After this week's episode of "The Bachelorette," host Chris Harrison is defending Kaitlyn Bristowe against cyberbullies, as it has been revealed on Monday's reunion episode that the 30-year-old reality TV star received a lot of hateful comments and even death threats online.
"I've been dealing with this for a while with Kaitlyn and we've been talking," said Harrison to Us Weekly about the online bullying. "It really started in earnest after the Nick thing, honestly."
Harrison was referring to the episode wherein Bristowe decided to spend the night with Nick Viall, a decision which resulted to a lot of criticism from her other suitors in the house and backlash on social media.
On Monday's episode, Harrison read a few of the hate-filled messages out loud while Bristowe sat next to him. The comments that were read were vulgar and demeaning, and Bristowe struggled to keep her composure as one commenter — a mother — told her to "crawl in a hole and die."
Harrison told the magazine that he's glad that he has brought the horrifying comments to the public's attention, and hopes that people will help put a stop to the cyberbullying, as Bristowe has endured more than her fair share of them. The host, 43, said that as a father, the comments are particularly troublesome to him.
"I have kids myself so maybe I'm just more passionate about this than others, but this just made me so angry," he said.
Harrison said that it is important to show how hurtful cyberbullying can be and hopes that the episode brought awareness to the issue. He said that if the next day people start talking about hate and cyberbullying and "it makes a little ripple effect, great."
"At least we did some good," he continued.
Harrison added that the episode allowed him to defend Bristowe, who he considers a friend.
The season 11 finale of "The Bachelorette" airs on Monday, July 28, at 8 p.m. on ABC.
