EXCLUSIVEChris Harrison 'Still Bitter Over' 'The Bachelor' Replacing Him With Host Jesse Palmer Following Scandal
Feb. 25 2022, Published 12:05 a.m. ET
Jealous of Jesse?
Not so rosy: According to a source, Chris Harrison has a serious case of sour grapes over Jesse Palmer’s success taking over his Bachelor hosting duties.
Harrison, 50, who was forced to step down last year after his 19-season run amid backlash for defending a contestant accused of racism, “is still bitter about the whole mess,” dishes the source.
Now that Palmer, 43 — the reality show’s fifth bachelor in 2004 — has returned to take the reins, “he’s been knocking it out of the park,” continues the source, and the shunned ex host is “green with envy.”
While the former frontman reportedly hammered out a cushy $10 million payout package and is rumored to have plans for a rival show down the line, “he still feels like he built The Bachelor from the bottom up and didn’t want to leave,” the source continues.
“Chris has no problem with Jesse personally, but it kills him because everyone is falling over Jesse like he never existed," continues the OK! insider. "In his view, Jesse is getting all the glory based on his hard work!”
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As OK! previously reported, Harrison felt "blindsided and betrayed" by the network when he was pushed into a permanent exit from the beloved reality franchise.
The former host was also said to be highly offended that past contestants were so quick to campaign for his job after news got out that he would be leaving the show.
“Chris might say he doesn’t hold grudges toward the guest hosts, but part of him thinks it’s tacky of other stars to be gunning for his job so soon,” dished a source. “Chris feels like the way they pushed him out was unfair ... He apologized and meant it — though some skeptics still believe he was insincere.”
“Rumor has it his settlement included a clause preventing him from bad-mouthing the franchise, but there are people tied to the show who want to speak out on his behalf and expose the dirtier scandals fans don’t even know about,” the source continued, adding that Harrison is a “big believer in karma, so Bachelor beware!”
