Katie Thurston has opened up about one thing extraordinarily private and, sadly, terribly painful.
On Friday, the previous Bachelorette lead revealed to the general public that she is a sufferer of sexual assault.
In a candid Instagram publish, Thurston detailed her expertise within the aftermath of this rape, which included getting a rape equipment executed and getting assist from a Sexual Assault Response Staff (SART).
She didn’t delve into any particulars relating to the incident, together with when it occurred.
“My pain has purpose, my purpose has power, I want to focus on the positive,” Thurston wrote in her first slide on her account on the time, persevering with as follows:
“The justice system continues to let down victims every single day. I refuse to really feel defeated within the energy it took to be an advocate for myself. I hope my expertise will assist these really feel the energy and assist they want.
“While I’m not ready to share my story, I want to share the valuable resources that saved my life.”
Thurston, who beforehand stated The Bachelorette took a serious toll on her psychological well being, anchored this franchise again in 2021.
On this newest admission, she went on:
“I known as 911 to report my rape. They despatched an officer to take my assertion after which drove me to a particular medical middle to carry out a SART examination…
“I felt like a small misplaced baby who was susceptible and scared.
“They thoroughly explained the process, asking for consent along the way, and allowing me to decline or change my mind at any time.”
Thurston accepted a proposal from Blake Moynes to shut out her season… however then dated contestant John Hersey after and and Moynes ended their engagement.
She and Hersey break up up in the summertime of 2022.
Again to her terrible expertise, nevertheless…
“My blood was drawn to check for STDs, drugs, and blood alcohol concentration,” Thurston wrote on social media of the aftermath of the assault.
“I was given Plan B, Rocephin (a shot for bacterial infections), Azithromycin (to treat possible STIs), and Truvada and nPEP for a month (to treat possible HIV).”
She additionally her followers know that this may be executed for anybody for gratis in San Diego, even with out medical health insurance.
The previous actuality star stated she was given digital instruments to assist her observe the outcomes of her medical examinations.
“My kit would take four months to complete its cycle. Nothing could move until this was done, so the time between allowed me to seek mental health support,” Thurston wrote.
An particularly significantly susceptible slide learn: “I did every part I ought to have executed as a sufferer of rape. ‘Here are my texts, my calls, my photos, my videos, names, witnesses, locations, social media, time stamps, surveillance footage, DNA, my body.’
This slide concluded:
“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 l heard it, I still wasn’t ready to be stopped. And yet, without warning, I was.”
Thurston beforehand acknowledged on a Bachelorette episode in 2021 that she had been “involved in a situation where there wasn’t consent” 10 years earlier on New 12 months’s Eve, though it isn’t clear whether or not that incident is expounded to this one.
Thurston was a contestant on The Bachelor (as depicted above) previous to being handed The Bachelorette position.
In a press release to Leisure Tonight after her Instagram publish went viral, Katie shared:
“I’ve had ample assist from my group which allowed me to remain robust over these previous seven months.
“While the outcome is disappointing, I am at peace and turning any pain into purpose and hope to help other survivors of sexual assault.”
