Bachelorette lead when they have a great opportunity to continue the diverse lead angle–someone who is in Matt’s final four. As Steve wrote Katie “fits the mold.” But is that what they need? She is just more of the comfortable same ol’ they’ve had for years and years. Just cause they’ve had three/four (Claire age-wise) leads that weren’t in the mold, doesn’t mean it’s olly-olly oxen free to revert to same ol’. The franchise STILL has much work to do, obviously. And I believe every scene Katie was in was played up precisely so she could be in the strong running for Bachelorette. They’re desperate to could go back to comfortable same ol’ cause that’s why she received the best edit, so fans would clamor for her. It will be interesting to see who gets thrown under the bus here.
justsaying
February 11, 2021 at 2:41 PM
I don’t know why Steve would say Katie fits the mold. She is quite the wild card. Have you seen some of her videos?? I wouldn’t say she’s a safe choice LOL
crushonspivey
February 11, 2021 at 3:17 PM
“And again, if you think that because just because people showed up to the event doesn’t mean their racist, please watch our video below.–RS”
I guess I am one of those that thinks that. I don’t think because they do show up and attend that they are automatically painted with a broad brush as racists. That is not my style with anything because it is unfair and often wrong. Especially stupid college aged kids. BUT–if you want to call them ill informed or even ignorant, I wouldn’t argue. I think it fits much better than calling most a racist. So I am not saying that racists don’t exist–they do. I’m just saying I think most are ignorant to what they are doing means to others. And it is much easier to teach someone who did something out of ignorance what it meant to others and get them to come around and reform than it is to just flat out call them racist and make them defensive of the label. Especially when the point is to educate. I mean, that is what education is about–combatting ignorance.
I’ll be honest, I was an ignorant kid in my teen years. I didn’t see or get stuff like I do now. My worldview was much more narrow. I’d hate to get wrecked over that now when that is not what I think or how I act now. And that is the damage of cancel culture. We are supposed to educate and help reform people, not cancel and try to destroy them over bad choices made in ignorance. SO that is how we need to treat it, because that is how we can reform it. Through education. Not through cancelling and labeling to destroy.
bachfan02
February 11, 2021 at 4:58 PM
I say Katie “fits the mold” because she is white and about the same age as the typical Bachelorette lead. She plays sassy, spunky/feisty/outspoken. Scored points for bringing a vibrator. She’s Kaitlyn Bristow 2.0. They even have similar brunette looks and petite-size/build etc. (Kaitlyn didn’t wave a vibrator, but she took off her bikini top on a group date with Chris Soules and hopped in the water.)
karla
February 11, 2021 at 8:22 PM
AMEN @crushonspivey, well said, thank you.
tvau83
February 16, 2021 at 6:21 AM
I didn’t see any issue with what he said but that’s typical of liberalism. Everything is racist. You all throw the word around so much that honestly it’s not even taken seriously when there are blatant cases of it which are sad. He said to give the girl a chance to explain herself. Period. Not bashing and judging etc… but that’s what you all love to do.
tvau83
February 16, 2021 at 6:22 AM
Oh isn’t that cute? Let’s not cast white people now? Wow
tvau83
February 16, 2021 at 6:24 AM
I couldn’t agree more but that’s what a lot of people out there like to do in 2020-2021 call everyone a racist. If you’re white either you must you yourself admit you are inherently racist or that others are….. or you’re cancelled and shamed. It’s disgusting.
tvau83
February 16, 2021 at 6:25 AM
We just had a black bachelorette did we not?