The Bachelor finalist Kaity Biggar has reacted to backlash over her post-Rose Ceremony comment to Gabi Elnicki in which she pointed out Gabi was the only person who had slept with Zach Shallcross in the Fantasy Suites.
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After both Kaity and Gabi received roses in Thailand following Zach's overnight dates with his Final 3 bachelorettes, Kaity quietly said to Gabi, "I know you were the only one."
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Many The Bachelor viewers interpreted Kaity's remark to be a jab at Gabi or an attempt to sex shame her, but Kaity has insisted she meant no harm.
"Gabi and I are very close friends," the 28-year-old travel nurse wrote in a since-deleted TikTok comment, according to Us Weekly.
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"The entirety of the conversation was not shown. So please take a step back and realize that."
Kaity spoke to Gabi after the Rose Ceremony while Zach was walking out his third-place finisher, Ariel Frenkel, during The Bachelor's Monday, March 20 episode.
After Kaity told Gabi, "I know you were the only one," Gabi replied, "I feel like I'm wearing, like, an 'A' on my chest. F-cking scarlet letter over here."
Kaity assured her friend that the situation wasn't that bad, saying, "Oh, my god, stop, no."
Kaity also confirmed she's still close friends with Gabi by posting an Instagram video of the girls goofing around in a bubble bath together while they were filming The Bachelor's 27th season.
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"Beyond grateful for this incredible woman and our friendship," Kaity captioned the hilarious clip.
"Thank you for always lighting up a room with your beautiful, quirky personality! You exude the best energy that is so contagious to be around! Thank you for always being YOU! Truly, one of the most beautiful humans inside and out. Keep sprinkling sunshine #teamgaity."
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOW: WHOM DID 'THE BACHELORETTE' STARS AND THEIR BACHELOR PICKS ULTIMATELY END UP WITH?! (PHOTOS)
Gabi responded to Kaity's post by writing, "Love you so much my Kaity girl! Forever grateful for our friendship and that you are in my life. A true forever friend #teamgaity."
Zach and Gabi's sexual encounter came as a surprise to fans because Zach had initially set a no-sex "of any kind" rule for himself going into the Fantasy Suites.
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Zach stayed true to his word during his overnight date with Ariel, but then passion apparently got the best of him during his second overnight date of the week with Gabi.
"Did I think I was going to get engaged to somebody that I've never had sex with? Probably not. But we're going to work on it later," Gabi told the cameras before entering the Fantasy Suite with Zach, later adding, "Zach says he's not having sex, but I don't know. Maybe he will."
Zach felt compelled to tell The Bachelor host Jesse Palmer about his actions, and then he chose to be honest and transparent with Kaity by sharing the sex secret with her during date No. 3, which deflated Kaity and put her in distress.
Kaity, who nearly quit the show because she felt "crushed" and "distant" from Zach, said she wished Zach had kept the details of his relationships with the other women private.
Gabi also felt "blindsided" by Zach's choice to announce what they had done behind closed doors, and she said he broke her trust and needed to win it back before she'd feel ready for an engagement.
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Gabi lamented in a confessional that Zach was "clearing his conscience at the expense of my heart."
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' COUPLES NOW: WHO DID 'THE BACHELOR' STARS AND THEIR BACHELORETTE PICKS ACTUALLY END UP MARRYING? (PHOTOS)
But Kaity wasn't the only one facing criticism after Monday night's The Bachelor episode.
Gabi herself shut down Internet trolls when a person called her out for "deleting comments" on one of her Instagram photos.
"Yes I am," Gabi firmly replied. "Because I don't need negativity and hate on my page. It's so unnecessary and unkind."
Gabi added, "There is NO reason to put others down, get off my page if you don't like me."
The Instagram user, however, clarified, "I like you queen just here for the drama."
Gabi appeared to delete most of the comments that bashed or demeaned her. For instance, a troll wrote on her page in an undeleted comment, "This girl is an embarrassment for female population."
But other people stepped in and defended Gabi, saying that she's "enough" for any man and deserves the world.
"Screw the haters," wrote one fan.
And another person commented, "You shouldn't have to deal with any negativity or hate on your page. You're a sweet girl and don't listen to any of that sh-t."
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There have been a lot of opinions about The Bachelor's latest episode.
Bachelor in Paradise bartender Wells Adams called Zach out for kissing and telling on-camera when he didn't need to, but both The Bachelor alums Susie Evans and Clayton Echard have rushed to Zach's defense and asking viewers to give Zach, Gabi and Kaity grace.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS)
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