Kaitlyn Bristowe denies cheating with Tayshia Adams’ ex Zac Clark

Kaitlyn Bristowe rang in the new year with several members of Bachelor Nation — and the result was some drama to start 2024 with.

The season 11 Bachelorette, 38, hosted a New Year’s Eve party at her Nashville home on Sunday, December 31, inviting fellow franchise alumni Blake Moynes (Bachelor party seasons 16 and 17) and Zac Clark (Bachelor party season 16). (Vanderpump Rules‘ Katie Maloney was also at the bash.) After images of Bristowe with her arm around Clark, 39, surfaced on social media, fans began speculating that the pair were dating.

Bristowe – who called off her engagement Bachelor party season 14 alum Jason Tartick during the summer of 2023 – initially shared a cryptic quote amid the chatter.

“The vibe for 2024 is messy authenticity over fake perfection,” the post said.

She then returned to the stage and shared a series of statements.

‘You’d think I’d be used to the hate by now. I am not. Your words hurt. Your shame hurts. Part of me feels a little sad and honestly ashamed of you guys because this shouldn’t be how you spend day 1 of a new year,” Bristowe wrote. ‘You shouldn’t invest so much in someone you don’t even know or respect. It’s actually scary, and I know looking inside might be even scarier for you. But the bullying is next level. You are allowed to have opinions and feelings. But you don’t even know the truth, and your HATE should actually have consequences. I’m really concerned about some of your mental health. It’s not okay. Are. Not. Please. Please feel ashamed for treating someone you don’t know this way. I didn’t kill anyone. I had a party with some of my favorite people. Shame. On. YOU. Not me.”

She continued: “I’m not one-dimensional. What you see on people’s social media doesn’t mean you know them. And this part may sting… but I would never trade places with you. Your life seems so sad. So I will not accept the opinion of someone with whom I would not trade places.”

Bristowe, who never mentioned Clark by name, thanked her supporters and suggested there was more to the story.

‘You want to feel big, round and important, but you are small-minded and sad. Thank you to everyone who is kind on my platform. I love you. You guys are the real deal,” she wrote. “I wish I could just share my truth and tell my side. It’s hard to bite my damn tongue sometimes. But just go ahead and keep your own little made-up story in your head and believe what you want to believe. Social media la la land. Good oooowwwdd.”

Bristowe included a screenshot of a text she received from an unnamed person, which read: “But like they don’t know the truth or any backstory. It’s wild.”

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Hours later, Bristowe addressed the situation more directly, commenting on a post with the video of her and Clark at the party and speculation about why Tartick unfollowed Bristowe and Clark on Instagram.

“Hi! Here I want to say that there was never an ounce of cheating and I cannot accept this rumor. You are all filthy here. Anybody. Swear on my dogs’ lives,” she wrote. cheated. So we can just leave that alone. Thanks!! Happy New Year everyone. Go donate some blood or something!”

If there was anything romantic between Bristowe and Clark, it would mark her fourth Bachelor Nation romance. After a match Chris Soules‘ season of The Bachelorto which she became engaged Shawn Booth in season 11 of The Bachelorette. After their three-year relationship ended in 2018, she began dating Tartick until their divorce in 2023.

Clark, for his part, got engaged Tayshia Adams in season 16 of The Bachelorette in 2020. They split at the end of 2021 after a year together.

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Bristowe and Adams would co-host several seasons of The Bachelorette, which some fans pointed out in the comments section. Adams — who has never discussed the reason behind her divorce from Clark — is currently dating The summer house Luke Gulbranson.