The beginning of Abbie Chatfield and Konrad Bien-Stephens’ relationship may have been marred by controversy, but the couple are now keen to put the media frenzy behind them and have begun planning their future together.
The former Bachelor star went public with Konrad, a booted contestant on Brooke Blurton’s recent season of The Bachelorette, just a day before last month’s finale aired.
Abbie copped flack from viewers and from Brooke herself, who said she stole her limelight and accused the I’m a Celebrity 2021 winner of demonstrating “white privilege and narcissism”.
Abbie went public with Konrad, a booted contestant on Brooke Blurton’s recent season of The Bachelorette, a day before the finale aired.
(Instagram)But Abbie is now focused on her future with Konrad, who was eliminated after making it to Brooke’s final four suitors.
“I’ve never really had anything like this before. I’ve dated a lot of people in the last two years and he’s the first person that I’ve felt this with, which is really nice,” Abbie, 26, told Sydney Confidential.
“I’m going to Melbourne for a week to meet his family next week. We’re going from zero to 100, he’s coming to family Christmas.”
When asked if marriage is on the cards for her and Konrad, Abbie responded: “I think so, I hope so.”
Despite the couple waiting for Konrad’s elimination to officially debut their romance on Instagram, the pair were first spotted out getting cosy in Byron Bay together before the tradie was sent home by Brooke.
Last week, Brooke wrote an impassioned Instagram post and accused the couple of ruining the show’s finale, where she ended up choosing Darvid Garayeli.
“I’m not a hostile person and literally do not have any hate in my heart. Everyone who watched the show, or was on the show cast and/or working as crew, will know that I put my hear and soul into it and it meant a lot for me to open myself up so vulnerably like that. Not only that but for what it meant for the LGBTQIA+ and First Nations Community to have that display of representation,” her post read in part.
“Which moves onto my new point. The hardest point. For that to be tainted ONCE again by 1) What I thought was a close friend. 2) Another white woman displaying what white privilege looks like. 3) A very clear display of narcissism.
Abbie copped flak from Brooke, who said she stole her limelight and accused the I’m a Celebrity star of demonstrating “white privilege.”
(Instagram)“Hurts me. Literally pains me. I’ve reached out to this person to resolve this ‘conflict’ which in fact, classic naive me, adult went to this person to communicate openly about the layers of complexity that this persons actions show and take away from NOT only me but what it meant for a queer woman of colour. If this wasn’t me, I’d still have this stance.”
“You guys asked for my comment. There it is. Now go give them more air time which is what this is exactly about. “
On Thursday evening, Abbie shared lengthy response to Brooke’s post where she expressed remorse over the way her and Konrad’s relationship came to light.
“A month ago, a video of Konrad and I kissing was secretly captured by a patron and made public. Following this, Brooke and I had a conversation in which I apologised and expressed regret multiple times for our public affection as this was prior to Konrad’s exit from the show. Konrad had a similar conversation with Brooke,” she wrote.
Abbie explained that she met Konrad at a catch-up with a mutual friend, adding that the “public setting was an accident”.
Abbie wrote a lengthy post apologising to Brooke.
(Instagram)“We absolutely should have waited to be in private as we are public figures and these are things we need to consider, but we didn’t. We also didn’t consider the possible ramifications of our actions,” she said.
“Immediately following this, we intentionally kept things quiet, and did not leave the house together in an effort to not be photographed out of respect for the show and to minimise press surrounding the spoiler of Konrad’s exit.”
Abbie said her debut Instagram post with Konrad, where they publicly confirmed their relationship, was not made “with malice”, rather to address rumours around their romance.
Abbie said her and Konrad’s relationship has “gone from zero to 100”.
(Instagram)“The morning of, I mistook a message from Brooke expressing her happiness for and approval of our relationship as a green light to upload a post. Following the post, Konrad received an equally supportive message,” she continued.
“I see with hindsight that this assumption was naïve. I now understand the timing of publicly sharing our relationship should have been more considered and that is my fault. I acknowledge that impact outweighs intent. I didn’t take into account the Australian media landscape and the inherent privilege that I hold as a white woman.
“My actions had the potential to undermine the importance that this pivotal season of The Bachelorette holds to the First Nations and LGBTQIA+ Communities.
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