Photo: Chris Harrison/Instagram
Chris Harrisonis celebrating another year with Lauren Zima.
In his first Instagram post since his controversial exit fromThe Bachelorfranchise, the 50-year-old television personality honored his 33-year-old girlfriend on Saturday with a message and a carousel of photos showing their relationship.
“Another incredible trip around the sun with this beautiful woman. @laurenzima I love you for your wisdom, strength, vulnerability, theatrics, compassion, advice, laughter, grace…your love. The only woman that can remain chic as s–t while doing a Voldemort impersonation,“he captioned the post.
“I love you LZ Happy anniversary!” Harrison added. “Can’t wait to see what the next trip around the sun brings us❤️.”
In the first photo, Harrison and Zima pose on a cliff overlooking the ocean. The formerBachelorhost wears a Texas hat and sunglasses while Zima opts for shades of her own and a “Surf Turf Gold” hat.
The second image shows the couple laughing as Zima attempts to reel in a fish during a past fishing trip. A third shot of the couple, seemingly on the same day as the first, shows the couple clutching whiskey glasses indoors.
In the final pic, Harrison and Zima hug while standing at the water’s edge on a beach at nighttime.
Saturday’s Instagram post was Harrison’s first since June, when he revealed his departure fromThe Bachelorfranchise after nearly two decades hosting the series.
The former host was at the center of controversy for four months after appearing to defend Rachael Kirkconnell, a 24-year-old contestant who was called out for previous racially insensitive social media posts amid season 25 of the ABC reality series. (She has sinceapologized.)
Speaking with former BacheloretteRachel LindsayonExtrain February, Harrison suggested people should have “a little grace, a little understanding, a little compassion” after photos resurfaced of Kirkconnell attending an antebellum plantation-themed college party in 2018. He also questioned the “lens” of 2021 compared to 2018 duringthe unedited 14-minute conversation.
Chris Harrison.Eric McCandless/Getty Images
After facing a wave of online outcry, Harrisonreleased two separate apologiesand announced that he would be “stepping aside” from the program.
“Love you so much and appreciate all the ‘congrats’! This bridesmaids dress is really living above its potential,” she wrote.
The couple made their red carpet debut in January 2019, though they hinted at their relationship in late 2018.
In February 2019,Harrison told PEOPLEthat he found Zima to be “as much as a grinder as I am” and “loves, admires and respects” that about her personality.
“It’s been easy and I think that’s how it all starts,” he added. “We started dating and, like any relationship, she made me happy. She was kind, nice, we got along, she blended in great with my friends, and just all those steps in the relationship where you start checking those boxes off and it gets better and better and better.”
source: people.com
