Former Bachelorette Katie Thurston has revealed she was raped and is sharing her story to help other victims.
“My pain has a purpose, my purpose has power, I want to focus on the positive,” she wrote on Instagram on Saturday.
The reality star-turned-comedian, who appeared on season 25 of “The Bachelor” and starred on season 17 of “The Bachelorette,” explained her decision to go public with her experience, writing, “The justice system continues to fail victims every day. I refuse to feel defeated by the strength it took for me to stand up for myself. I hope my experience helps those who suffer from it feel the strength and support they need.”
The 33-year-old actress did not reveal details, including when she was raped, explaining that “while I am not ready to share my story, I want to share the valuable resources that saved my life.” Thurston did not specify whether this was the same incident she described on “The Bachelorette” as a “non-consensual situation” that occurred about 10 years before the show’s 17th season was filmed in 2021.
“I called 911 to report my rape. They sent an officer to take my statement and then took me to a special medical facility to perform a SART exam,” she began. SART refers to a Sexual Assault Response Team, which performs a forensic medical exam to gather evidence of rape. Thurston said she was accompanied by a nurse and an advocate, whom she described as “kind,” “caring” and “patient” people who “explained the process in detail” and walked her through it.
Thurston underwent STD testing, received emergency contraceptive medication, antibiotics and post-exposure medications to prevent HIV infection. All of her treatment, including therapy, was provided to her “at no cost,” regardless of her insurance status, she wrote.
She praised San Diego for its online SART exam tracking system, which allowed her to follow the progress of her exam over four months as it was analyzed and sent to authorities. Thurston met with an “amazing” sexual assault therapist and was connected with an advocate who was available to her 24/7.
“I did everything I should have done as a rape victim,” she wrote. “Here are my texts, my calls, my photos, my videos, names, witnesses, locations, social media, time stamps, surveillance footage, DNA, my body.”
Still, Thurston said, her case was “put on hold.” She did not specify why.
“The justice system failed me,” she wrote. “And it continues to fail thousands of people every day. But don’t give up.”
Thurston, who has also appeared on “Bachelor in Paradise” and “FBoy Island,” took time to acknowledge RAINN, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, for which she raised more than $9,000 in 2023; the California Victim Compensation Board, which reimbursed the cost of her medications; and Chanel Miller’s book “Know My Name,” which she praised for helping her navigate the legal system and called a must-read for “every teenager.”
“Be your own biggest advocate,” she wrote. “You are valuable, you are strong, I believe in you.”
