‘Bachelorette’ Contestant Garrett Addresses His Instagram Controversy During Finale: “I’m Very Sorry”
Welp, Bachelorette fans are finally getting the confirmation they want, and the apology they deserve. People were horrified when news broke that an Instagram account seemingly owned by the recipient of Becca Kufrin‘s first impression rose, Garrett Yrigoyen, had smashed the like button on some racist and insensitive content. Shortly after, the reality star issued an apology on Instagram, telling fans, “I am sorry to those who I offended, and I also take full responsibility for my ‘likes’ on Instagram that were hurtful and offensive.” He went on to explain that he chose to delete the old account and “start fresh.” But now that Garrett has been revealed as the winner of The Bachelorette, he and Becca took to the hot seat during After the Final Rose to address the controversy head on.
“I didn’t realize the effect behind a double tap or ‘like’ on Instagram, so I put out an apology… I didn’t mean to offend anybody, I apologize for that still,” he said. “I’m very sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt anybody’s feelings or do anything like that, so I stand by everything I posted in my apology. I’m just trying to grow as a person, be a better person on a daily basis.”
As for where Becca stands on all of this? “She’s helped me through everything,” Garrett said. “We’ve been honest and open and transparent with one another since the beginning. And when that all came out, we attacked it, because I feel like when I was liking things, it was going against what she stands for, and that made it really hard on us as a couple. So when we started talking about that, we got through that together, and we’re growing, we’re progressing, and we’re moving forward.”
Becca chimed in to defend Garrett and explain that she “got to see who he is — his heart, his soul.” However, she clarified that she does not “condone” his Instagram behavior, but knows he “stands by his apology and he feels so bad for everyone that he did offend and he didn’t mean it.” Ultimately, she hopes Bachelor Nation can forgive him so they can move forward as a couple.
For the most part, fans seem to think that he’s being genuine, and both Becca and producers of the ABC show have urged fans to give him another shot. But other people are still stunned by how inappropriate his “sense of humor” was. The posts he liked included memes mocking immigrants, shaming a Parkland school shooting victim, and trans people. Let’s just hope he truly did learn his lesson.
