Rachel Lindsay reacts to Chris Harrison stepping away from The Bachelor franchise

Just days after The Bachelor host Chris Harrison announced he was stepping away from Bachelor Nation, Rachel Lindsay has reacted to his apology.

Lindsay, 35, interviewed Harrison, 49, last week, when he came under fire for defending current Bachelor contestant Rachel Kirkconnell after her questionable behavior was revealed, including attending an antebellum party on a plantation in 2018.

The former Bachelorette, now a correspondent for Extra, spoke with Billy Bush about the interview and his apology, revealing he needs to get ‘educated.

Reaction: Just days after The Bachelor host Chris Harrison announced he was stepping away from Bachelor Nation, Rachel Lindsay has reacted to his apology

Interview: Lindsay, 35, interviewed Harrison, 49, last week, when he came under fire for defending current Bachelor contestant Rachel Kirkconnell after her questionable behavior was revealed, including attending an antebellum party on a plantation in 2018

Interview: Lindsay, 35, interviewed Harrison, 49, last week, when he came under fire for defending current Bachelor contestant Rachel Kirkconnell after her questionable behavior was revealed, including attending an antebellum party on a plantation in 2018

When asked how she felt walking away from the interview, Lindsay said she was ‘stunned,’ but not because of what he said.

‘As Chris referenced in that interview, we have had these conversations. I wasn’t shocked at the content of what he was saying… in public, where other people can hear what you think, and your, your thoughts may be a bit controversial, but I remember also thinking, “This is something that needs to be heard. This is something that needs to be seen.” And I felt a duty,’ she said.

‘Because when you think of racism, you think explicit racism… you think wearing a white hood, you know? Saying things that are derogatory or offensive,’ she continued.

Stunned: When asked how she felt walking away from the interview, Lindsay said she was 'stunned,' but not because of what he said

Stunned: When asked how she felt walking away from the interview, Lindsay said she was ‘stunned,’ but not because of what he said

Explicit: 'Because when you think of racism, you think explicit racism… you think wearing a white hood, you know? Saying things that are derogatory or offensive,' she continued

Explicit: ‘Because when you think of racism, you think explicit racism… you think wearing a white hood, you know? Saying things that are derogatory or offensive,’ she continued

‘That’s explicit racism, but then there’s implicit racism where you have these unconscious biases and stereotypes and misconceptions of certain groups, and that’s what we were seeing in that interview, and I think it was a moment for people to recognize what was being said and to learn and grow from it, which is what we’re seeing happen now with Chris,’ she added.

One of the pivotal points of the interview is when they were discussing the 2018 plantation party Kirkconnell took part in, which Harrison ultimately dismissed, as Lindsay said she didn’t want to react, ‘because I needed people to hear him and not the exchange between the two of us.

Still, she wished she would have asked, ‘”What do you mean by that? What was the difference in 2018?” He kept talking about this lens, that we were looking at things through 2018 versus 2021 — I wish I had asked him to explain that.’

Explained: Still, she wished she would have asked, '"What do you mean by that? What was the difference in 2018?" He kept talking about this lens, that we were looking at things through 2018 versus 2021 — I wish I had asked him to explain that'

Explained: Still, she wished she would have asked, ‘”What do you mean by that? What was the difference in 2018?” He kept talking about this lens, that we were looking at things through 2018 versus 2021 — I wish I had asked him to explain that’

When asked how she felt about his apology, she said, ‘It wasn’t an apology,’ adding, ‘The apology came after the fact. So it’s hard for me to fully accept it. I’m going to need that time and space and compassion that he referenced to really accept the apology, because [Chris wasn’t] apologetic at first… I’m not saying I can’t get there, it’s just, initially, it’s a little tough for me.’

Lindsay added she thinks it was the ‘right decision’ for Harrison to step away, adding, ‘he needs to take time to get educated and on a profound and productive level to use his word. 

‘And I think he needs to understand what was done, what was wrong, and what he said in that interview, and he needs time. He’s stepped away to do that. As a franchise, though, where do you go from here when…?’ she added.

Right decision: Lindsay added she thinks it was the 'right decision' for Harrison to step away, adding, 'he needs to take time to get educated and on a profound and productive level to use his word

Right decision: Lindsay added she thinks it was the ‘right decision’ for Harrison to step away, adding, ‘he needs to take time to get educated and on a profound and productive level to use his word

Understand: 'And I think he needs to understand what was done, what was wrong, and what he said in that interview, and he needs time. He's stepped away to do that. As a franchise, though, where do you go from here when…?' she added

Understand: ‘And I think he needs to understand what was done, what was wrong, and what he said in that interview, and he needs time. He’s stepped away to do that. As a franchise, though, where do you go from here when…?’ she added

When asked what she thinks should happen with Bachelor Nation from there, she added she wants to ‘see what happens.’

In a final segment at the end of Monday’s Extra, Lindsay added another statement about the Harrison interview.

‘It was never my intention to see Chris Harrison step aside but it was my intention for others to see and hear this interview,’ she said.

Intention: 'It was never my intention to see Chris Harrison step aside but it was my intention for others to see and hear this interview,' she said.

Intention: ‘It was never my intention to see Chris Harrison step aside but it was my intention for others to see and hear this interview,’ she said.

‘It’s important to further and highlight these discussions. The only way to do that is to have these uncomfortable conversations so we can understand the underlying issues and implicit racism that exists within our society,’ Lindsay added.

‘When we can learn to recognize implicit and unconscious bias that history of our environments have taught us, then we can challenge one another to be better for ourselves but also for this society,’ she continued. 

‘Let’s not label, let’s not cancel, but let’s hold people accountable for their actions. Let’s set the example in this generation so that we don’t repeat the horrific mistakes from the past and so we can unify and be the change that this country needs to make this society better for the next generation,’ Lindsay concluded.

Important: 'It’s important to further and highlight these discussions. The only way to do that is to have these uncomfortable conversations so we can understand the underlying issues and implicit racism that exists within our society,' Lindsay added

Important: ‘It’s important to further and highlight these discussions. The only way to do that is to have these uncomfortable conversations so we can understand the underlying issues and implicit racism that exists within our society,’ Lindsay added