'He'll Be Back On Another Channel': Ex 'Bachelor' Host Chris Harrison Plotting Reality TV Return, Dishes Source
Booted Bachelor host Chris Harrison is plotting a return to reality TV as the face of a new dating show that will give his old one a run for the money, spills an OK! insider.
Harrison, 49, who had been on hiatus since February after defending former contestant Rachael Kirkconnell, 24, in her controversial race row, exited the franchise for good after reportedly negotiating an eight-figure payout not to spill any dirty behind-the-scenes secrets.
While his comments about the situation were not well received, Kirkconnell and beau Matt James have recently been spotted out and about — and judging by James’ Instagram, the pair seem to be back together despite all the drama.
Still, Harrison himself has not commented on the couple’s status and instead seems to be steering clear of Bachelor Nation and the media — for now.
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"He’s taking a year off, but as soon as his non-compete expires, he’ll be back on another channel," dishes the insider, who says a defiant Harrison is "already boasting" that he’s going to blow the long-running franchise out of the water.
"He’s telling people with a straight face that he’s the best at the job by a million miles," says the insider, "and there are plenty of fans who still agree with him."
While Harrison is currently satisfied with his golden parachute, "make no mistake, he’s very sore about losing this gig," the insider adds. "He figures revenge will be sweet when he can ram his post-Bachelor success down everyone’s throats!"
OK! sources exclusively spilled that Harrison “felt blindsided and betrayed” with ABC’s decision to make his recent hiatus permanent. “Chris may have been overly optimistic that his almost two-decade tenure would have weight with the network,” an insider recently dished, adding that “Chris feels like the way they pushed him out was unfair.”