Ex ‘Bachelor’ host Chris Harrison opens up about leaving LA after scandal

Chris Harrison has no regrets about leaving Hollywood.

The longtime “Bachelor” host, who exited the franchise in 2021 after defending a former contestant’s controversial behavior, opened up about his new life in Austin, Texas, during a chat with People published Monday.

“It feels wonderful, and thanks for asking that, because I wasn’t sure it would,” Harrison, 54, began.

“You know, when you do something every single day for two decades, and it’s so popular around the world, there is pressure to that, and there’s a spotlight and a microscope that you don’t even realize you’re under until you kinda get off that merry-go-round,” he added.

Harrison hosted “The Bachelor” from its debut in 2002 until his sudden departure nearly 20 years later. He served as the face of the franchise before his exit, including for its many spinoffs like “The Bachelorette” and “Bachelor in Paradise.”

But while it was initially hard for Harrison to make the transition away from Los Angeles, the former host acknowledged that he has since found his footing thanks to his wife, Lauren Zima, 37, and their new home.

“It was this kind of angst when I first got off, because I mean, ‘Oh, well, I gotta get back on. I gotta go back to work,’” he explained. “Then I kind of took a deep breath, and you dropped your shoulders, and I think falling in love definitely helped, moving to Austin definitely helped kind of relieve that and realize, ‘Wow, there’s a whole other world out here to dive into.’”

“So it has been a wonderful break and relief,” he added.

Harrison and Zima, a former “Entertainment Tonight” host and producer, moved from LA to Austin in 2020, per People. The couple later tied the knot in November 2023 and haven’t looked back since.

“I mean, what I love most about the new chapter is the fact that Austin is the new Hollywood, which means the opportunities are plenty here,” the former host said. 

“There is so much tech, music, food, entertainment, and theater. It’s all happening here,” Harrison continued. “And it reminds me of what Hollywood was built on, which is anything and everything is possible if everybody will just come in with an honest, open heart and mind and just wanna do some fun work together.”

The former “Bachelor Pad” host went on to tease a new project that he and Zima have in the works, although he kept hush-hush about the details.

“Honestly, for the first time in a long time, that fire has been reignited with this amazing woman to dive back in and do some creative work,” Harrison said.

“And there is a next chapter coming up very soon for both of us that is,” he added. “We’re going to be very excited to talk about.”

Harrison first came under fire in February 2021 for defending former “Bachelor” contestant Rachael Kirkconnell after pictures emerged of her attending an Antebellum-styled party three years earlier.

During an “Extra” interview with former “Bachelorette” Rachel Lindsay, Harrison expressed sympathy for Kirkconnell and suggested that the backlash against her wasn’t warranted because the photos were a few years old.

“Well, Rachel, is it a good look in 2018? Or is it not a good look in 2021?” he said during the interview. “Because there’s a big difference.”

“It’s not a good look ever,” Lindsay fired back at the time. “If I went to that party, what would I represent at that party?”

Harrison subsequently stepped down as host of the popular reality franchise before exiting for good a few months later.

“I’ve had a truly incredible run as host of The Bachelor franchise and now I’m excited to start a new chapter,” he wrote in a since-deleted Instagram post.

“I’m so grateful to Bachelor Nation for all of the memories we’ve made together,” Harrison continued. “While my two-decade journey is wrapping up, the friendships I’ve made will last a lifetime.”

Warner Horizon and ABC Entertainment confirmed Harrison’s permanent departure further in a joint statement about the change.

“Chris Harrison is stepping aside as host of ‘The Bachelor’ franchise,” the companies said. “We are thankful for his many contributions over the past 20 years and wish him all the best on his new journey.”