Longtime Bachelor host Chris Harrison defended Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe via his Yahoo! blog on Tuesday.
After Monday’s episode of the Bachelorette, social media has blown up about Kaityln’s controversial decision to sleep with Nick Viall following a flirtatious one-on-one date in Dublin, Ireland.
The @BacheloretteABC preview: 'Things have happened that I didn't expect to happen' https://t.co/TetbRHcZyG pic.twitter.com/U3SocJef8S
— Yahoo TV (@YahooTV) June 19, 2015
The explosive episode opened with one of the suitors calling Kaitlyn out as "shallow." The uncomfortable confrontation created an opportunity for Viall to step in and be a hero to the bachelorette.
"Even though Nick wasn’t here last week, he was the first to be there for Kaitlyn after her difficult conversation with Ian," Harrison wrote.
"He had the group date rose, and of course that set the other guys off more than just a little bit — but hey, when you like someone and she’s hurting, you make it your business to get in there."
Despite the backlash, Harrison wrote that he was #TeamKaitlyn all the way. "I admire Kaitlyn’s honesty," he revealed.
"And I think she is doing what she feels she needs to do to figure out which man she wants to spend the rest of her life with."
Harrison, who's gotten to know countless contestants, Bachelors, and Bachelorettes over the last decade, told viewers to see it from their perspective.
Bristowe tried to stand by her decision. She defended herself on ABC News when asked if she regretted her choice.
Quick read In between interviews @chrisbharrison pic.twitter.com/BALc0oIC8Z — Kaitlyn Bristowe (@kaitlynbristowe) June 23, 2015
“I am a very in the moment person and I tried to just separate each relationship, and they all move at different paces," she said. "And that one definitely moved a little quicker than others and maybe the timing wasn’t ideal on that one.”
Bristowe confessed to E! News that she was dealing with a lot of disapproval from Bachelorette fans.
“It’s obviously tough when you get to a thousand and thousands of messages that are very negative, but I just try to avoid it.”
Harrison says that sex happens sometimes before the fantasy suite, but it isn’t the typical case. “But you know what? So be it.”
→ https://t.co/F0FroOkiH3 The Bachelorette : Chris Harrison Blogs Episode 6 #TheBachelorette 781 pic.twitter.com/b6FboFcdEq
— Jennifer (@brownjenjen) June 23, 2015
