He’s not afraid of passing someone the wrong way.
In “Chris Harrison’s Vow”, there are crosses adorning the wall of the interview room, and its leading man attends a Bible study and prays with the women who vie for his heart immediately after meeting them.
The former “Bachelor” host told the Post he’s not worried about backlash for putting religion at the forefront of his new dating show.
“No, and maybe that’s naive of me as a producer and host,” Harrison said.
“But what excited us was this cultural movement… with more young people going to church than their parents for the first time in our country, looking for something, for that connection… all we do as producers is listen,” he continued. “Like it or not, we’re going to accept it.”
Although the “Bachelor” franchise did not prohibit religious conversations, Harrison said “it was just something that was avoided and not encouraged or discouraged.”
Harrison, who hosted the ABC franchise since its debut in 2002, left in 2021 following the cancel culture controversy that erupted when he defended season 25 winner Rachael Kirkconnell after photos resurfaced of her at an antebellum-themed college party.
The reality star said he considered his “conscious uncoupling” from the franchise “a blessing” because it led him to host the Fox Nation series, which he calls “the most authentic and intentional dating show of all time.”
“That’s not to say it wasn’t tumultuous and heartbreaking and difficult for me and my family, but at the same time, sometimes you need … that one thing that will cause that catastrophic breakup so you can go your own way,” Harrison, 55, said.
After the release of the teaser for the series – which premiered on November 11 – Warner Bros., owner of the “Bachelor” franchise, sent a cease and desist letter, objecting to its use of roses in the promo.
“It was a little personal, obviously…I’ve been gone for five years. There have been a lot of other dating shows that they haven’t worried about. I consider it a flattery that they’re worried about me and they’re worried about our show, and I would be too given the press and the response it’s gotten,” Harrison said.
The series’ leading man, Jace Cates, a 30-year-old loan officer from Canby, Oregon, is the “diamond in the rough” Harrison was looking for to fill the coveted role.
“Finding him was like manna from heaven. He really is gold. He’s so good,” he exclaimed.
The women on the show had “very little” information about Cates before meeting him.
“I wanted them to be curious and inquisitive and excited…Isn’t that excitement and naivety and innocence of finding love?” said Harrison, who also serves as an executive producer on the series alongside his wife, Lauren Zima, former lead producer and host of “Entertainment Tonight.”
Unlike “The Bachelor,” which has sometimes featured more than 30 women competing in a single season, “The Vow” only has 10.
“If you have 30, people leave and you don’t even know who they are. I don’t know their names,” Harrison said.
“We wanted all ten to feel like they could tell their story. You can be seen on this show, you can be heard.”
The contestants, who include a virgin, churchgoers and women who want to become stay-at-home mothers and traditional wives, have in-depth conversations on crucial topics such as child-rearing and faith.
“You’re going to hear and see conversations on ‘The Vow’ that you’re not used to hearing and seeing on reality TV,” Harrison said.
“If you want to make the most important decision of your life – who you’re going to spend the rest of your life with – maybe you should dig a little deeper. It seems obvious, but no one does it. We’re going to do it.”
“The Vow” also canceled elimination ceremonies, so Cates can send a woman home at any time – and the girls can also self-eliminate whenever they want.
“If you want to break up…you have to have a conversation,” Harrison said. “We’re not going to tell you, ‘It’s 10 o’clock. It’s time to break up.’
“Because it’s not authentic, is it?…And besides, it’s what a gentleman should do.”
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