‘Bachelorette’ star Katie Thurston reveals she was raped: ‘I refuse to feel defeated’

Katie Thurston is opening up about a traumatic event she survived.

The former “Bachelorette” star, 33, took to Instagram on Friday to reveal she was raped.

“It took 7 months for the San Diego Justice to let me down as a victim of rape,” Thurston wrote in a since expired post on her Instagram Stories.

6

6

The reality star also shared a post detailing her experience with a carousel of titled slides.

“The justice system continues to let down victims every day. I refuse to feel defeated in the strength it took to be an advocate for myself,” Thurston said in the opening slide.

“I hope my experience will help those feel the strength and support they need. While I’m not ready to share my story, I want to share the valuable resources that saved my life.”

6

6

Thurston thanked the nurses and other advocates before she went on to share how she felt she was “let down” by the criminal justice system after she was raped, telling her followers that she “did everything [she] should have done as a victim of rape.”

“‘Here are my texts, my calls, my photos, my videos, names witnesses, locations, social media, time stamps, surveillance footage, DNA, my body,'” she continued.

“The warning ‘a guilty verdict is hard in criminal court’ echoed throughout the months, like an annoying parrot you were forced to keep. And as much as I heard it, I still wasn’t ready to be stopped. And yet, without warning, I was.”

6

6

“This is not a loss to me. I am safe. I am loved. I am supported. No, this is yet another loss in a broken system. Change happens in failure. And the justice system failed me. And continues to fail thousands every single day. But do not give up,” she said in the final slide.

Thurston starred in Season 17 of ABC’s “The Bachelorette.” She was engaged to Blake Moynes, who proposed to her during the season finale, though they broke up in October 2021.

She then began dating another contestant from her season, John Hersey. She later revealed Hersey decided to break up with her in 2022.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.