Chris Harrison is accusing the studio behind The Bachelor of "jealousy" amid its dispute with his new dating show, Chris Harrison's The Vow.
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When asked about the cease-and-desist letter Warner Bros. Television sent to Fox News Media and Lionsgate concerning The Vow, Chris suggested his former employer was having trouble watching him move on.
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"Sounds like somebody misses somebody really bad," Chris told Entertainment Tonight.
"Jealousy is a tough thing. Green's not a great color on anybody, is it?"
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Chris is hosting The Vow, a new dating series he developed with his wife Lauren Zima that is set to premiere Wednesday, November 11 on Fox Nation.
The former The Bachelor host explained that he and Lauren wanted to create a more "authentic and intentional" approach to finding love, with a focus on faith and commitment.
"The more we saw this kind of reemergence and this renaissance of young people going to church, seeking faith, seeking foundation in their lives, we thought, this is an interesting kind of niche to dive into," Chris shared.
Although The Vow will follow a man dating multiple women, Chris insisted the show will differ from The Bachelor franchise in several ways.
The Vow won't feature elimination ceremonies or a substitute for The Bachelor's roses. Instead, contestants will be expected to have an honest conversation when they no longer see a future in a relationship.
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"If and when you see a relationship is not heading in the right direction, or not happening, then you break up and you do it face to face. Like real people do and real people should," Chris explained.
"The lengths we went to cast this show, the people that are on it, and what we're going for, I think, will be very different."
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Warner Bros. TV, which produces The Bachelor franchise, sent its cease-and-desist letter on September 18, alleging that The Vow's first promotional teaser used imagery and language associated with The Bachelor.
According to Variety, which obtained a copy of the letter, the studio accused Fox Nation and Lionsgate of trying to "ride on the coattails" of the long-running ABC reality dating franchise.
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The teaser opened with the words, "Get ready. The Bachelor. The Women. The Drama," before Chris appeared in a tuxedo and dropped a rose.
"Roses fade. True love lasts forever," Chris said in the promo.
Warner Bros. TV took issue with the use of red roses, which it described as one of The Bachelor franchise's most recognizable symbols. The studio also argued that a mansion featured in the promotional thumbnail was intended to evoke the "Bachelor Mansion."
However, Warner Bros. TV clarified that it had "no objection to Fox and Lionsgate releasing a dating show hosted by Chris Harrison."
The studio's objection was to the show's marketing, which it argued relied on The Bachelor rather than promoting The Vow on its own merits.
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Fox Nation rejected those claims in a September 24 response, according to Variety, arguing that Warner Bros. TV doesn't own the general use of rose imagery or the word "bachelor" to describe an unmarried man.
Fox News Media Executive Vice President Katherine Moran Meeks also accused the studio of trying "to restrict Fox Nation and Chris Harrison from promoting a competing dating show" and called its actions "malicious and vindictive."
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Chris previously questioned whether the dispute was personal during an interview with USA Today.
"I don't see them going after the 50, 60, 70 other relationship dating shows that have come on in the time that I was there or since I left," Chris said.
"There's been one show that they've gone after. Is that a coincidence? You be the judge."
Meanwhile, The Vow is reportedly set to be advertised on the same network where Chris spent years hosting The Bachelor.
According to TMZ, Fox Nation plans to air commercials for The Vow during Grey's Anatomy on ABC stations in nearly a dozen markets during the new dating show's premiere week.
An October 22 promo introduced viewers to The Vow's leading man, Jace Cates, and the 10 women hoping to find love with him.
The preview also featured Kylee Russell, who previously appeared on The Bachelor's 27th season and Bachelor in Paradise's ninth season. Kylee had an on-again, off-again relationship with The Bachelorette alum Aven Jones after their time on Paradise.
The Vow will put its potential couples through dates and compatibility challenges focused on faith, values, communication, family and their plans for the future.
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Contestants will be encouraged to leave if they no longer believe a relationship with Jace could last.
Following its November 11 premiere, new episodes of The Vow will be released Wednesdays on Fox Nation, with the finale scheduled for December 9.
Chris exited The Bachelor franchise in 2021 after sparking backlash for defending Rachael Kirkconnell's past racially insensitive actions during an Extra interview with former The Bachelorette star Rachel Lindsay.
Chris initially announced that he would take a break from hosting, but his departure ultimately became permanent. He reportedly received a settlement as part of his exit.
Jesse Palmer subsequently took over as host of The Bachelor beginning with Clayton Echard's season, which premiered in January 2022.
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