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Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Former NFL player, television personality and author Emmanuel Acho has confirmed he will host ABC's upcoming The Bachelor: After the Final Rose special. "IT'S OFFICIAL: I've accepted the Rose & am honored to be hosting the @bachelorabc. After the Final Rose this year. It's been a pivotal season & this episode will be one of the most storied shows in its history. Empathy is needed and change is coming. See y'all then!" Acho, 30, tweeted Saturday.
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The show is to air on the network March 15.
The Bachelor and The Bachelorette host Chris Harrison, 49, announced earlier this month that he is "stepping aside for a period of time" from the franchise.
Harrison made the move after receiving criticism for defending current Bachelor contestant Rachel Kirkconnell when she was blasted online for -- then apologized for -- old, social-media posts perceived by many as culturally insensitive.
Season 25 of the dating competition stars Matt James, the show's first Black bachelor.
In an interview with Extra host Rachel Lindsay -- who became the first Black Bachelorette in 2017 -- Harrison asked for "a little grace, a little understanding, a little compassion" from the "woke police" for Kirkconnell.
He later apologized after a backlash accused him of perpetuating racism.
