The Bachelor bachelorette Olivia Caridi has addressed her "haters" and wants them to know they can't bring her down.
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Caridi was a strong presence on The Bachelor this season right up to her elimination in the Bahamas when Ben Higgins sent her home during a two-on-one date instead of Emily Ferguson and she was left dramatically crying alone on a private beach as ocean water sprayed all around her.
Opinions differ on whether the always-entertaining Caridi was really a "villain" this season.
While Caridi's fellow bachelorettes accused her of being "fake" and disliked the blonde news anchor because she was overly aggressive with Higgins and made occasional insensitive comments, Caridi didn't seem to intentionally want to hurt people's feelings. Caridi claimed she just wanted to win Higgins' heart and was therefore totally and utterly focused on furthering their connection.
After giving her best friend a shout-out for amazing adventures they had together in the Bahamas, such as kayaking and fishing, Caridi had a message for everyone else.
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"Thank you to the lovers and supporters, both friends and strangers, who have reached out. I am eternally grateful. For the haters, you've made me stronger than ever before. The girls on this show see your comments and they have feelings. Think twice before sending an insensitive message. Words hurt, and they kill, too. Don't be mean behind the screen. #AntiBullyingMonth," Caridi captioned a photo of herself smiling on Instagram Wednesday.
"This has been one of the most interesting experiences of my life. I've learned a lot about myself. Good things and tough lessons. We're all human. We make mistakes. Learn from them. Let them make you wiser. Be imperfect, flawed, and quirky. And own it. Never trade your authenticity for approval. Don't be afraid to stand alone. Anyway, rant over. Can't wait for adventures ahead!"
The Bachelor airs every Monday night from 8-10PM ET/PT on ABC. The women still in the running for Higgins' heart are Emily Ferguson, Joelle "JoJo" Fletcher, Lauren Bushnell, Caila Quinn, Becca Tilley and Amanda Stanton.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski