Former Bachelor host Chris Harrison engaged to girlfriend Lauren Zima: ‘The next chapter starts now’

Chris Harrison and Lauren Zima are engaged (Picture: Gregg DeGuire/WireImage)

Former The Bachelor host Chris Harrison has proposed to his girlfriend, Lauren Zima, months after he left the ABC show following a racism controversy.

The 50-year-old TV presenter revealed the happy news of the pair’s engagement on Instagram Monday, as he wiped all his past posts.

Now the only image featured on the former The Bachelorette host’s page is a series of snaps in which he can be seen getting down on one knee in California’s Napa Valley.

‘I love you @laurenzima The next chapter starts now!’ he wrote in the caption.

Lauren, who works as a correspondent on Entertainment Tonight, also shared the images as she shared a touching message.

The TV host wrote: ‘We tell each other this all the time, and we said it again in an unforgettably beautiful moment this weekend: I didn’t know love could be like this. You are the most incredible partner.

‘Thank you for loving me, championing me and asking me to marry you. Here’s to the next amazing chapter, and all the rest 💍’.

Chris was formerly wed to Gwen Harrison from 1993 until 2012. Together they have two children, Joshua and Taylor.

The happy engagement news comes after Chris stepped away from the Bachelor franchise in June 2021.

Chris famously hosted shows from The Bachelor franchise for nearly 19 years (Picture: ABC via Getty Images)

The longtime presenter had originally stepped aside in February after he faced severe backlash over the way he ‘defended’ contestant Rachael Kirkconnell after she was accused of racially insensitive behavior in her past.

When Chris , 49, announced his break from the show, many had assumed he would later return to his hosting duties later in the year.

More: US TV news

However, it was eventually revealed Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe have replaced Chris on The Bachelorette.

Former Bachelor Jesse Palmer has been named as the new host for reality dating series.

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