Katie Thurston Opens Up About Blake Moynes ‘Bachelorette’ Breakup in Emotional Instagram Video

Katie Thurston is opening up about her split from her Bachelorette winner and ex-fiancé, Blake Moynes. The couple got engaged during the Season 17 finale of The Bachelorette, which aired in August. They announced their split in late October, after six months together. On Sunday, Thurston elaborated on the breakup in an emotional Instagram video captioned “Just venting.”

“Obviously a public relationship ending is a really shitty thing to navigate,” she said. “But you guys have been very kind and supportive and I just wanted to say thank you for being that way to me and Blake and just being understanding.”

Thurston stressed the importance of pursuing happiness, noting that people often “hold too much weight for things that don’t matter.”

“I think a lot of people stay in relationships because they put so much time and effort into it and they keep waiting for new results thinking, ‘Once this happens it’ll change. Once we get engaged, once we get married, once we have kids, things’ll change, they’ll get better,'” she continued. “Sometimes you don’t have to wait for a big thing.”

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The former Bachelorette added that while she and Moynes communicated “very well” throughout their relationship, “we just both knew if this is how our first six months was as a couple, going forward it was not going to be in our best interest for our happiness to stay together.”

Thurston admitted that a public breakup is tough to navigate, “because of course people question the authenticity of the love and the relationship.” She also had a message for people passing judgment on her and Moynes: “I can only hope to be so lucky as you to find your forever love on the first try. Ending a relationship isn’t something new, ending an engagement isn’t something new, divorce is not something new.”

She emphasized that the two will stay in touch and support each other moving forward. “Nothing but love and respect, truly,” Thurston said.

On Oct. 25, Thurston and Moynes released a mutual statement announcing their breakup. “We are so grateful for the moments we shared together and the entire journey that has unfolded this year, but we ultimately have concluded that we are not compatible as life partners, and it is the most caring choice for both of us to move forward independently,” they said. “We ask for kindness and privacy as we both navigate this transition. Both of us want the best for one another and ask you to please support us in our decision.”