'I want viewers to be open to everyone,' the Bachelorette says of Garrett, to whom she gave her first impression rose.
- May 31, 2018
AceShowbiz - Becca Kufrin has finally spoken out after one of "The Bachelorette" contestants Garrett Yrigoyen found himself under fire for allegedly "liking" several controversial Instagram posts. Speaking to E! News, Becca admitted that she've "heard a little bit" of Garrett's social media activity.
"I've heard a little bit about it these past couple days. I've just been so busy traveling around the country with press that I haven't really been able to read too much up on it, but everyone is entitled to their own opinions," she weighed in on the issue regarding Garrett, to whom she gave her first impression rose in her season premiere of the ABC dating show.
"And at the end of the day I wanted to go on this journey to open up myself and have people see my love story unfold," she continued. "I would hope that they would stay open and respect me but also stay open and respect these 28 guys that went along on the journey with me."
"I want viewers to be open to everyone, and I want them to go through this season with me and watch my love story unfold with all of these men ... because that's how I went into this journey," she added. "I did things in the past that I'm sure wasn't the best thing, but I just want people to stay open-minded to everyone."
"I can't fault on anyone for what they believe and who's to say that anyone is truly what they believe in if they just double tap," Becca went on saying. "I can't speak to that because that's just not me. I am a strong woman and I do believe in certain things, but again, that's what's so great about our country -- everyone is entitled to their own opinions."
Based on screenshots shared by former "The Bachelor" contestant Ashley Spivey, Garrett liked posts that mocked Parkland high school students, liberal women, trans people and undocumented immigrants. In addition, another post he liked suggested that Parkland student David Hogg is a crisis actor.
Garrett has since deleted his account, which was made private on May 24. While he hasn't commented on the backlash he's been receiving, Bekah Martinez, who competed alongside Becca in Arie Luyendyk Jr.'s season of "The Bachelor", slammed Garrett, writing, "yooo you can say they're 'just memes' but they're just hateful, ignorant memes. the s**t you like/follow on the internet IS a reflection of your deeper beliefs and values."
