Blake Horstmann has been accused of using and silencing Caelynn Miller-Keyes prior to Bachelor in Paradise, and now he's claiming Caelynn had told him their hook-up was just about sex -- and he has published alleged texts to back up his claims.
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Blake is firing back and speaking his "truth" after Caelynn lit up the screen with jaw-dropping accusations about their history together during Bachelor in Paradise's two-night premiere event.
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Blake has owned up to having sex with Caelynn and Kristina Schulman in the same weekend at the 2019 Stagecoach music festival that took place in California in April, but Caelynn also alleged Blake suddenly ghosted her and ended the "exclusive" relationship, called her "a mistake," and then silenced her because he didn't want anyone finding out about their relationship.
Blake therefore unleashed a lengthy statement as well as a series of screenshots and videos Tuesday night on Instagram to share his side of the story and attempt to disprove Caelynn's allegations. (Scroll down to see some of the since-deleted text messages screenshots.)
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"I wanted to take time to address what is being portrayed in the episodes. I made a lot of mistakes this past year that I'm not proud of. I know some people don't think this show is real, but it is. It is very real. Everybody handles heartbreak differently and everybody handles the public eye differently," Blake wrote.
"I have a lot of insecurities I've been struggling with and lost myself this year. I've gotten way in over my head with women and have made a lot of mistakes and although never my intent, I hurt several people along the way."
"I've felt a lot of shame and have been in a dark place for a while now and especially these last few months. It's still something I am working through. I take full responsibility for my actions at Stagecoach and will forever regret the decision I made that weekend."
"The women involved did not deserve that. I realize now that I hurt these women and I deeply regret that. I've done a lot of self reflection since and have learned a lot from my mistakes."
Blake continued, "With all of that said, I want to get the truth out. I was not able to defend myself down in Paradise, because me and most of the beach had no idea the things Caelynn was saying in her interviews. I NEVER 'sweet talked' her at Stagecoach. Caelynn and I were NEVER in a relationship."
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"I NEVER ghosted Caelynn, I NEVER called her a mistake and I absolutely NEVER EVER EVER silenced Caelynn. I never expected to have to so something like this, but after finally seeing the episodes, I feel like I have no other choice but to release the text exchanges between her and myself."
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Blake said "the last thing [he] wanted to do" was throw Caelynn under the bus but he felt forced to defend himself.
"My name and character are being attacked. My name is all I really have. Most of all, it is the only real way to prove that what is being said by Caelynn and the story that is being shown is far from the truth. I'm deeply sorry for my actions at Stagecoach but telling the world that I silenced a woman amongst many other harmful accusations was just too much," Blake wrote, before referencing the fact Caelynn had been sexually assaulted in college.
"I have genuine compassion for the trauma Caelynn has experienced in the past. To make her question my intentions in any way devastates me beyond anything I've ever felt."
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"Something I've learned is to be completely clear, because I never want to make anyone not clearly understand my intentions again. I was under the impression it was 'just sex' to her. Which you will see in her texts."
Blake concluded, "I understand that I will probably get a lot of backlash for posting these personal text messages in my stories, but unfortunately this is the only way to have a voice, since I very much feel backed into a corner."
Blake then went on to post a series of alleged screenshots between Caelynn and himself in his Instagram Stories that he has since deleted due to social-media users attacking Caelynn and calling her a liar.
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If the screenshots truly originate from a couple of Blake and Caelynn's conversations prior to their appearance on Bachelor in Paradise, they appear to show Caelynn just wanted sex from Blake and he never silenced her.
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In fact, the screenshots allege the pair had actually discussed on multiple occasions -- one week prior to the start of filming Bachelor in Paradise's sixth season -- whether to tell the world about their sexual encounter.
Blake claims Caelynn texted him the following while at Stagecoach: "Chill it'll be good... Come on loosen up... Let's just have a good time man... I just ordered an Uber."
In between Caelynn's texts, Blake expressed skepticism of Caelynn's apparent desire to just have sex with him with no strings attached.
"That's what they all say," Blake told Caelynn.
However, Blake apparently unlocked his door for Caelynn's arrival and told her, "We can cuddle but no sex lol."
"Yes sex. Only sex," Caelynn allegedly replied.
"I have will power," Blake said.
"No cuddling. HA. Lies," Caelynn allegedly responded. "Yo we both know that's not true."
"I know u when you get a little alcohol in you," Blake noted.
"Say it. I... dare u," Caelynn appeared to write.
"Nope, I'm a gentleman," Blake said.
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"That is very false... If I come over it's strictly for sex. Nothing more nothing less," Caelynn allegedly responded.
"That's what they all say," Blake noted.
"I'm just trying to be honest. Ya know," Caelynn appeared to write back.
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And then one week before Paradise began filming, Caelynn apparently flipped out because someone had spilled the beans about her sexual hookup with Blake.
"Dude I'm freaking out," Caelynn allegedly texted Blake.
"Shoot lol call u in 2. In the car with my parents. Ya I'm scared. I'm thinking of pulling out of paradise," Blake replied.
"Dude I'm shaking. Who knows? And how? We've been so careful. What happened?" Caelynn allegedly asked.
"Sorry I'm gonna let [my] phone charge for a bit and call you back. Did you talk to [Cassie Randolph]?" Blake asked.
"Don't stress we'll figure it out," Caelynn appeared to write.
"Easier said than done lol," Blake replied.
"I know I don't know what to do. We have a week to decide. I want to think about it for a little bit," Caelynn allegedly wrote.
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"No I need to tell before then so that she isn't crazy mad when she is down there," Blake wrote, seemingly referring to Hannah Godwin, whom Caelynn mentioned in a subsequent text.
The pair agreed to make a decision a day or two later, and then Caelynn promised Blake that Cassie and Colton Underwood -- the pair's good friends -- didn't say anything to anyone about their fling.
"I really don't want to tell people but I also don't want people finding out and looking like a liar," Caelynn allegedly told Blake.
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Caelynn then allegedly wrote, "Can we take the day to think? It's not something we can undo so I don't want to make the decision hastily."
"Well what are you leaning towards?" Blake asked.
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"I think it may be better to be honest but I honestly don't know," Caelynn allegedly replied.
"Well I just don't think you will feel any more comfortable and sure if we have another day to think. I guess let's just be honest. We f-cked up so bad," Blake wrote.
"If we play it off as not being a big deal then it's not. Everyone hooks up in this world," Caelynn appeared to reply.
"It's gonna be. Ya but not everyone is you and me. I'll call ya in a bit we can talk more," Blake responded.
"Ok," Caelynn replied.
Blake later texted Caelynn just to "check in" on her, and Caelynn said everything was "good" and she was doing "better."
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Blake agreed he felt better too and they were probably just overthinking things.
"I still wanna talk about it all. But we will be alright," Blake said.
Caelynn repeated, "Same," and then she appeared to touch base with Blake again later on.
"Did you tell Hannah?" Caelynn allegedly asked, clearly confirming rumors Blake and Hannah were already involved before they went to Paradise.
Reality Steve spoiler blogger Steve Carbone, for instance, had reported Blake visited Hannah in Birmingham, AL, two weeks before filming began.
"Hi no not yet why?" Blake asked.
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"I'm just stressed and can't stop thinking about it. I'm hoping she won't think it's a big deal," Caelynn allegedly replied.
Blake then told Caelynn he hated that she felt that way.
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After sharing those alleged screenshots, Blake posted a series of Instagram Stories videos addressing his followers. He seemed to be quite shaken up and upset.
"Releasing those text messages was the last thing I wanted to do. I know it's not good, but I feel like I have no other choice but to release those. I hope Caelynn can forgive me one day, but with my character and my name being attacked like that, I feel like I have no other choice," Blake said.
"Maybe some of that was edit from Caelynn and maybe they spliced together some of her conversations, I don't know, and maybe she can address that later. But I don't know what else to do. I'm not trying to go and attack Caelynn; I'm just trying to get my truth out there."
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Blake concluded, "I hope none of you go and attack Caelynn. I truly hope she has a chance to talk about what was spliced together and what they didn't show -- and maybe she was saying other things. But right now, I feel like I have no choice."
Caelynn made some startling allegations against Blake in the premiere episode of Bachelor in Paradise's sixth season on Monday night.
When Caelynn first arrived to the beach, she said in a confessional interview, "Blake and I talked for a few months and it was really great, but he played me and that sucked! It wasn't fun. I really did struggle and he hurt me."
Caelynn later revealed Blake's behavior at the Stagecoach festival, which Blake has since owned up to.
"[Tayshia Adams], he flirted with you all day at Stagecoach but then he hooked up with me that night," Caelynn told the cameras, adding that Blake was "scum."
"And he also slept with Kristina the night before. What he is doing to girls right now, especially me, is f-cked up."
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Caelynn later told the cameras she was "pretty sure" she and Blake were "exclusive" when they had dated.
"He's done some really horrible things to me. So now I'm not interested in him and he's made it clear he's not interested in me. I'm a mistake. He's never apologized and that's hurtful," Caelynn said.
Caelynn told Bachelor in Paradise's bartender, Wells Adams, she and Blake "really had something" and "talked about skipping Paradise and coming out with us [as a couple]."
"And then he ghosted me, just, like, fully stopped communication... And then we saw each other at a music festival and he ended up sweet talking me, and so we spent the night together," Caelynn told Wells.
"We wake up, I'm in his bed, and he's DMing Hannah G... I'm still in his bed and he's talking about how hot Tayshia is... He calls me two weeks ago and was like, 'No one can know about us. We've got to lie. We've got to lie our asses off in Paradise'... He wants to protect his image."
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Caelynn eventually reiterated her claims to Onyeka Ehie on the beach in the premiere, alleging she and Blake FaceTimed three times a day and texted every day when they were together.
"He's so good at twisting things... very smooth," Caelynn said.
"He said we have to deny, deny, deny [we had sex] and lie, lie, lie. I said, 'Whatever,' but inside, I was like, 'What the f-ck?' He said it was a mistake... I'd rather it just be out in the open, I'm not ashamed... Don't ignore me, don't act like I'm something to hide."
After Blake shared his "truth" on Instagram Tuesday night, comments flooded in from people supporting him all across Bachelor Nation.
Kristina, Adam Gottschalk, Jason Tartick, Kevin Wendt, Kaitlyn Bristowe, Ben Zorn, Astrid Loch, Chase McNary and more all had kind words to say to Blake.
Kevin even claimed Blake had been struggling with the idea of whether to release his text messages with Caelynn for days before actually going through with it.
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"I know I told you last week posting these might not be the best idea. but as a friend I just want YOU to be happy and I know your anxiety was about to erupt. So I get it. and I'll support you regardless. because I know you're a good friend and a good hearted human. Chin up amigo," Kevin wrote in the comments section of Blake's post.
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