The Bachelorette's new star Katie Thurston is expressing regret over the kissing photo she had posted on Instagram that apparently offended many members of the LGBTQ community.
ADVERTISEMENT
Katie, who will star on The Bachelorette's upcoming seventeenth season, posted a controversial photo on Tuesday of herself kissing fellow Season 25 The Bachelor alum Casandra Suarez on the neck that also featured a neon sign reading, "GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS."
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS)
After Katie received backlash and criticism, she deleted the post and issued an apology on her Instagram Stories hours later.
"To my followers: I've removed my most recent post after realizing how many people from the LGBTQ+ [community] I hurt," Katie, 30, wrote in a rainbow-colored image on Tuesday.
ADVERTISEMENT
"I am so sorry. I've read the comments and better understand why my post was offensive. I will continue to learn from my mistakes. I want to always be an ally and today I'm sorry I let you down."
Among the comments Katie received were accusations of "queer baiting" and being disrespectful, according to Us Weekly.
Katie initially wrote back to her followers that the photo was simply a "friendship post" and not intended to be a "statement" about her sexuality, the magazine reported, but then she changed her tune and got rid of the post entirely.
Casandra also competed on Matt James' The Bachelor season, which filmed in late 2020 and aired earlier this year on ABC, but was eliminated in Week 1 of the process.
As for Katie, the bank marketing manager from Lynnwood, WA, was eliminated from The Bachelor's 25th season before hometown dates but made a lasting impression on Matt and home viewers with her raunchy humor and bold personality.
ADVERTISEMENT
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' COUPLES NOW: WHO DID 'THE BACHELOR' STARS AND THEIR BACHELORETTE PICKS ACTUALLY END UP MARRYING? (PHOTOS)
Katie, for example, showed up on Night 1 of the competition with her sex toy, which she joked had become her best friend while quarantining amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Katie also put an end to bullying in the house and took pride in being unapologetically herself, and Matt recently told E! News he thinks Katie is "incredible" and may be "one of the best [Bachelorettes] to ever do" the show.
The Bachelorette's seventeenth season is scheduled to premiere Monday, June 7 at 8PM ET/PT on ABC.
"It's not going to be a surprise to me as we watch everyone across the country fall in love with her," Matt gushed late last month.
ADVERTISEMENT
After filming The Bachelorette, Katie returned to Instagram on April 28 and hinted at how she has started "a healthy relationship."
Katie's The Bachelorette season wrapped filming unexpectedly early and "ahead of schedule" on April 24, according to an Us source, because "Katie was "in control" and decisive over the men she wanted to date or send packing.
Katie's entire season taped at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico, where cast and crew were required to quarantine and follow COVID-19 safety measures, according to Reality Steve spoiler blogger Steve Carbone.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOW: WHOM DID 'THE BACHELORETTE' STARS AND THEIR BACHELOR PICKS ULTIMATELY END UP WITH?! (PHOTOS)
ABC had announced Katie's cast of 34 potential bachelors just a few days before filming began on March 22.
ADVERTISEMENT
In the first promo ABC released for Katie's season, Katie said, "I never want to stop pursuing love. I am who I am, and I want someone who knows who they are. My person is still out there."
Season 17 of The Bachelorette will be co-hosted by former The Bachelorette stars Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe, who will be filling in for Chris Harrison after he "stepped aside" from his hosting duties to educate himself on racism in society.
Chris came under fire during Matt's The Bachelor season after he defended Season 25 contestant Rachael Kirkconnell's racially-ignorant and racially-insensitive actions in the last several years during a controversial interview he had with Extra's Rachel Lindsay, who starred as the first Black Bachelorette.
It remains unclear who will host Season 18 of The Bachelorette starring Matt's runner-up, Michelle Young, when it films later this year and premieres in Fall 2021.
As for Matt's current relationship status, he has been trying to make things work with his The Bachelor winner, Rachael, following their February breakup over her racism scandal.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS)
Interested in more The Bachelor news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group!