There’s a handful of guest hosts set to take over “Bachelor In Paradise” following Chris Harrison‘s dramatic exit over his controversial comments on race. Deets on Tituss Burgess, Lil Jon and more joining the Bachelor Nation inside…
Following Chris Harrison’s exit, the Bachelor franchise has reached out to book a handful of talent to serve as guest hosts for “Bachelor in Paradise” Season 7. And fans have noticed, they made sure to include people of color.
“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” star Tituss Burgess and rapper Lil Jon are set to guest host the 7th season of “Bachelor in Paradise.” NSYNC singer Lance Bass and “SNL” alum David Spade have also been tapped to guest host. This will be…..different.
“Non-scripted TV is my guilty pleasure,” Tituss Burgess told Page Six. “I absolutely love it. I’ll be like a hog in sh*t hosting this show.”
The Broadway star is geeked about the gig, adding that he loves “the drama, the fun, the ‘reality’ and all the hot men — I mean, all the hot people.”
He’s so hype just to be in the mix, he told the publication he wasn’t worried if some contestants weren’t there for “the right reasons.”
“I’m not there for the right reasons!” he quipped.
Oop.
The new guest hosts were announced after longtime host Chris Harrison exited the romance franchise for good after nearly two decades. In February, Chris came under social media heat after he took up for former “Bachelor” contestant Rachael Kirkconnell after pictures emerged of her attending an antebellum-styled party in college. He defended Rachael while talking with ”Bachelorette” alum Rachel Lindsay
It’s said NFL star-turned-TV host Michael Strahan aided in Harrison’s departure from Bachelor Nation. According to THR, after Harrison’s March interview with Strahan on Good Morning America, which aimed to rehabilitate Harrison’s reputation, Strahan was “unhappy with the substance of the interview” and he didn’t hide it while on air. After the pre-taped interview was aired, Strahan told his co-hosts that “it felt like I got nothing more than a surface response” from Harrison, who repeatedly stated that he had no intention of leaving the franchise. “That interview was the nail in the coffin” for Harrison’s return, sources told THR.
According to reports, Chris Harrison walked away from the popular show with at least eight figures. Apparently he demanded money in order to stay “hushed” about Bachelor franchise secrets, allegedly. Must be NICE.
If you haven’t heard, Tituss found himself caught up in a little drama after he spoke out in defense of his “Kimmy” co-star/friend Ellie Kemper, who came under fire last month for being named the queen of a ball with alleged ties to white supremacy when she was a teen. Tituss claims to have held a phone conversation with her.
“We’re going to leave it at that,” he said before adding, “My Ellie is doing wonderful. Ellie’s great.”
Well alright.
“Bachelor in Paradise” is set to premiere August 16th and “The Bachelorette” currently airs at 8pm EST on Mondays on ABC.
Photos: Ron Adar/Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock.com
