Katie Thurston has opened up about one thing extraordinarily private and, sadly, very painful.
The previous Bachelorette star revealed to the general public on Friday that she was a sufferer of sexual assault.
In a candid publish on Instagram, Thurston detailed her expertise following the rape, which included making ready a rape package and receiving assist from a Sexual Assault Response Staff (SART).
She didn’t delve into any particulars in regards to the incident, together with when it occurred.
“My ache has goal, my goal has energy, and I need to deal with the constructive,” Thurston wrote within the first slide on her account on the time, persevering with under:
“The justice system fails victims each day. I refuse to really feel like a failure due to the power it takes to advocate for myself. I hope my expertise may help these folks really feel the power and assist they want.”
“Whereas I’m not able to share my story, I need to share the precious sources that saved my life.”
Thurston beforehand stated Bachelorette causes major damage The muse for the collection was set in 2021, based mostly on her psychological well being.
In her newest admission, she continued:
“I referred to as 911 to report my rape. They despatched an officer to document my assertion after which drove me to a particular medical heart for a SART check…
“I felt like a misplaced little one, weak and scared.
“They defined the whole course of completely, sought my consent alongside the way in which, and allowed me to say no or change my thoughts at any time.”
Thurston accepted Blake Moynes’ proposal to finish her season … however then dated contestant John Hussey after she and Moynes ended their engagement.
She and Hussey broke up Summer season 2022.
Nonetheless, again to her horrific expertise…
“Blood was drawn to test for STDs, medication and blood alcohol ranges,” Thurston wrote on social media in regards to the aftermath of the assault.
“I acquired Plan B, Rocephin (injectable vaccine for bacterial infections), Azithromycin (to deal with attainable STIs), and Truvada and nPEP (to deal with attainable HIV) for a month.”
She additionally let her followers know that anybody in San Diego can do that at no cost, even with out medical insurance.
The previous actuality star stated she was given digital instruments to assist her monitor the outcomes of her medical exams.
“My package takes 4 months to finish its cycle. Nothing can change till that is full, so this time permits me to hunt psychological well being assist,” Thurston wrote.
One significantly weak slide learn: “I did every part I needed to do as a rape sufferer. “Listed below are my texts, my cellphone, my images, my movies, names, witnesses, places. , social media, timestamps, surveillance footage, DNA, my physique. “
The conclusion of this slide is:
“The warnings that ‘convictions in prison court docket are troublesome’ have been repeated all through the months, like should you have been compelled to maintain an annoying parrot. Regardless of what I heard, I used to be nonetheless not ready to be stopped. Nonetheless, within the absence of Any warning, I do.
Thurston beforehand admitted on a 2021 episode of “The Bachelorette” that she was “concerned in a non-consensual scenario” on New 12 months’s Eve 10 years in the past, though it is unclear whether or not that incident was associated to this incident.
Thurston is a contestant bachelor (as talked about above) earlier than being provided the position of The Bachelorette.
After her Instagram publish went viral, Katie shared in a press release to Leisure Tonight:
“I’ve had a lot assist from the group, which has stored me robust over the previous seven months.
“Whereas the result is disappointing, I’m at peace and channeling any ache into goal and hope to assist different sexual assault survivors.”
