'Bachelorette' star Katie Thurston addresses accusations of not supporting Clayton Echard amid paternity scandal
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Katie Thurston recently expressed frustration and anger towards a troll who accused 'Bachelor Nation' stars of not supporting Clayton Echard amid his paternity lawsuit.
Taking to her Instagram, the former 'Bachelorette' star shared a screenshot of the comment, declaring that she is completely fed up with the negativity. She defended her fellow costars emphasizing that they have their own lives and responsibilities to attend to.
Talking about Echard, a user said, "So happy for him. I don't expect influencers to talk about certain topics, I really don't but it's pretty shameful that virtually no one in Bachelor Nation stood up and brought this to light. I understand they didn't want to get sued, but he essentially fought alone when it comes to BN and I think that's pretty outrageous."
The comment further read, "This has got to be one of the craziest stories to come out of BN and yet almost every previous contestant and lead has been silent. Shame. Anyway, the truth prevailed today. Go Clayton!"
Soon after, Thurston replied to the user by writing, "This narrative needs to stop. Dave chose to report on this topic while financially making money off of it. Which is great for him! And glad Clayton is getting the justice he deserves"
The reality TV star added, "But to sit there and ask why no one is talking about it. As if we don't have our own lives and problems we are managing, either publicly or privately. As if many of us are simply unaware. As if many of us aren't involved or invested in the facts, because also, that isn't our job. You can praise people for bringing Clayton's situation to light, but stop shitting on those who chose not to."
"@dnealz and I have talked about this privately many times and to see his reply like this is disappointing. Yes, others have their priorities, like their families, their miscarriage, their r*pe, their divorce, their family deaths. I'ms o f***ing done," she concluded.
Former ‘Bachelor’ star Clayton Echard addresses paternity lawsuit win, says ‘justice is served’
'The Bachelor' star Clayton Echard recently won a paternity battle against Laura Owens, and he expressed his joy and relief in a post on Instagram. The court ruled in his favor, bringing an end to the lengthy legal dispute.
"Justice is served!! This morning, the court filed a ruling in our favor to award us legal fees, on the basis that Laura Michelle Owens fabricated an entire pregnancy claim. The court also has referred her to the county attorney for criminal prosecution," he captioned the video.
The 31-year-old added, "I ask that individuals please refrain from any commentary toward Laura that could be misinterpreted as harmful. My hope is that she is able to turn over a new leaf and begin to make positive changes in her life. It is never too late to do so."
In the video shared, Echard can be heard saying, "Today is a very, very good day, because I woke up to read a very thoughtful opinion from the court and justice is finally being served. While this has been very emotionally exhausting, I want to thank the Woodnick law team, my friends and family and a community that sought the truth out from the very beginning.”
"To the journalists, some of who were threatened personally, who pushed through to share this unbelievable saga of Laura Michelle Owens faking pregnancies and medical records in order to force relationships, you are truth warriors and I am incredibly humbled. Thank you for ensuring that the truth prevails," he said.
The paternity trial started on June 10, almost a year after Owens accused Echard of fathering her twins after a one-night stand. Echard has denied having any sexual relations with Owens. In September 2023, he shared a DNA test receipt on Instagram and mentioned that other men had also been accused of similar claims by Owens.
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Why did Clayton Echard and Susie Evans split?
Clayton Echard and Susie Evans, who met on 'The Bachelor' Season 26 rekindled their relationship off-camera but ultimately ended their relationship in September 2022. They confirmed the news of their split via a joint statement on Instagram.
"With incredibly heavy hearts, we wanted to share that we have decided to go our separate ways. For anyone who has ever loved, knows this was a painful decision to make and not one taken lightly," they shared.
"We understand that there will likely be a lot of questions about this decision — social media is definitely a highlight reel and much of our experiences together we have kept private as I’m sure most can understand. But we will share this although this last year together has brought us so much joy and so many laughs, there has also been a significant amount of pain. We know no healthy relationship comes without its struggles, but we’ve realized that we were not prepared for the external forces that hindered our ability to not only heal as individuals but also as a couple," they continued.
The pair concluded, "We both are focused on continuing to work on ourselves, so we can be the best version of ourselves. This is not an easy time for either of us but we stand in support of each other and hope to see the other go on to find happiness and healing. Although Claysie is no more, we hope that our communities can support us individually as we move forward with love and respect for each other. Thank you to all of you that supported our relationship. It means so much more than you will ever know."
Who is Katie Thurston dating now?
Katie Thurston took to Instagram on June 14 to announce that she is in a romantic relationship with comedian Jeff Arcuri.
“Safe to say he’s making it to hometowns next week ,” she wrote alongside two lovey-dovey snaps of the pair.
The post included two romantic photos, one capturing a tender kiss between the couple and the other showcasing them posing for charming black-and-white photo booth pictures.
Thurston made her reality TV debut on 'The Bachelor' Season 25 where she vied for the heart of Matt James. Despite finishing in 11th place, Thurston quickly captured the hearts of fans with her charming personality.
She later returned as the leading lady on 'The Bachelorette' Season 17, where she found love and got engaged to Blake Moynes. Unfortunately, their relationship didn't last long, and the couple announced their split shortly after the season ended.
