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 put up, Thurston detailed her expertise within the aftermath of this rape, which included getting a rape package performed and getting help from a Sexual Assault Response Group (SART).
She didn’t delve into any particulars relating to the incident, together with when it passed off.
“My ache has goal, my goal has energy, I wish to concentrate on the constructive,” Thurston wrote in her first slide on her account on the time, persevering with as follows:
“The justice system continues to let down victims day by day. I refuse to really feel defeated within the power it took to be an advocate for myself. I hope my expertise will assist these really feel the power and help they want.
“Whereas I’m not able to share my story, I wish to share the dear assets 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 youngster who was weak and scared.
“They totally defined the method, asking for consent alongside the way in which, and permitting me to say no or change my thoughts 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, nonetheless…
“My blood was drawn to test for STDs, medication, and blood alcohol focus,” Thurston wrote on social media of the aftermath of the assault.
“I used to be given Plan B, Rocephin (a shot for bacterial infections), Azithromycin (to deal with doable STIs), and Truvada and nPEP for a month (to deal with doable HIV).”
She additionally her followers know that this may be performed for anybody without charge 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 package would take 4 months to finish its cycle. Nothing might transfer till this was performed, so the time between allowed me to hunt psychological well being help,” Thurston wrote.
An particularly significantly weak slide learn: “I did the whole lot I ought to have performed as a sufferer of rape. ‘Listed below are my texts, my calls, my pictures, my movies, names, witnesses, areas, social media, time stamps, surveillance footage, DNA, my physique.’
This slide concluded:
“The warning ‘a responsible verdict is tough in legal court docket’ echoed all through & the months, like an annoying parrot you had been compelled to maintain. And as a lot as l heard it, I nonetheless wasn’t able to be stopped. And but, with out warning, I used to be.”
Thurston beforehand acknowledged on a Bachelorette episode in 2021 that she had been “concerned in a scenario the place 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 put up went viral, Katie shared:
“I’ve had ample help from my group which allowed me to remain robust over these previous seven months.
“Whereas the result is disappointing, I’m at peace and turning any ache into goal and hope to assist different survivors of sexual assault.”