Gabby Windey reveals why she skipped ‘The Bachelorette’ reunion with Taylor Frankie Paul: ‘It's been hard…’
Before Taylor Frankie Paul gives out the first set of roses on Season 22 of 'The Bachelorette,' the 31-year-old met with past Bachelorettes on the televised special, 'The Bachelorette: Before the First Rose.' It aired on Sunday, March 15, right after the 2026 Oscars. 18 women arrived at the Bachelor Mansion to spend time with Taylor and offer words of advice, but Gabby Windey wasn't one of them. Windey was one of the contestants on Season 26 of 'The Bachelor' and co-led Season 19 of 'The Bachelorette' with Rachel Recchia. She skipped the special alongside other former Bachelorettes, including Jillian Harris (Season 5) and Jenn Tran (Season 21).
Entertainment Tonight's Denny Directo spoke to Windey at the Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty on March 15 and asked her about missing the reunion special. The 35-year-old said that she couldn't attend the special due to her busy schedule. She explained that she was "out of town" during the special's filming, and added, "I've just been so busy, so it's hard to make everything work. But, no, that's amazing. I'm so happy for them just to get together again." Nevertheless, Windey sent her best wishes to Taylor and believed she would "crush" her season. During her season of 'The Bachelorette' in 2022, Windey got engaged to Erich Schwer, but the couple broke up just a few months later. She then came out in August 2023 and has been happily married to the comedian, actress, and television writer Robby Hoffman since January 2025. She will soon host the new dating show 'Love Overboard' on Hulu.
Bachelorette alumni Trista Sutter, Hannah Brown-Woolard, Meredith Phillips, Kaitlyn Bristowe, DeAnna Pappas, Ali Fedotowsky-Manno, Tayshia Adams, Charity Lawson, Emily Maynard-Johnson, Andi Dorfman-Hart, Rachel Lindsay, Desiree Siegfried, Becca Kufrin, JoJo Fletcher, Katie Thurston, Rachel Recchia, Ashley Hebert-Rosenbaum, and the 'Golden Bachelorette,' Joan Vassos, appeared in the reunion special and gave Taylor their blessings. From the looks of the promo, which was released recently by ABC, Taylor will need all the advice she can get. Season 22 promises loads of drama and chaos as 22 men compete for Taylor's attention and love. The promo also sees Taylor sending one contestant home in anger, telling him to "get in the car and leave" as she slams the car door.
The 31-year-old content creator from Utah is not new to drama, as she has also starred in the reality series, 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' on Hulu. But will she be able to find everlasting love amidst all the chaos? Find out as 'The Bachelorette' returns for Season 22 on ABC on March 22. Follow Taylor's journey on Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC or stream the episodes the next day on Hulu.
