Even Katie Thurston didn’t know what she was promising when she declared her Bachelorette ending was a “first” for the franchise.
After appearing in season 25, The BachelorThe Washington native was named their season 17 star by ABC in an episode that aired in the early 2021. After filming in Palm Springs, she met 30 contestants, including a bartender. John Hersey. She sent the Californian native home during week 2.
Blake MoynesHe was the original competitor in season 16 of The BacheloretteIn 2020, he joined the cast when there were only 14 men left. Canada native Thurston admitted that he reached him while Matt James’Season was airing and they felt like they would have an emotional connection. After two of Thurston’s top four quit — Greg Grippo Michael Allio — she gave Moynes her final rose, sending home Justin Glaze.
Thurston and Moynes’ proposal aired on the August 2021 finale ofThe BacheloretteThe twosome shared the story. Us Weekly at the time that they weren’t in a rush to move in together as they navigated their post-show future. In October, she confessed to having been in a rush to move in together. Use that the twosome were “winging” things as Moynes traveled to Africa for work.
“The short version is we’re figuring it out. We don’t know. This is still very new to us. I’m just focusing on myself, he’s focusing on him, and if we work doing that, great. If not —” Thurston told UseBefore you go backstage, Whitney Cummings’ comedy show.
Thurston and Moynes ended their engagement days after the performance. She subsequently told her Instagram followers that the twosome “owe it to each other to step away” from their relationship because it wasn’t working.
“We were together for six months [and] Blake and I are very level-headed and mature, and we communicate very well on our thoughts,” Thurston told fans on October 31, 2021. “And we just both knew if this was how our first six months was as a couple, going forward it was going to not be in our best interest for our happiness to stay together.”
Moynes, for his part, admitted things haven’t “been easy” for him as he returned to social media post-split on November 9, 2021. Later that month, UseThurston was spotted with Hersey, according to the news. Her rep later confirmed the news via a statement: “It’s known Katie and John became close friends post-season. John has been there for her through all the major changes in her life, and they are excited to explore this newly found romantic connection.”
Scroll down to see the complete timeline of Hersey’s relationship with her:
