In a recent interview, NFL star and book author Emmanuel Acho revealed that he's "absolutely open" to permanently replacing Chris Harrison as the host of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. 2021 has been a roller-coaster ride for Bachelor Nation, as Matt James' season of The Bachelor was largely overshadowed by accusations of bullying and racism in regards to certain contestants. Most notably, season 25 winner Rachael Kirkconnell was seen in pictures attending an Antebellum-themed party in 2018. This cast a shadow of doubt among the fans that started to question if she could be in a relationship with a Black man like Matt.

Then, longtime The Bachelor host Chris Harrison attempted to defend Rachael Kirkconnell in an interview with Rachel Lindsay, the franchise's first-ever Black lead. This prompted a lot of backlash from the viewers, creating an even more tense environment between the series and its fandom. Chris Harrison apologized for his words, but the network still chose to have him step aside from hosting the season's After The Final Rose special. The producers asked Emmanuel Acho to host the special, as he had become known for his YouTube series-turned-book Uncomfortable Conversations With A Black Man. Now, as new seasons in the franchise inch closer, Chris Harrison doesn't appear to be asked back to host.

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On Tuesday, May 6, Emmanuel Acho went onto The View to talk about his hosting stint on The Bachelor. During the interview, which can be watched in full below, host Meghan McCain asked Emmanuel if he'd be open to permanently replacing Chris Harrison on The Bachelor if the longtime host is never asked to return to his duties. "I absolutely would be open to hosting The Bachelor," Emmanuel stated definitively. He then talked about the importance of changing the production team behind The Bachelor on a more fundamental level, such as behind-the-scenes, and not only in front of the cameras.

Later, Emmanuel Acho remarked on the fact that he doesn't have any power over the decision regarding whether or not he can host The Bachelor permanently. It is ultimately up to the network and the producers to decide if they want Chris Harrison to come back. And if they do not ask him back, then the production team would need to decide who would be the best person to replace Chris in that very specific role.

It looks like Emmanuel Acho really enjoyed his time on The Bachelor, and would be open to working on the show even if it's just behind the scenes. His hosting stint was praised by many fans, but it's still hard for many viewers to wrap their heads around Chris Harrison not being the show's main host.

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Sources: The View