‘The Bachelorette’: Do Katie Thurston and Blake Moynes Still Talk?

 Katie Thurston and Blake Moynes shocked fans of The Bachelorette when they announced their split — not because people believed they were extremely compatible but because their engagement aired only a few months ago. Now that the two have called it quits, what is their relationship like? Are they still friends?

Blake Moynes felt pressure to propose to Katie Thurston on ‘The Bachelorette’

Blake joined the competition late. He had originally competed for both Clare Crawley’s and Tayshia Adams’ hearts. So when he joined Katie’s season, he made it clear that he was ready for marriage. However, as time went on, Blake started getting cold feet. Ultimately, he proposed because he didn’t want to let Katie down.

“I think it speaks a lot to that loyalty and sticking to your word,” Blake told Insider after the proposal. “When you’re thinking about your forever person and partner you rely on, you take their word seriously. And that’s something I came down to at the end. Like no, I’m not letting her down. This is something I also came here for, smarten up, don’t overthink the situation.” 

Blake and Katie’s breakup post

Things seemed to be going well between the couple during the first few weeks after going public with the engagement. But after being long distance for a little while, the pair called it quits.

“It is with mutual love and respect that we have decided to go our separate ways,” they wrote in a joint statement posted to Instagram. “We are so grateful for the moments we shared together and the entire journey that has unfolded this year, but we ultimately have concluded that we are not compatible as life partners, and it is the most caring choice for both of us to move forward independently. We ask for kindness and privacy as we both navigate this transition. Both of us will forever want the best for one another and ask you to please support us in our decision.”

Do Katie and Blake still talk after ‘The Bachelorette’?

Recently, Katie explained what happened between her and Blake in an Instagram video. She also revealed that she and her ex-fiancé still chat from time to time.

“We were together for six months. Blake and I are very level-headed and mature, and we communicate very well on our thoughts. And we just both knew if this was how our first six months was as a couple, going forward it was going to not be in our best interest for our happiness to stay together,” she said. “And so we, as mentioned, mutually decided to part our ways. But we still stay in touch, we still support each other. Nothing but love and respect truly.”

Katie found a silver lining in the breakup

Though breaking up in the public eye has been hard, Katie is ultimately happy they found out they weren’t right for each other so early on.

“It’s a tough thing to navigate because then, of course, people have questioned the authenticity of the love and the relationship. And for those people passing judgment, I can only hope to be so lucky as you to find a forever love on the first time, you know?” she said. “Ending a relationship isn’t something new. … I think Blake and I were very fortunate enough to recognize things early and made the best decision for us that [comes] with its own challenges. We are still processing a lot of waves of emotions.”