Former Bachelorette Katie Thurston says 'the justice system failed me' after rape: 'I refuse to feel defeated'

Katie Thurston, former star of The Bachelorette is opening up about her experience navigating the justice system after being raped.

In a Friday Instagram post, Thurston opted not to reveal the details of the incident itself, but shared the various resources and steps that she utilized in the aftermath of the assault.

"My pain has purpose, my purpose has power, I want to focus on the positive," Thurston began in the first slide. “The justice system continues to let down victims every day. I refuse to feel defeated in the strength it took to be an advocate for myself. I hope my experience will help those feel the strength and support they need.”

She added, "While I'm not ready to share my story, I want to share the valuable resources that saved my life."

Thurston went on to detail her experience with the months-long process, which included completing a rape kit and getting support from the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART).

"I called 911 to report my rape. They sent an officer to take my statement and then drove me to a special medical center to perform a SART exam," she recalled. "I felt like a small lost child who was vulnerable and scared. They thoroughly explained the process, asking for consent along the way, and allowing me to decline or change my mind at any time.”

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Thurston shared that after her blood was drawn “to check for STDs, drugs, and blood alcohol concentration,” she was offered several treatments, including, “Plan B, Rocephin (a shot for bacterial infections), Azithromycin (to treat possible STIs), and Truvada and nPEP for a month (to treat possible HIV).” 

In the following slides, she provided various wellbeing resources, including information about the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) and the recommendation that followers read Chanel Miller’s Know My Name. "While I could only consume it in small doses at a time before nausea would hit, I also felt validation each and every chapter," she wrote.

In a now-expired Instagram Story from the same day, Thurston implied that she ultimately lost the legal battle against her alleged rapist, writing, "It took 7 months for the San Diego Justice to let me down as a victim of rape.”

She expanded on this in the longer post. "I did everything I should have done as a victim of rape. 'Here are my texts, my calls, my photos, my videos, names, witnesses, locations, social media, time stamps, surveillance footage, DNA, my body,’” she wrote. “The warning 'a guilty verdict is hard in criminal court' echoed throughout & the months, like an annoying parrot you were forced to keep. And as much as l heard it, I still wasn't ready to be stopped. And yet, without warning, I was.”

Thurston concluded that the way her case turned out was "not a loss" for her personally, as she remains safe, loved and supported. She wrote that it was instead “yet another loss in a broken system,” adding, "The justice system failed me. And continues to fail thousands every single day.”

Urging fellow survivors not to give up, Thurston ended with the message, "Be your biggest advocate. You are valued. You are strong. I believe in you.”

Representatives for Thurston did not immediately respond to Entertainment Weekly’s request for comment.

This is not the first Thurston has spoken of her experience with sexual assault. She first revealed herself as a survivor during season 17 of The Bachelorette, while participating in a group discussion about accountability and honesty with former Bachelor Nick Viall.

During the 2021 episode, Thurston said that an incident occurred a decade prior on New Year’s Eve. "I had been drinking, and I was involved in a situation where there wasn't consent," she said. "And I was in denial about what happened, so much so that I tried to form a relationship with him, because I didn't want to believe what actually had happened."

She added, "I just want you guys to know I've come a long way from who I was 10 years ago, and how important consent is."

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org. You can also text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.