News

Chris Harrison In First Interview Since ‘Bachelor’ Controversy Says He Wants To Be Back as Host; But GMA’s Michael Strahan Says Apology was a “Surface Response”

March 4, 2021

Photo: ABC

Thursday’s Good Morning America featured the highly-publicized first interview with ‘Bachelor’ franchise host and executive producer, Chris Harrison, since he stepped away from the show following his controversial remarks on current Bachelor contestant Rachel Kirkconnell, amid the airing of a season that has seen the first-ever Black male lead of the reality series, Matt James.

Speaking with GMA co-host, Michael Strahan, Harrison spoke of remarks he made during his interview with ex-Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay on Extra that sparked the firestorm.

Harrison admitted the words he spoke to Lindsey were “in a manner that perpetuates racism,” adding “I am an imperfect man I made a mistake and I own that. I believe that mistake doesn’t reflect who I am or what I stand for.”

The incident began when photos surfaced on social media of Kirkconnell at an Old South-themed party that she attended back in 2018, along with allegations she “liked” many Instagram posts that were racist in nature, and what many viewed as Harrison coming to her defense in this time of what he then called “cancel culture”.

On GMA, Chris expressed: “Antebellum parties are not OK, Past, present, future, knowing what that represents is unacceptable.”

He also apologized to Lindsay, who had to shut down her Instagram account because of viral vitriol being sent her way over the incident with Harrison, adding this message to the public, “Anyone who is throwing hate towards Rachel Lindsay, please stop. It’s unacceptable.”

Photo: ABC

As to how he is trying to make amends, Harrison shared: “I made a mistake and I own that, Racism, oppression, these are big dynamic problems and they take serious work. I am committed to that work.” The longtime Bachelor host then announced he is working with race educator Dr. Eric Dyson who has taught him about the idea of “counsel, not cancel”.

Chris says he plans to be back hosting the reality-dating series, expressing: “I plan to be back. I want to be back. This interview is not the finish line. There is much more work to be done.”

Following the exclusive, Michael Strahan described his conversation with Chris Harrison stating: “His apology is his apology, but it felt like it got nothing more than a surface response on any of this. Obviously, he is the man who wants to clearly stay on the show, but only time will tell if there is any meaning behind his words.”

So, what do you think of Chris Harrison’s responses during his first interview since the controversy? Should he return to hosting The Bachelor franchise? Comment below. But first check out his GMA exclusive.

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GH’s Wes Ramsey Makes Statement on Criticism, Social Media, and Professionalism

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Guest

Rose

Cancel culture DOES need to end.

Guest

Carrie

The real tragedy is our society was doomed 2 decades ago when shows like this went on the air. Just cancel the show and the entire franchise. The premise of this franchise is trashy. Competing for companionship? Gross. Give the time slot to actors, storytellers and artists. Chris, recognize that this new generation will never accept apologies. They don’t WANT your apologies. They want your livelihood taken from you. You should stop apologizing now and find a more dignified job. It’s a good thing to not be associated with this franchise.

Guest

whynot

The real tragedy is the mindset embedded in people’s brains, which causes comments like Harrison’s and responses like yours. It’s ingrained in people and apparently some, like you and him, don’t want to grow. Cancelling the show doesn’t solve anything.

Guest

Charday

What a pointless controversy. No apology was necessary, but he looked feckless apologizing on GMA.

Guest

Momo

I didn’t watch, but what type of apology would Michael have wanted? And yes, I do think Chris wants his job back.

Guest

davlestev1

You are a C-E-L-E-B-R-I-T-Y. And long before Me-Too and PC and Woke, Critics made and broke the Hollywood elite. Simple fact. Keep your mouth shut, your opinions to yourself, bask in the spotlight, photograph your food, your cute kids, your significant other and stay out of hotbed issues. You wanna look clever and have your say on the state of the world then expect to come out on the losing end. END OF!

As The World Turns

‘Santa Barbara’ & GH Favorite Judith McConnell Virtual Interview On Tap

October 15, 2021

You loved her as Sophia Capwell on Santa Barbara, and the troublemaking Augusta McLeod on General Hospital, plus several other soap roles, and now fan favorite Judith McConnell is set for a virtual interview in The Locher Room.

Look for Judith to chat it up with host, Alan Locher on the upcoming Friday, October 23rd edition of the You Tube series beginning at at 3 p.m. EST / 12 p.m. PST.

As well as being known for her soap roles on SB and GH, Judith also played Valerie Conway on As the World Turns, Miranda Bishop on Another World and Eva Vasquez on and One Life to Live.

In primetime, McConnell has appeared on Star Trek, Dragnet, Beverly Hillbillies, Mayberry RFD, Green Acres, Mannix and more.

To watch the livestream click here.

So, what has been your favorite Judith McConnell role in her illustrious daytime career? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

General Hospital

Sarah Joy Brown Directs Haley Pullos, Carolyn Hennesy, Eric Martsolf in New ‘Red Riding Hoods’ Podcast

October 14, 2021

What happens when a team of “Final Girls” (sole survivors of horrific mass murders) join forces to hunt malevolent entities while uncovering the apocalyptic conspiracy uniting them? Well, you have to listen to the brand new Horror Podcast Network’s latest offering Red Riding Hoods to find out. But here’s the twist! There are some daytime notables involved in the series.

Chief among them is three-time Daytime Emmy winner, Sarah Joy Brown (Ex-Carly and Claudia, GH) who directs the podcast series, a first for her career.

Along for the ride with Sarah are none other than General Hospital’s Haley Pullos (Molly) and Carolyn Hennesy (Diane), as well as Brown’s former DAYS co-star, Eric Martsolf (Brady) who all have roles within the story.

New episodes of the series began to roll out this past Monday on October 11th and there will be another installment every Monday thereafter.

Red Riding Hoods is available on all major podcast streaming platforms including: Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more. You can also listen to the podcast via the Violet Hour Media website here.

So, let us know if you check out Red Riding Hoods via the comment section below or are intrigued to hear the show!

News

B&B’s Annika Noelle Shares Her Heartache on Pregnancy Loss

October 13, 2021

In a very well-written and touching essay written by The Bold and the Beautiful’s Annika Noelle (Hope), herself, the actress shares with the readers details of two miscarriages that she had not publicly revealed until this time.

In her story for Glamour entitled, “Losing a Child in the Limelight”, Noelle shares the heartache and pain of losing a child while filming the demands of a soap opera, and especially Hope’s storyline which for months featured so much emotion and so many tears after the baby loss storyline on-air she was the vehicle in which to tell the tale.

However in real life, Noelle was going through something as well. Annika reveals how she and her fiancé found out she was pregnant, and then 10 weeks later she lost the baby. When they tried again, she lost the baby at 8 weeks.

In an excerpt, Annika expressed about keeping her pain private while working on the soap: “Fans and news articles speculated whether I was pregnant or just gained weight during quarantine. And once again the storyline called for ceaseless tears when I felt like I had no more to give. I guess looking back at it now, I was scared to jinx anything. I didn’t want people to know and have things not work out. And yet I wish I had because I would have given anything to have the understanding and support of the cast and crew. I felt so alone. The secret was isolating, yet the shame was debilitating. I felt like I had failed at something that should be easy. But as time marched on, I was surprised by a new feeling bubbling underneath the sorrow: an ancestral rage toward the burden of womanhood. And as I slowly began to open up about my loss to a select few, I was shocked by how many people had experienced it as well.”

In the end, Annika shares: “Anyone who follows me on social media can tell you I’m a deeply private person. But if there is one thing I’ve gained from my loss, it is a voice I’m no longer afraid to use.”

Make sure to read Annika’s moving article in full, then let us know in the comment section what you thought of it.