Photo: ABC
LBR, social media is an extension of who we are, generally unfiltered, so by definition, it pretty much defines us.
Garrett Yrigoyen, current frontrunner contestant on The Bachelorette, is under fire for his offensive social media history, but he doesn’t want to be defined by it? Shots were fired after former Bachelor contestant Ashley Spivey shaded him with thread of damning tweets that call him out on his offensive Instagram likes. Included in the list of delightful things Yrigoyen liked on Twitter are conspiracy theories that the Parkside victims are paid actors, fat shaming posts that mock liberals, and a post ridiculing Reuben De Maid, a 12-year-old boy who contours way better than me, with the implication that he’s not a “real boy.” But, like, Yrigoyen has layers, so why should it matter? ?
On Thursday, Yrigoyen attempted to save face by writing a long apology that included the statement, “I am sorry to those who I offended, and I also take full responsibility for my ‘likes’ on Instagram that were hurtful and offensive. I decided to take it down and start fresh because I have learned an extremely valuable lesson and am taking steps to grow, become more educated, and be a better version of myself.”
He went further to say, “I am not the negative labels people are associating me with. I do not want my social media to define who I am, and I will take better care moving forward to support all walks of life.” Perhaps he should think about the negative labels he’s affording the people—most of them underage—that were being mocked in his Insta history.
ABC has yet to comment, but with the recent cancellation of Roseanne, it seems that the entertainment industry is taking the social media accounts of those involved with their productions more seriously, so who knows what will come of it. Yrigoyen received Bachelorette Becca Kufrin’s first impression rose, so he might not be out of the game.
Kufrin made a statement to Entertainment Tonight after the revelation saying,”People say and do certain things. I’ve done things in the past that I’m sure it wasn’t the best thing. I can’t fault anyone for what they believe, and who’s to say that anything that anyone likes is truly what they believe in if they just double tap a picture on Instagram. I can’t speak to that because it’s 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 is that everyone is entitled to their own opinions.”
Her response was poised and somewhat unexpected, as she has been loud and proud about her support of Hilary Clinton and the Women’s March. Since the rest of Kufrin’s season is already filmed, I’m sure this is something we’ll hear about on After the Final Rose.
