Former Bachelorette Katie Thurston makes a surprise appearance on Season 9 of Bachelor in Paradise. But the reception she got wasn’t what she was expecting.
Katie says producers told her ahead of time that everyone would be excited to see her. She was expecting lots of warm hugs. “And so I went in with this like mentality of like, ‘I’m about to be so welcomed,’” she told Ben Higgins and Ashley Iaconetti on their Almost Famous Podcast on October 9.
“[But] when I walked down,” she continued, “obviously the first person I look for is [ex-fiancé] Blake [Moynes], and he’s looking at me like he saw a ghost. And it feels like five minutes of nobody saying anything, no one’s getting up. Like, I feel so uncomfortable.” Maybe she’s just not that popular. I never liked her that much either and passed on her season.
First time reunited since their split
In August 2023, the Season 9 BIP trailer revealed that Katie would make an appearance in Mexico. It would be the first time she and Blake would see each other since they split in October 2021.
“I don’t think Blake’s going to be happy that I’m here,” she said in the teaser, which then showed an unhappy-looking Blake turning away from his ex.
“We lived in different countries during the pandemic,” Katie shared, which contributed to their split. “I think we were just already up against a lot … In general, long-distance is hard and maybe not the right choice for someone like me who really wants a hands-on, in-person relationship.”
Going into the show, Katie admitted, “I was very nervous, over everything else, just to see Blake.” But were they able to mend fences and make peace with each other? Katie kept it close to the vest, saying, “You have to tune in and find out [where we stand now].”
Bachelor in Paradise airs Thursdays at 9/8c on ABC.
TELL US – ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING BLAKE AND KATIE REUNITED IN MEXICO? DO YOU THINK KATIE’S THERE LOOKING FOR LOVE?
