Chris Harrison, who spent nearly two decades as the face of ABC’s “The Bachelor” franchise before a 2021 controversy ended his tenure, is returning to television as host of a new dating series built around faith and traditional marriage. “The Vow” premieres November 11 on FOX Nation, the streaming service announced with a teaser trailer that takes a knowing jab at the show that made him famous.
In the clip, a man in a suit adjusts his jacket before the camera reveals his face. “Expecting someone else?” Harrison asks, as the tagline “Roses fade. True love lasts forever” appears on screen. At one point he appears to nearly step on a single red rose — an unmistakable reference to the long-running “Bachelor” and “Bachelorette” franchise, where the flower is central to its rose ceremonies.
A show built around shared values
The first season will follow a 30-year-old bachelor named Jace Cates as he dates 10 women, with the stated goal of marriage and long-term commitment, according to the New York Post. The series is expected to emphasize faith, family, communication, and shared values rather than the drama-driven formats typical of the genre.
Harrison said the project grew out of what he described as a “faith-driven renaissance happening across America,” calling it “the most authentic dating show on television today.” In a statement, he said, “I’m so excited to be back helping people find love.”
Earlier this year, Harrison promoted casting for the show on Instagram, advertising it as “dating for traditional marriage.” Speaking to The Daily Wire, he framed the project as a return to what he sees as the core purpose of the format. “I will be coming back to TV to do what means the most to me: helping people find love,” he said. “I want to do a show that is actually about finding that true love. I think that’s been lost, and I think we all want it back. Will there be drama along the way? Absolutely, but in the end it will always be about love.”
He added that the response to the show’s casting announcement had been “incredible,” saying it had generated conversations and debates about love and relationships. As for what viewers can expect from the series itself, he demurred with a line familiar to longtime viewers of his old show: “You’ll find out, after the break.”
The controversy that ended his ‘Bachelor’ run
Harrison parted ways with “The Bachelor” in 2021 after 19 years as host, following backlash over his defense of a contestant. The controversy centered on Season 25 contestant Rachael Kirkconnell, who faced criticism after photos surfaced of her attending an Antebellum-themed party before she was cast on the show.
During a February 2021 interview with “Extra,” former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay raised the photo with Harrison. “The picture was from 2018 at an Old South Antebellum party. That’s not a good look,” Lindsay said. Harrison responded by asking, “Is it a good look in 2018, or is it not a good look in 2021?” He also said that audiences should “have a little grace, a little understanding, a little compassion” for Kirkconnell, arguing that social norms around an event in 2018 were different from those in 2021.
The comments drew intense criticism, and Harrison ultimately resigned as host and issued a formal apology.
Two years later, he described the departure in more reflective terms. During a 2023 podcast interview, he called the experience “a blessing,” while acknowledging how difficult it was at the time. “It was hard at first, obviously, it wasn’t immediate where I felt great about everything because what I went through was tumultuous. I don’t wish it on anybody,” he said. “But, with that said, I knew I had to remove myself from what became a very toxic situation, and I did, and that was a very difficult situation. I’m proud of that decision. I’m proud that I handled it the way I did and I still look at it as a blessing because it changed my life on so many levels.”
A crowded — and increasingly conservative — dating show market
Harrison’s new series arrives as faith-oriented and traditionally minded programming finds a growing audience on streaming platforms. FOX Nation has been expanding its entertainment offerings beyond news and opinion, and “The Vow” appears designed to appeal to viewers who feel mainstream dating shows have drifted from marriage-focused courtship. The premiere follows months of casting outreach, with Harrison personally promoting the search for participants who wanted “dating for traditional marriage.”
Whether the show can replicate the cultural footprint of “The Bachelor” — a franchise that made Harrison a household name and turned its rose ceremonies into a weekly ritual for millions — remains to be seen. But the trailer’s wink at his former employer suggests the host is not trying to hide from his past so much as pivot away from it, toward a format he says is about lasting commitment rather than spectacle.
“The Vow” debuts November 11 on FOX Nation, with Cates at the center of a 10-woman cast and Harrison back in the role he occupied for nearly two decades: the man handing out the roses, or in this case, watching where he steps.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-bachelor-host-attacked-by-cancel-culture-announces-new-faith-inspired-dating-show