The Bachelorette star Gabby Windey has proudly defended Nate Mitchell amid recent allegations he intentionally hid his daughter from an ex-girlfriend and also cheated on that woman.
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A woman named Kelsey Fankhauser came forward and told Reality Steve spoiler blogger Steve Carbone earlier this month that she had dated Nate for a year-and-a-half -- from early 2020 to late 2021 -- and Nate allegedly never mentioned having a daughter, who is supposedly his entire "world."
Kelsey told Carbone that she didn't even learn Nate is a father until she watched The Bachelorette season unfold this year.
Kelsey also claimed Nate had cheated on her with multiple people, namely an Atlanta-based woman named Laree Starke, and had been secretly going through a divorce during their relationship. (Kelsey said Nate's divorce was finalized in December 2020, which was nearly a year into their romance).
Nate owned up to his mistakes on The Bachelorette: The Men Tell All, which aired Monday night on ABC, but also insisted he had been trying to protect his daughter from his "unstable" dating life following his "traumatizing" divorce.
Gabby said that she got to know Nate well, and on a deep level, during their time together on the show -- and so she completely had his back.
"He was such a big presence in my journey and in the house, [and] I know all the boys love him. He was always teaching them how to treat women and how to have integrity and kind of do this the right way," Gabby explained on the "Bachelor Happy Hour" podcast.
"[And so] when I heard about that stuff... I said, 'I can't believe he's going through this. I can't believe that people are taking their precious time to take someone else down and kind of ruining an opportunity for them,'" Gabby said, potentially hinting that producers may have been eyeing Nate as the next The Bachelor star.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOW: WHOM DID 'THE BACHELORETTE' STARS AND THEIR BACHELOR PICKS ULTIMATELY END UP WITH?! (PHOTOS)
Gabby suggested the rumor-starters are trying to dim the "positive light" Nate has been living in.
"Not to mention it's [Nate]'s decision when he chooses -- or 'if' he chooses -- to share that he has a child," Gabby noted. "I didn't ever [doubt Nate]. He was always upfront with me. We had a really good conversation about it."
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOWGabby recalled bringing Nate's daughter up in many conversations while filming The Bachelorette.
"I think everyone has seen, watching [the show] back, how good of a guy [Nate] really is," Gabby said. "And I don't think [his dating history] should shake it. I don't think that should change anyone's mind [about him]."
Nate initially responded to the cheating and lying allegations by writing on Instagram how there's "two sides to every story."
The Bachelorette host Jesse Palmer then asked Nate to respond to the allegations directly on The Men Tell All.
In response to claims he had kept his daughter a secret from a former girlfriend of well over a year, Nate explained, "I went through a pretty traumatizing time when I went through a divorce and essentially the foundation that was built around my daughter was pretty much crumbled, and the one thing that I protect most on this earth is my daughter."
"I would never bring her into a situation I feel is dangerous, a situation I feel is unstable -- and so it just made me put a wall up, protecting my daughter from the instability of my dating life."
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Jesse also asked Nate about rumors he had dated two women simultaneously.
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"I should have been more communicative. I should've been more clear in my intentions, and I pray that you forgive the man that I was, because I'm not that same person."
Jesse said once Nate's alleged dating history made headlines, many The Bachelorette fans began second-guessing what Nate had said to Gabby and whether his feelings for the ICU nurse were even genuine and sincere.
Nate insisted what he had with Gabby was real and he had committed himself to her "as her boyfriend," which is something he hadn't done with women following his divorce.
The Bachelorette alum Alec Garza then announced how Nate had made him a better man while filming the show just through their interactions and being around him every day.
Gabby chose to send Nate packing, despite having very strong feelings for him, during their second one-on-one date of The Bachelorette season because she didn't feel ready to become a stepmother.
"I'm terrified of not just being a mom, but being bad at it," Gabby explained when the couple was exploring Amsterdam.
"I see you and I know that you're such a good dad. And I know she's so lucky to have you, really... And I know, like, meeting her -- if I were to -- I wouldn't have a choice but to fall in love because I know how much she's like you."
Nate left the show crying, acknowledging how he was going to miss Gabby.
"You are truly an amazing person both inside and out," Nate wrote to Gabby via Instagram on August 16, after his The Bachelorette elimination aired.
"From seeing you light up every room you inhabit to the convos that would bring us both to tears, there is not a moment spent with you that I would take back. I am forever going to be in your corner and I pray that you find the person that loves you how you deserve to be loved."
"I strive to become a better person each and every day. My journey continues," he concluded.
Nate told Gabby at The Men Tell All taping how their relationship had a "beautiful" ending and he felt no hard feelings toward her. Nate also confirmed that he still "adores" Gabby after their split.
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
