Chris Harrison Shares Uncommon Insight on His Departure from ‘The Bachelor’

Chris Harrison expresses a sense of “relief” regarding his departure from The Bachelor for good.

At 54 years old, Harrison exited his long-time role as host of the ABC dating series in June 2021 amid controversy, after holding the position for 19 years. In a recent interview with People published on Monday, October 27, he shared his thoughts about the exit, stating, “It feels wonderful, and thanks for asking that, because I wasn’t sure it would.”

Following his departure, Harrison moved from Los Angeles to Austin, Texas, where he married former Entertainment Tonight host Lauren Zima. The couple is set to commemorate their second wedding anniversary in November.

“Doing something every day for two decades, especially something that’s so popular worldwide, creates a unique pressure, a spotlight, and a microscope you don’t fully grasp until you step off that merry-go-round,” Harrison remarked to People.

Initially, transitioning from hosting The Bachelor and The Bachelorette—a demanding, all-consuming role—to having no involvement in the franchise proved challenging.

“There was a kind of unease at first, thinking, ‘Oh, I need to get back to work,’” Harrison reminisced.

“Then,” he continued, “I took a deep breath, dropped my shoulders, and realized, ‘Wow, there’s a whole new world to explore out there.’ Falling in love and moving to Austin has definitely eased that feeling, making this a rejuvenating break.”

Harrison referred to Austin as “the new Hollywood,” expressing that the city “reminds [him] of the original essence of Hollywood, where anything is achievable if everyone approaches it with an honest and open heart and a desire to create something enjoyable together.”

Harrison hinted that he and Zima, 37, are working on a project together.

“For the first time in a long while, that creative spark has been reignited with this incredible woman, and we have an exciting new chapter ahead that we can’t wait to share,” he said.

Harrison and Zima started dating in 2018 after she reached out to him via DM, feeling a “connection.” Five years and one wedding later, he launched “The Most Dramatic Podcast Ever” alongside his wife.

During the third episode in 2023, Zima disclosed that “people in the industry” advised her to end her relationship with Harrison during his professional hiatus from Bachelor Nation.

“I’ve been divorced as well,” she mentioned at the time. “Everyone makes mistakes. It’s all about how you respond to them. I never considered breaking up with Chris; that wasn’t even a thought. Right from the start, Chris acknowledged his imperfections and mistakes, genuinely expressing his regrets for any hurt caused.”