Chris Harrison Says Peter and Barb’s Relationship Is Damaged After the Bachelor Finale

It’s been less than 24 hours since The Bachelor: After the Final Rose aired live when I meet up with Chris Harrison at the launch party for Seagram’s Escapes Tropical Rose (he’s their new spokesperson). He’s working the room like the master host he is, but even he can’t escape what’s on everyone’s mind: those epic showdowns between Barb and Peter, Barb and Madison, and Peter and Hannah Ann.

“I needed time to process what happened,” he tells me in between greeting familiar Bachelor Nation faces like Andrew Firestone and Demi Burnett. “The fact that it was live and I didn’t see [all that drama] coming was wild.”

Those are rather dramatic words from the person who has literally seen it all on this show. In fact, Harrison ranks Peter Weber’s finale as the most dramatic ever—even more insane than Jason Mesnick’s breakup and switcheroo from Melissa Rycroft to Molly Malaney—because “It wasn’t live back then.”

But now that he’s had time to reflect, there’s a lot on his mind, namely Barb’s fighting words for Peter and Madison. Here, Harrison opens up about why he felt a little depressed about the situation and what’s next for Hannah Ann, Clare Crawley—and Barb—going forward.

Glamour: In the week leading up to the finale, Peter kept saying in interviews, including ours, that he was “very happy.” Why would he say that knowing what happened?

Chris Harrison: He didn’t look so happy on Tuesday night! I don’t think anybody could have seen it was going to go like that. Even in the commercial break before Barb spoke, everybody was applauding and he was like, “Okay, good, we’ve turned a corner. This is going to be okay.” And then Barb happened.

We’re going to get to Barb in a minute, but let's go back to when Madison surprised Peter at the pool after he broke up with Hannah Ann. We see them embracing, but that was it. You guys didn’t just pull them away and say, “Save the rest for After the Final Rose,” right? What else happened in that reunion? Did they kiss? Talk more?

No, they didn’t kiss. That was it. It ended in a natural way of, “Okay, we care about each other clearly. Now let’s go process this and get in our own space and figure out what this means.” They came to kind of a resolution of, “We’re both still in this, and we both agree that we both care, but what does this look like [moving forward]?”

What do you think of Peter and Madison’s chances?

I mean, look, it’s so easy to say what Barb said on TV—that they’re not going to make it—because the odds are against them. Odds are against any relationship, much less one that has the deck stacked against them like that. But why not just root for them? What’s the harm in saying, “I wish them well and I’ll be there for them?” If they break up, they break up. If they make it, they make it. Why do people feel the need to say, “I told you so?”

Did you ever ask Madison why she wanted to go on the show knowing that it didn’t really align with her values?

No, though I think other people have. You would have to chase her down [and ask her], but…I get it. Why would an über-religious person who’s a virgin and doesn’t drink come on The Bachelor?

And doesn’t want the main person sleeping with other people…

Right. Maybe it’s not the right place.

We know that Madison and Peter had a heavy talk right before she met with Peter’s parents, which is presumably one of the reasons why they were late. That’s not entirely Madison’s fault. But why didn’t Madison at least say to Barb, “I hear what you’re saying, and I’m sorry you had to wait.” She didn’t address it at all.

Right, but I think Madison felt so ambushed. I saw her tense up and freeze up. I bet if you asked Madison about it today, she wouldn’t be able to remember one thing that was said. It was a blur. Yeah, she could have diffused it, Barb could have diffused it, I tried to diffuse it…three times, in fact! But the fact is, that moment wasn’t on Madison. She didn’t make them wait three hours. She and Peter were having a conversation, and that’s something that needed to take place. Barb and Peter Sr. flew across the world, but maybe Barb needs to consider who this is about. Maybe it’s not about her. Maybe this is about her son and not about her Instagram followers or her DMs. I think that may have gotten lost a little bit.

Are you throwing shade at Barb?

No. It’s just…I think maybe we lost focus of what was important. Here’s the thing: I woke up this morning and half of the world was Team Barb and half the world was against her, so it’s all about perspective. I’m not going to say Barb’s wrong, but I think you can be wrong and right at the same time. Maybe it was the timing, maybe the delivery could have been a little different, but some people are like, “Barb was 100% right and well within her rights.” Look, who am I to say whether she’s right or wrong? It’s all about perspective.

Do you think Peter and Barb’s relationship is damaged now?

Well, of course it’s damaged. Yeah. It was damaged last night.

That was sad to watch, actually.

The overwhelming feeling I had was just being gutted. I was sad and a little depressed afterward. I love Barb and Peter Sr., and I love Peter Jr. I’ve been to their home. They’re my neighbors! I adore these people. For that to happen on my watch, I felt a little guilty. I felt a little responsible, and I tried to fix it. I felt bad, like I had a hand in this, and that sucks.

As you mentioned, Barb still has a lot of fans. Any chance she could come on a future season of The Bachelor to be part of a segment?

[Laughs.] She’s a character and so great, but I don’t know. If you are [hating] on Barb today, well, remember what we love about her because what we love is also what you’re mad about today. She’s honest, she’s open…you get it all.

Let’s talk about Hannah Ann. You had to know the way she handled herself during and after the breakup would endear her to Bachelor Nation. Was she ever seriously considered to be the Bachelorette?

Well, I think her stock went up last night. The great thing is with our show, it’s never too late. There’s Paradise around the corner, there’s Nick Viall, there’s Clare, there’s Arie, there’s all these examples of “It’s never too late.” She really showed last night why she could be a great Bachelorette. For sure. And now she’ll be in the running every time we have that debate.

Speaking of The Bachelorette, the guys for Clare’s season were posted today, but there’s only one guy over 40 and more in their 20s than 30s. Clare’s said she’s often dated younger, but are you concerned with the amount of men in their 20s?

We’ll find out. One thing I love about this show is that it always pushes that social dynamic. Even the way you’re questioning, it is this complete double standard of sexism, and I love that. I love talking about that, like when it was a guy, when it was Arie, nobody was talking about it.

But we were, though. You had Bekah, who was 23 and a lot was made of her age difference with Arie.

Yeah, and is it a bigger deal that Clare is doing it? She’s never dated an older guy, so I think it’s great. I love it, and I’m all in.

This interview has been edited for clarity.

Jessica Radloff is the Glamour West Coast editor. You can follow her on Instagram at @jessicaradloff14.

Originally Appeared on Glamour