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Former Bachelorette Becca Kufrin Says Fiance Garrett’s Statements About Police Were ‘Tone Deaf’
Former Bachelorette Becca Kufrin called fiancé Garrett Yrigoyen’s statements about law enforcement amid nationwide protests “tone deaf” during the “Bachelor Happy Hour” podcast with Rachel Lindsay on June 9.
“Garrett is my fiancé, and I love him and to his core, I believe that he is a good person. What he posted … I don’t align with and I don’t agree with,” the Minnesota native, 30, emotionally told her cohost.
The season 14 star said she didn’t think his statements were meant in a “malicious way,” but she acknowledged it “was the wrong time and message and sentiment.” She added, “I’m trying to get him to see the bigger picture.”
Rachel, 35, said it was “brave” for Becca to speak her truth about Garrett, 31, but added it’s not “an isolated incident.” The lawyer then gave her take on the situation while noting her cohost said “not to hold back.”
“As a black woman, it is very important for me to tell you how Garrett’s post made me feel … I never spoke about what Garrett did during your season. I never spoke about it and it was out of respect for you and your relationship,” Rachel began. “To me, this is what Garrett thinks, this is what Garrett is. He posted a black box. He never said ‘Black Lives Matter.’ He posted fists of every color, which to me is like, ‘Everybody, all lives.’ And then the very next post is the thin blue line with a heartfelt, thought-out caption that he said with his chest. And to me, that is what you feel and that is what you believe. I don’t think Garrett is malicious, but Garrett is what the problem is.”
The medical sales rep posted in support of law enforcement following George Floyd’s death on June 5. He said in his controversial statement he wanted to “recognize” law enforcement officers who “put their lives on the line each and every single day.” He wrote, “We can’t judge an entire group of people by the actions of a few. We can’t judge the peaceful protesters by the actions of the few violent protesters and we sure can’t judge all cops by the actions of a few bad ones.”
This is not the first time the former contestant has been in hot water. Garrett previously came under fire following the Bachelorette finale for allegedly “liking” offensive social media posts that were anti-trans, mocked undocumented immigrants and suggested the Parkland high school shooting was a hoax. The contestant apologized and took “full responsibility” for the “hurtful and offensive” posts he gave a thumbs up to.
At the time, Becca said she did not “condone” her fiancé’s behavior but acknowledged she “[stood] by his apology.” After his most recent statements about police, the podcast host said she was having “many conversations are being had between friends, family members and Garrett.”
Rachel was not about to let the Garrett Life blogger off the hook and circled it back to the reality dating franchise. “The problem is the people who don’t realize what they’re doing is a form of racism,” she said. “The problem is people who are putting things out there against the movement and the problem is doing things that perpetuate and play into a particular behavior, which is what I have an issue with the Bachelor franchise.”
