The old guy‘s Rachael Kirkconnell apologized.
Kirkconnell, who is taking part in the current season of the long reality series, has faced accusations of racism since last month when photos surfaced of her attending a fraternity formal with an antebellum plantation theme in 2018. Around the same time ‘ A TikToker has made an unverified accusation that Kirkconnell bullied her in high school for dating a black man.
Kirkconnell is white and competes for the heart of Matt James, the first black bachelor of the program ever.
“At one point, I did not realize how offensive and racist my actions were, but it does not excuse them. My age or when it happened does not excuse anything,” she said in a statement Thursday afternoon. “There is in no sense acceptable or good. I was ignorant, but my ignorance was racist. I am sorry for the communities and individuals that my actions have harmed and insulted.”
The 24-year-old said she was ‘ashamed’ of her lack of training and that she was learning. She also encouraged others to use it as a ‘learnable moment’ to prevent someone else from making the same mistake.
She concluded by saying, “Racial progress and unity are impossible without (white) accountability, and I deserve to be held accountable for my actions.” As for forgiveness, Kirkconnell said she hopes to earn it with her actions going forward.
Just one day earlier, Bachelor host Chris Harrison apologized for Kirkconnell’s defense during an interview with Rachel Lindsay, who is the first black star of The Bachelorette in 2017. When asked about the photos, Harrison initially said that people should not judge Kirkconnell so quickly.
“We all need to have a little grace, a little understanding, a little compassion,” he said. “Because I’ve seen a few things online – this judge, jury, executioner where people just tear the girl’s life apart and dive in, like her parents, her parents’ voting record. It’s incredibly worrying to watch. I did. “I have not yet heard Rachael talk about this. Until I really hear that this woman has the chance to speak, who am I to say this? I saw a picture of her at a women’s party five years ago and that’s it. ‘
When Lindsay said the controversial images’ were not a good look ‘, Harrison responded by asking if it was a good look in 2018. Lindsay’s answer was that it’ was never a good look because she celebrates the Old South. If I went to that party, what would I represent at that party? ‘
Harrison argued: “50 million people did it in 2018.”
On Wednesday, he said he regretted ‘wrong conversation in a way that perpetuates racism’.
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