Since starring on The Bachelor and enjoying dozens of steamy makeout sessions with Matt Agnew, this year’s supposed “villain” Abbie Chatfield has copped an unprecedented amount of hate. Online trolls have not only sent her death threats but have continuously slut-shamed the 23-year-old for being open about her sexuality.
Now, in the wake of the dramatic series finale, Abbie has penned an emotional letter to her critics, blasting them for their double standards in a lengthy Instagram rant.
“Things I got slut-shamed for on #thebachelorau: this bikini, my skort at hometowns, multiple cocktail party gowns, kissing matt ‘without a date’ and at a cocktail party (out of sight of anyone), pashing Matt in various locations with varying degrees of intensity, honestly admitting that I wanted to have sex with a man I was dating for 10 weeks and all around just ‘using sexuality to manipulate Matt’,” she wrote alongside a photo of herself in a leopard print bikini.
WATCH: Abbie reduced to tears after Kyle Sandilands reveals details about Chelsie & Matt’s sex life
“This is something I did not expect in 2019. Sex is essential to a successful relationship for me, as is sexual chemistry and the ability to express that comfortably with my partner. I saw commentary around my sexuality (rightly) calling out slut shaming and double standards regarding my pash sessions with Matt, with responses of ‘I’m not slut shaming her she is just manipulative/dumb/aggressive/only wanting sex.’”
She continued: “To insinuate that any relationship is less valid because of a strong physical connection is counterintuitive — the defining factor between a platonic and romantic relationship is physical expressions of affection.
“I saw many comments about me having ‘nothing between my ears’ or that I was ‘so insecure she can’t talk to him so they just kiss’.
“The public see ten minutes of a twelve hour date, it is insulting to both myself and Matt to assume he took me right until the end purely for a snog.”
She went on to slam viewers who placed the blame on her, arguing Matt was equally as flirtatious during their single dates.
“If it isn’t that, it is based off the opinion voiced of other contestants on the show, not my actions. I was always honest, authentic and expressive which can sometimes rub people the wrong way.
“It’s okay to not like me — it is not okay to assume that I am less of a person or less worthy of love because I like to have sex and can talk freely and openly about it.”
Despite facing an onslaught of criticism, many high profile Australian celebrities were on Abbie’s side, with even Bachelor host Osher Gunsberg and comedian Dave Hughes weighing in on the drama.
“I’ve been doing this job a while now. Tweeting every episode that goes to air. And I am always interested to see how a strong woman powerfully expressing her sexuality makes so many people so uncomfortable,” Osher Tweeted during The Bachelor finale.”
Dave Hughes also supported Abbie, admitting it was unfair of Matt to continuously hook up with her when he said he knew deep down he would always choose Chelsie McLeod.
“How can Matt be the ‘good guy’ and Abbie the ‘villain’ when he KNEW he was gonna pick the other girl and she didn’t, yet he still carried on with Abbie kike he was on his honeymoon?” he wrote.
Her courageous essay comes days after Channel 10 forced an already devastated Abbie into a confrontation with Matt and Chelsie when the network planned for their respective interviews to be filmed quite literally metres away from each other
With one clear glass window separating Abbie from her ex-boyfriend and the woman he chose over her, the 23-year-old went into a state of panic when she looked over her shoulder and saw the loved up couple holding hands while being interviewed by Nova 9.69’s Fitzy and Wippa.
“I don’t want to weird you out right now but they are in that studio over there,” said Smallzy who was interviewing Abbie at the time.
“Holy f**k… That’s alright,” she replied.
Although Wippa gave her the option to leave the studio, a stoic Abbie bravely soldiered on, later revealing watching Matt and Chelsie hold hands was “the most horrible thing” she’d ever experienced.
WATCH ABBIE’S HEARTBREAKING REACTION TO SEEING MATT AND CHELSIE BELOW
Since reports surfaced claiming Abbie was “in tears in the stairwell” after the uncomfortable encounter, Matt addressed the issue telling News.com.au that he was saddened to hear she was affected by his actions.
“Obviously it’s horrible to hear … I mean we weren’t aware of that, but I mean you hope things are co-ordinated with logistics and stuff like that doesn’t happen … so that’s a shame that it has,” the astrophysicist told the outlet.
Matt went on to admit that hurting people was all part of the process, and is still thankful the tumultuous experience led him to the woman he hopes to spend the rest of his life with.
“It is hard … you don’t want to hurt people but you do and that’s a really tough pill to swallow,” the 32-year-old said. “You’ve got to upset quite a lot of people, and they’re going to let their opinion be known to you, and yeah … Obviously it’s been a fantastic result for us and really rewarding, but it comes with its own set of challenges.”
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