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Chris Harrison expresses a sense of “relief” regarding his definitive departure from The Bachelor.
At the age of 54, Harrison stepped away from his long-held role as the host of the ABC dating series in June 2021 amid various controversies. He had been the face of the franchise for 19 years. In a recent interview with People, released on Monday, October 27, he shared his thoughts on leaving, stating, “It feels wonderful, and thanks for asking that, because I wasn’t sure it would.”
Since then, Harrison has relocated from Los Angeles to Austin, Texas, and wed the former Entertainment Tonight host Lauren Zima. They will be marking two years of marriage this coming November.
Reflecting on his long-standing commitment, Harrison mentioned, “You know, when you do something every single day for two decades, and it’s so popular around the world, there is a 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 told People.
The transition from hosting The Bachelor and The Bachelorette—a demanding, full-time role—to stepping away entirely from the franchise was challenging initially.
“There was a bit of angst when I first stepped back, because I thought, ‘Oh, I need to get back on. I need to return to work,’” Harrison recounted.
“And then,” he continued, “I took a deep breath, relaxed my shoulders, and realized that, obviously, falling in love truly helped, moving to Austin also contributed to alleviating that stress and helped me see, ‘Wow, there’s an entirely different world out there to explore.’ So it has been a wonderful break and a relief.”
Harrison referred to Austin as “the new Hollywood” and noted that the city “reminds [him] of what Hollywood was initially built upon, which is the idea that anything and everything is achievable if everyone approaches it with an honest, open heart and mind, and simply wants to engage in enjoyable work together.”
He hinted that he and Zima, 37, are working on a project.
“Honestly, for the first time in quite a while, that passion has been rekindled with this incredible woman to jump back into some creative endeavors,” he stated. “And there’s a new chapter on the horizon very soon for both of us that…we’re both really eager to discuss.”
Harrison and Zima began their relationship in 2018 after she reached out to him via direct message, sensing a “vibe.” After five years and a wedding, he started “The Most Dramatic Podcast Ever” with his wife alongside him.
In the third episode of 2023, Zima shared that “people in the industry” advised her to end her relationship with Harrison amidst his professional separation from Bachelor Nation.
"I've experienced divorce as well," she remarked then. "In my opinion, everyone is bound to err. … What truly matters is how one reacts to those errors. I never considered separating from Chris — that was never something I thought about. From the very beginning, Chris recognized his flaws, acknowledged his mistakes, understood his actions had caused pain, and felt genuine remorse for the hurt he inflicted."
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