Kaitlyn Bristowe has said she doesn't regret having sex with Nick Viall even though she's been scrutinized for the decision, but she did confess to having one regret.
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Bristowe told Shawn Booth he was "the one" and "it" for her days before embarking on her one-on-one date with Viall in Dublin, which ended with the pair having sex in the Bachelorette's hotel suite. Without knowing about Bristowe's sexual encounter, Booth became increasingly more jealous of the other guys and fearful about the rest of the show's process.
Monday night's episode concluded with Booth confronting Bristowe about his concerns, desperate for reassurance. So when People asked Bristowe if she regrets telling Booth he was "the one" so early on, The Bachelorette star replied, "Yeah."
"I don't think that was fair to him," Bristowe continued. "I don't think that was fair to anybody. Even if I felt that, I don't think it was fair. I 'hoped he was the one,' is what I should have said."
Bristowe isn't ashamed about the act of sex itself. She just felt bad about the repercussions of being intimate with one man when she was developing other serious relationships simultaneously. Bristowe explained she was trying to make her dating experience on the show "as real as possible" even though the circumstances are not realistic at all.
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"You don't do this. You don't date 10 or 20 guys in your real life and try to separate the relationships. So when I was with Nick, I was trying to be in-the-moment with Nick, and then when I was with Shawn, that was a confusing thing. So that's where all the guilt came from," Bristowe told People.
"I had a very strong connection with Shawn, and I felt guilt from that because that's not something I would do in my everyday life. I wouldn't be seeing this one guy and then go and do this with another. But I'm in this crazy world where nothing really makes sense to me."
Bristowe had questioned herself on whether she should sleep with somebody and talk about it or just wait until the fantasy suite, when fans ironically believe it's socially acceptable to make love.
The 30-year-old former dance instructor apparently knew having sex with Viall was going to be "controversial," but she ultimately wasn't too worried about it.
"I didn't even know if that was going to be a thing or they wouldn't even air it or what was going to happen. I, clearly, am standing behind my decision, but it's been overwhelming to see people's reactions," she said. "Some people have their beliefs and what they think is right and wrong in a relationship. I was just trying to stay true to who I am and how I would be in [one]."
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Bristowe acknowledged sex on The Bachelorette is not a new concept but people are probably shocked because former stars chose not to openly discuss what went down behind closed doors. Bristowe, on the other hand, is very candid about her sexuality.
"If you don't speak about it, it's all good," Bristowe noted," adding that she's been getting a bad rap for one main reason.
"Because I'm a woman," she declared. "I think it's a double standard, for sure."
Bristowe has received support from many members of The Bachelor family including Viall himself and Chris Harrison. The Bachelorette admitted it says "a lot" about Viall to stand up for her the way he has on Twitter.
"I think [Nick] is a very affectionate, physical guy. I don't think he's afraid to be physical or show that affection, where I think other people -- on past shows and this show -- are so aware of the cameras and what's going on, maybe they hold back, while Nick's just all for it. Maybe it's because he's been there, done that. I think that played into it," Bristowe said of her connection with the suitor.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski