Chris Harrison is not married, despite sharing a photo which looked very much like a wedding announcement on Tuesday.
The Bachelor host got everyone talking when he posted a snap of himself suited up and kissing girlfriend Lauren Zima, who is seen wearing a beautiful gown.
Taken in Dallas, Texas, the image is in black and white and makes Zima’s gown look white and very bridal.
Stop the world: Chris Harrison sparked marriage rumors with this snap of him and Lauren Zima on Tuesday. Turns out he was Zima’s date to a friend’s wedding
‘”I’d stop the world and melt with you” @laurenzima there’s no one I’d rather celebrate love with and I’ll be your plus one anytime,’ the 49-year-old wrote in the caption.
Despite referring to himself as the ‘plus one’, many of Harrison’s followers jumped to the conclusion he’d tied the knot and left excited congratulatory comments.
‘Congrats!?!❤️’ Bachelor 21 alum Nick Viall wrote.
‘If you got married, I’m here for it and huge congratulations!!!! ❤️❤️If not, I’m here for it too!! You two are a beautiful pair!’ wrote Trista Sutter from the first Bachelorette season.
‘YESSSS! ❤️’ commented Jojo Fletcher, the season 12 Bachelorette.
Congrats! The snap triggered a flurry of congratulatory messages from Bachelor Nation stars and fans
Just bridesmaid duty: The duo put the rumors to bed in the comments section
Additionally, dozens of Harrison’s fans congratulated him and his new ‘wife’.
After a while, Zima, 33, put a stop to the rumors as she posted in the comments: ‘I love you so much and appreciate all the ‘congrats’! This *bridesmaids* dress is really living above its potential’.
Soon after, Harrison chimed in, replying to his girlfriend’s comment: ‘wow you attend one wedding together…do one chicken dance and your hitched!
‘Congrats Christine and Kevin on a beautiful wedding and the start of a wonderful life together. I do love this bridesmaid though’
The couple began dating in 2018 with Zima revealing the following year that it was her who made the first move.
‘I DM’d him’ she told Viall on his Viall Files podcast. ‘I will say, I DM’d after a bit of a vibe.’
‘It was always incredibly professional,’ Zima explained, noting that she’d been interviewing the host for about three years before it turned romantic. ‘Not in a negative way… but I never looked at him and ever considered [if] I found him attractive.’
Happy couple: The couple began dating in 2018 with Zima revealing the following year that it was her who made the first move
Harrison was previously married to Gwen Harrison. They divorced in 2012 after 18 years of marriage and share daughter Taylor and son Joshua.
The TV personality is currently taking a break from hosting and has been replaced on the upcoming season of The Bachelorette by Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe.
The former contestants will host after Harrison stepped away following his admission that he wrongly spoke ‘in a manner that perpetuates racism’ while defending Rachael Kirkconnell during an interview with Rachel Lindsay.
Warner Horizon and ABC Entertainment said: ‘Chris Harrison will not be hosting the next season of The Bachelorette.
‘We support Chris in the work that he is committed to doing. In his absence, former Bachelorettes Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe will support the new Bachelorette through next season.
The TV personality is seen here with Zima, 33, and his kids Taylor and Joshua who he shares with ex-wife Gwen Harrison
‘As we continue the dialogue around achieving greater equity and inclusion within The Bachelor franchise, we are dedicated to improving the BIPOC representation of our crew, including among the executive producer ranks.
‘These are important steps in effecting fundamental change so that our franchise is a celebration of love that is reflective of our worlds.’
After their interview Lindsay criticized Harrison, saying he didn’t initially see a problem with his comments during their chat and only changed his mind after there was a backlash.
She said: ‘When I finished that interview with Chris Harrison, he had no problems with it. He was fine. He texted me after. He appreciated the conversation…
The TV personality is currently taking a break from hosting after the fallout from his interview with Rachel Lindsay where he made comments that ‘perpetuated racism’
Move over: Harrison has been replaced on the upcoming season of The Bachelorette by Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe
‘He was like, “Yeah, I’ll probably get a little flack,” but thought it was great that we could disagree but do it in a civil way.
‘It wasn’t until the backlash came the next day, it wasn’t until people start talking, people start demanding and calling for different things, that he then [issued an apology].
‘I’m trying to reason—well, which one is it? Because to me, Tuesday was your truth and Wednesday is after the fact. Wednesday was a response to the backlash. During that whole conversation, he had the audacity to question me. During that conversation, he talked over me and at me.
‘During that conversation, his privilege was on display. He never gave me room to talk, and he never gave me room to share my perspective. He wasn’t trying to hear it, he was just trying to be heard.’
Looking for love: Katie Thurston will be the next Bachelorette in the upcoming season 17 which premieres Jun 7