Entertainment
The Bachelorette’s Rachel Linsday deletes Instagram account after being inundated with hateful comments
The Bachelorette’s Rachel Lindsay has deleted her Instagram account after being inundated with hateful comments from viewers of The Bachelor.
Her decision to take a break from social media comes as The Bachelor is caught up in a racism scandal that has seen its host Chris Harrison ‘step aside’ from the series.
Rachel, who is the first Black female lead in the Bachelorette spin-off’s history, had interviewed Chris earlier this month, where they discussed the backlash The Bachelor contestant Rachael Kirkconnell is facing, after being accused of racist behaviour.
During their lengthy conversation, Chris was seen defending Rachael following pictures of her in attendance at a ‘plantation-themed fraternity party’ in 2018 and claims she bullied an old schoolmate for dating a Black man.
Since then, Rachel has found herself targeted online by viewers, with her Higher Learning podcast host Van Lathan revealing she disabled her Instagram account because of the hate she was getting.
‘She did it because that’s how much hate she is getting from Bachelor fans, who are spamming her with all kinds of rude and hateful things.. Y’all gotta get a f**king life. Seriously. Rachel is not responsible for Chris Harrison,’ he told fans in a video shared to social media.
‘A 49-year-old man who can’t read the room in these present 2021 times. She’s not responsible for that… you’re going after the wrong person. I know you love the show but it’s The Bachelor, it’s not worth harassing somebody over. Get a f**king life. Rachel we love you, we’re with you.’
Van captioned his video: ‘Leave Rachel the f**k alone. This harassment is going too far. My co host has zero today with the words of a grown ass man who still doesn’t get it. @chrisbharrison are you okay with people getting at Rachel to the point she can’t even exist on IG.
‘Is anyone from the entire “Bachelor Nation” going to stand up and condemn this harassment of a Black woman? Yo it’s just a f**king TV SHOW, y’all need to relax for real. I love you RACH. F**k these people.’
During his chat with Rachel, Chris claimed that The Bachelor’s Rachael was being ‘thrown to the wolves’ and urged people to show her ‘compassion’.
He later released a statement apologising for his actions. It read: ‘I have spent the last few days listening to the pain my words have caused, and I am deeply remorseful.
‘My ignorance did damage to my friends, colleagues and strangers alike. I have no one to blame but myself for what I have said and the way I spoke. I set standards for myself, and have not met them. I feel that with every fiber of my being. Now, just as I taught my children to stand up, and to own their actions, I will do the same.’
The statement continued: ‘By excusing historical racism, I defended it. I invoked the term “woke police” which is unacceptable. I am ashamed over how uninformed I was. I was so wrong.
‘To the Black community, to the BIPOC community: I am so sorry. My words were harmful. I am listening, and I truly apologize for my ignorance and any pain it caused you.’
Rachael, who is the rumoured winner of The Bachelor after Matt James was seen telling her he’s falling for her, has since apologised, stating her past behaviour was ‘racist’ and ‘ignorant’.
‘Racial progress and unity are impossible without (white) accountability, and I deserve to be held accountable for my actions,’ Rachael said.
‘I will never grow unless I recognize what I have done is wrong. ‘I don’t think one apology means that I deserve your forgiveness but rather I hope I can earn your forgiveness through my future actions.’
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