Katie Thurston, who starred on Season 17 of “The Bachelorette,” is sharing her story as a survivor of rape, aiming to help other sexual assault victims by providing life-saving resources.
In an Instagram post on Friday, the 33-year-old revealed her experience with sexual assault and detailed the aftermath, including getting a rape kit and support from a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART).
Although she did not provide specifics about the incident, Thurston had previously mentioned on a 2021 episode of “The Bachelorette” that she had once been in a non-consensual situation 10 years prior.
In her Instagram post, Thurston wrote: “My pain has purpose, my purpose has power, I want to focus on the positive.”
Thurston detailed how she called 911 to report the rape, was taken by an officer to a special medical center, and underwent a SART exam with the assistance of a nurse and advocate.
“I felt like a small lost child who was vulnerable 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,” she said.
Some slides in her post shared resources for other survivors, including the book “Know My Name” by Chanel Miller. “While I could only consume it in small doses at a time before nausea would hit, I also felt validation each and every chapter,” she said, adding that she believes all teens should read the book.
In later slides, Thurston discussed how the justice system continues to let down victims every day but emphasized her refusal to feel defeated.
“Change happens in failure. And the justice system failed me. And continues to fail thousands every single day. But do not give up,” she wrote.
Thurston, who ended her season of “The Bachelorette” engaged to Blake Moynes before breaking up in 2021, later dated John Hersey from her season before their split in 2022.
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