Recently, news broke that longtime host Chris Harrison will be temporarily stepping down from The Bachelor and its various spinoff series. Harrison became mired in controversy over recently failing to denounce evidence of past racist behaviors that surfaced from one of the latest contestants' social media.
With Harrison temporarily leaving his post, all eyes look to who ABC might choose as his replacement. Given the suddenness of the situation, it will be imperative for ABC to move quickly to select a replacement. With that in mind, here's a more than capable collection of people who might fit the bill.
10 Ashley Iaconetti Haibon
Bachelor Nation is no stranger to Ashley Iaconetti-Haibon, a delightful contestant who has parlayed her multiple appearances on the show into a budding TV hosting career.
After appearing on The Bachelor Season 19, and The Bachelor in Paradise Seasons 2 and 3, Iaconetti-Haibon finally won The Bachelor Winter Games. Now married to Jared Haibon, Iaconetti has worked as a correspondent for Access Hollywood and Clevver TV. She also hosts the podcasts Ben & Ashley I Almost Famous. and the I Don't Get It.
9 Ben Higgins
Speaking of Ben & Ashley I Almost Famous, the podcast is cohosted by Season 11 contestant and season 20 Bachelor Ben Higgins. Following his popular run on the series, Higgins was awarded a reality TV show in 2017 titled Ben and Lauren: Happily Ever After.
Standing 6'4'' with strapping good looks, Higgins has a telegenic quality that could appeal to new fans and old. He's also not too far removed from Bachelor Nation, having competed in 2016.
8 Mike Johnson
Before Matt James became the first official African-American Bachelor in Season 25, fans hoped the distinction would go to Mike Johnson. When Johnson lost out to Peter Weber, fans expected Johnson to get the nod the following year.
Alas, Johnson was passed over for James, who has an ultramagnetic personality that could be channeled as a TV host. Since his time on the show, Johnson has hosted Fox's digital web-based short series, That Looks Good.
7 Robin Roberts
If ABC needs to find a qualified TV host in a pinch that is already under contract, Robin Roberts should be the first name that comes to the network brass.
With a radiant smile, unmatched gravitas, and the utmost professionalism, Roberts has the ability to step right in ASAP and soothe the contentious air currently swirling around The Bachelor set. Roberts has been a career broadcast journalist since 1983, making her even more qualified than Harrison. The inspirational cancer survivor was named one of Disney's mentors for the #DreamBigPrincess promotion.
6 JoJo Fletcher
Ever since the announcement of Harrison's departure, fans have been clamoring for former contestant Joelle "JoJo" Fletcher to assume the hosting mantle on The Bachelor. The reason being that Fletcher already filled in admirably for Harrison during a few episodes of The Bachelorette.
After placing as the runner-up in The Bachelor 20, Fletcher was selected as the bachelorette in The Bachelorette 12. She is currently engaged with her beau Jordan Rodgers, whose brother Aaron is also poised to guest-host ABC's Jeopardy.
5 Tyra Banks
Having inked a new deal with ABC Image in August 2020, Tyra Banks is a logical TV personality to replace Harrison as the host of The Bachelor. While Banks has been named the new host of Dancing with the Stars, the show is currently on indefinite hiatus. There couldn't be a more opportune time.
With her bubbly personality and glamorous comportment to go with decades of TV hosting experience, Banks' infectious attitude would inject positive new energy into the show.
4 Rachel Lindsay
Although she's said she has no interest in continued affiliation with the franchise, Rachel Lindsay could and would make an ideal hostess for the brand. Smart, gorgeous, and independent, the lawyer with a southern charm would expand the fanbase in an instant. Lindsay also has adequate experience having hosted or co-hosted multiple episodes of The Drive, Ghosted: Love Gone Missing, and The Real.
Of course, it was Lindsay to whom Chris Harrison was speaking when he defended a current contestant's past racist actions, which means she should only be asked to host if ABC is prepared to allow her to fully speak her mind and take her suggestions and critiques to heart. Lindsay has been vocal about wanting to be representative of the show's Black audience and hoping to pave the way for more people to be featured on it. She has made it clear she does not think the show has gone far enough in its efforts to respect the diversity of its non-white contestants.
Although it would be great to see her finally empowered, it should absolutely not be on her shoulders to oversee or make systemic changes to the show herself. Still, the opportunity could be a great and powerful one, if ABC was sincere in its aims.
3 Matt James
Current Bachelor Matt James possesses a charismatic movie-star quality like few other past contestants. Handsome and charming doesn't even begin to describe the total package that is James.
James was initially set to compete for Tayshia Adams' heart on The Bachelorette 16 but was instead invited to the head honcho of The Bachelor 25. The dashing 28-year-old real estate agent appears to know no limits, and it would make sense for him to host a television program that he's already competed on and learned the ins-and-outs of. He couldn't host the end of his own season, of course, but he could be a great forward-looking choice.
2 Wells Adams
As the unofficial Bachelor mascot, few seem better suited to step right into the hosting gig than the lovable Wells Adams. While Adams competed on The Bachelor 12 and The Bachelor In Paradise 3, he won the hearts of fans as the beach bartender in Paradise 4, 5, and 6.
As such, no one is more familiar with how the structure of the show works, how the production meetings function, and what the hosting gig would entail. With a background as a radio DJ, Wells could effortlessly emcee the show in the short term and the long run.
1 Tayshia Adams
Given everything she's been through during her competitive journeys on the show, Tayshia Adams would be a great new face to synonymize The Bachelor brand with as the new hostess. The current social media influencer recently completed her stint as the Bachelorette in November 2020.
With an awesome personality to go with her big beautiful beaming smile, Tayshia could easily turn her three seasons of experience on the show to become a host. Fans are already familiar with Tayshia, and she knows the protocols of production. Not to mention, she recently co-hosted an 2021 episode of Entertainment Tonight.
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