Chris Harrison was the face of Bachelor Nation for nearly 20 years. He left the franchise in 2021 after defending Rachael Kirkconnell amid racism allegations. Jesse Palmer eventually replaced him, though many fans still want Chris back. It seems they’re getting their wish. The embattled reality host makes his long-awaited return to ABC five years after his contentious exit. Keep reading to find out more about the controversial Bachelor spinoff he’s hosting.
Chris Harrison Returns To ABC With Controversial ‘Bachelor’ Spinoff
Chris Harrison and his wife, Lauren Zima, tried to stage a comeback several years ago by partnering with Dr. Phil’s Merit Street Media television network. However, the company never got off the ground and was liquidated amid bankruptcy. However, Chris Harrison landed on his feet. He’s hosting a new dating show next month and will make an unexpected return to ABC.
Oregon mortgage loan officer Jace Cates, 30, searches for a wife on The Vow. The new reality show is part of Fox Nation, a streaming service operated by Fox News Media. The conservative dating show focuses on traditional values. Former Bachelor In Paradise alum Kylee Russell is among the 10 female contestants.
The Vow premieres on November 11, 2026. While it airs on Fox Nation, it found its way to ABC, marking Chris Harrison’s return to the network after five years. TMZ reported that promos for the new dating reality show will air on ABC in early November, including during an episode of Grey’s Anatomy, one of the network’s top shows.
The move could draw Bachelor fans away from ABC and launch Fox Nation to the mainstream. However, Chris Harrison’s former network isn’t happy about The Vow and pulled a shocking move to stop it from airing.
He Blasts Former Network For Trying To Stop Comeback
When the first promo for The Vow dropped in September, it looked really familiar. It featured roses falling, and Chris Harrison saying, “Roses fade, true love lasts forever.” Warner Bros., which owns The Bachelor franchise, immediately issued a cease-and-desist, claiming the new show was a “direct copy” of ABC’s.
Fox Nation is going ahead with The Vow premiere despite the threat of legal action. In fact, they just dropped a new promo, as seen above. Chris Harrison spoke out about ABC’s attempt to stop his comeback.
“I don’t see them going after the 50, 60, 70 other relationship dating shows that have come on in the time that I was there or since I left,” he told USA Today. “There’s been one show that they’ve gone after. Is that a coincidence? You be the judge.”
Instead of buckling under pressure from ABC, Fox Nation doubled down and found a way to reach the Bachelor Nation audience. Tell us in the comments if you plan to watch The Vow.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger