Chris Harrison has no regrets about leaving Hollywood.<\/p>\n
The longtime \u201cBachelor\u201d host, who exited the franchise in 2021<\/a> after defending a former contestant\u2019s controversial behavior, opened up about his new life in Austin, Texas, during a chat with People<\/a> published Monday.<\/p>\n \u201cIt feels wonderful, and thanks for asking that, because I wasn\u2019t sure it would,\u201d Harrison, 54, began. <\/p>\n Chris Harrison has opened up about his new life in Austin, Texas, after leaving the \u201cBachelor\u201d franchise and Hollywood in 2021. ABC via Getty Images<\/p>\n Harrison during Season 16 of \u201cThe Bachelorette.\u201d ABC via Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, when you do something every single day for two decades, and it\u2019s so popular around the world, there is pressure to that, and there\u2019s a spotlight and a microscope that you don\u2019t even realize you\u2019re under until you kinda get off that merry-go-round,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Harrison hosted \u201cThe Bachelor\u201d from its debut in 2002 until his sudden departure<\/a> nearly 20 years later. He served as the face of the franchise before his exit, including for its many spinoffs like \u201cThe Bachelorette\u201d\u00a0and\u00a0\u201cBachelor in Paradise.\u201d<\/p>\n But while it was initially hard for Harrison to make the transition away from Los Angeles, the former host acknowledged that he has since found his footing thanks to his wife, Lauren Zima, 37, and their new home.<\/p>\n Harrison during Season 25 of \u201cThe Bachelor.\u201d ABC via Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cIt was this kind of angst when I first got off, because I mean, \u2018Oh, well, I gotta get back on. I gotta go back to work,’\u201d he explained. \u201cThen I kind of took a deep breath, and you dropped your shoulders, and I think falling in love definitely helped, moving to Austin definitely helped kind of relieve that and realize, \u2018Wow, there\u2019s a whole other world out here to dive into.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo it has been a wonderful break and relief,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Harrison and Zima, a former\u00a0\u201cEntertainment Tonight\u201d host and producer, moved from LA to Austin in 2020, per People<\/a>. The couple later tied the knot in November 2023 and haven\u2019t looked back since.<\/p>\n Harrison hosting \u201cThe Bachelor\u201d in 2020. ABC<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, what I love most about the new chapter is the fact that Austin is the new Hollywood, which means the opportunities are plenty here,\u201d the former host said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThere is so much tech, music, food, entertainment, and theater. It\u2019s all happening here,\u201d Harrison continued. \u201cAnd it reminds me of what Hollywood was built on, which is anything and everything is possible if everybody will just come in with an honest, open heart and mind and just wanna do some fun work together.\u201d<\/p>\n Harrison during Season 16 of \u201cThe Bachelorette.\u201d ABC via Getty Images<\/p>\n The former \u201cBachelor Pad\u201d host went on to tease a new project that he and Zima have in the works, although he kept hush-hush about the details.<\/p>\n \u201cHonestly, for the first time in a long time, that fire has been reignited with this amazing woman to dive back in and do some creative work,\u201d Harrison said.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd there is a next chapter coming up very soon for both of us that is,\u201d he added. \u201cWe\u2019re going to be very excited to talk about.\u201d<\/p>\n Rachael Kirkconnell attends Variety\u2019s New York Party at Loosie\u2019s Nightclub in New York City on Oct. 5, 2023. Getty Images<\/p>\n Harrison first came under fire in February 2021<\/a> for defending former \u201cBachelor\u201d contestant Rachael Kirkconnell after pictures emerged of her attending an Antebellum-styled party three years earlier.<\/p>\n During an \u201cExtra\u201d interview with former \u201cBachelorette\u201d Rachel Lindsay, Harrison expressed sympathy for Kirkconnell and suggested that the backlash against her wasn\u2019t warranted<\/a> because the photos were a few years old.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Rachel, is it a good look in 2018? Or is it not a good look in 2021?\u201d he said during the interview. \u201cBecause there\u2019s a big difference.\u201d<\/p>\n Rachel Lindsay at the Egyptian Theatre Hollywood in Los Angeles, California, on Aug. 11, 2025. Getty Images<\/p>\n Harrison and Lindsay during Season 13 of \u201cThe Bachelorette.\u201d Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not a good look ever,\u201d Lindsay fired back at the time. \u201cIf I went to that party, what would I represent at that party?\u201d<\/p>\n Harrison subsequently stepped down as host<\/a> of the popular reality franchise before exiting for good a few months later.<\/p>\n