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 submit, Thurston detailed her expertise within the aftermath of this rape, which included getting a rape equipment finished and getting assist from a Sexual Assault Response Workforce (SART).
She didn’t delve into any particulars relating to the incident, together with when it passed off.
“My ache has function, my function 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 on daily basis. 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 assist they want.
“Whereas I’m not able to share my story, I wish to share the precious sources that saved my life.”
Thurston, who beforehand stated The Bachelorette took a significant toll on her psychological well being, anchored this franchise again in 2021.
On this newest admission, she went on:
“I referred to as 911 to report my rape. They despatched an officer to take my assertion after which drove me to a particular medical heart to carry out a SART examination…
“I felt like a small misplaced baby who was susceptible and scared.
“They totally defined the method, asking for consent alongside the best way, 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 cut up up in the summertime of 2022.
Again to her terrible expertise, nevertheless…
“My blood was drawn to examine for STDs, medicine, 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 potential STIs), and Truvada and nPEP for a month (to deal with potential HIV).”
She additionally her followers know that this may be finished for anybody for gratis in San Diego, even with out medical insurance.
The previous actuality star stated she was given digital instruments to assist her monitor the outcomes of her medical examinations.
“My equipment would take 4 months to finish its cycle. Nothing may transfer till this was finished, so the time between allowed me to hunt psychological well being assist,” Thurston wrote.
An particularly significantly susceptible slide learn: “I did every part I ought to have finished as a sufferer of rape. ‘Listed below are my texts, my calls, my images, my movies, names, witnesses, places, social media, time stamps, surveillance footage, DNA, my physique.’
This slide concluded:
“The warning ‘a responsible verdict is difficult in felony court docket’ echoed all through & the months, like an annoying parrot you have been pressured 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 state of affairs 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 an announcement to Leisure Tonight after her Instagram submit went viral, Katie shared:
“I’ve had ample assist from my neighborhood which allowed me to remain robust over these previous seven months.
“Whereas the end result is disappointing, I’m at peace and turning any ache into function and hope to assist different survivors of sexual assault.”