Katie Thurston and Blake Moynes have officially gone their separate ways. The former Bachelorette, 30, announced the breakup on Instagram Monday, nearly three months after fans watched her accept Moynes’ proposal on the show.
“It is with mutual love and respect that we have decided to go our separate ways,” Thurston captioned a photo of the two together.
“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.”
She added, “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.”
The Bachelorette’s Katie Thurston and Blake Moynes Reveal Their Plans for the Future, and Kids
After their engagement episode aired, Thurston told that she had “no regrets” about how her season unfolded, despite navigating drama among contestants and handling the unexpected exits of two of her finalists, Greg Grippo and Michael Allio.
“What we went through has really strengthened our relationship,” she shared. “The struggles were worth it.”
Katie Thurston Gets Engaged to Blake Moynes on The Bachelorette Finale: ‘This Was Meant to Be’
Moynes entered the competition in episode four, and Thurston later revealed that their chemistry was immediate.
Prior to filming, “we had talked very casually in DMs,” Thurston told. “I thought he was hot, but I didn’t think much of it. When I met him in person, something about his energy shifted my mind completely. I knew this was going to be a strong relationship.”
That same month, Thurston opened up on Instagram about the obstacles of maintaining a long-distance relationship.
“I don’t think people fully understand what it’s like to date someone from another country and the rules behind that and the visas behind that,” the 30-year-old said in a since-expired video.
“I think right now, Blake can only be here for 60 days before having to go back to Canada, so we really do have a lot we have to look into, and we just haven’t yet, before we can plan really anything else.”
Thurston also sought advice from her followers, adding, “But I am curious, if you are dating somebody from another country, whether Canadian to U.S., U.S. to Canadian, I would love to know your experiences with that, in terms of all that fun legal stuff that we are holding off on.”