Rachel Lindsay calls out Becca Kufrin over fiancé’s pro-police Instagram

Former “Bachelorette” Rachel Lindsay, on Tuesday, June 9, confronted fellow former “Bachelorette” Becca Kufrin over her fiancé’s pro-police social media post, amid nationwide protests against police brutality toward the Black community.

On their “Bachelor Happy Hour” podcast, which takes listeners “behind the scenes with all things Bachelor Nation-related,” the two co-hosts discussed the contentious “Thin Blue Line” image shared on Instagram by Kufrin’s fiancé, ex-“Bachelorette” contestant Garrett Yrigoyen.

Yrigoyen, 31, who says he has “many friends and family in law enforcement,” posted a lengthy caption on June 4 alongside an image of the symbol, which is said to stand for “solidarity and professional pride within a dangerous profession” and pay a “solemn tribute to fallen police officers,” but is more often displayed by white supremacist groups, Politico explains.

“We can’t judge an entire group of people by the actions of a few. We can’t judge the peaceful protesters by the actions of the few violent protesters, and we sure can’t judge all cops by the actions of a few bad ones,” Yrigoyen wrote. “Remember when they put on the badge they’re still humans, with raw emotion, the more brutality they face the more on edge they become, they make mistakes, they have compassion, and no matter how terrible they are treated or whatever negative is said to them, they still show up for us when we need them!”

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I’ve been pretty tore up the past week about everything going on. I’ve listened, learned, helped, supported, and grown. With so many friends and family in law enforcement I couldn’t sit back and not support them and the hundreds of thousands of men and women of all races that represent this Thin Blue Line as well. It’s important for me to recognize the ones who stand in the gap and put their lives on the line each and every single day for humans of different race and ethnicity, including those who hate them. The Thin Blue Line represents each officer protecting protestors, properties, and businesses while being threatened, attacked, shot, shot at, hit with vehicles, and other forms of brutality. There have been over 300 injured, shot, or killed in just one week. They are suffering the consequences over an act they didn’t commit. They continue to put in overtime away from their families, stay silent while being threatened, hated, and assaulted. We can’t judge an entire group of people by the actions of a few. We can’t judge the peaceful protesters by the actions of the few violent protesters, and we sure can’t judge all cops by the actions of a few bad ones. Remember when they put on the badge they’re still humans, with raw emotion, the more brutality they face the more on edge they become, they make mistakes, they have compassion, and no matter how terrible they are treated or whatever negative is said to them, they still show up for us when we need them! Remember these men and women who hold this Thin Blue Line; strangers, friends, family, neighbors, or your enemies. They will always be out there protecting us, no matter what! #thinblueline #antiracism #antibrutality

A post shared by Garrett Yrigoyen (@gy_yrigoyen) on

Although Kufrin, 30, admitted the post came across as “tone-deaf” following the recent killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police officers, she said she believed his intents were not “malicious.”

“Garrett is my fiancé and I love him and, to his core, I believe that he is a good person,” Kufrin said, clarifying that she did not “agree” with his post or “align” with the views expressed.

“I don’t think that was the time or the place or the right sentiment … we’re struggling too right now,” she added. “There is still a lot of growth and changing of mindsets I would like to see take place.”

Lindsay, the first Black bachelorette in the franchise’s history, said she agreed Yrigoyen didn’t act maliciously but added that his actions were still very problematic.

“You don’t have to be riding around with white sheets on to be doing things that are racist,” 35-year-old Lindsay explained to Kufrin. “I know Garrett has a good heart, but the fact that he is willing to equate Blue Lives Matter to Black Lives Matter shows me that you don’t get it.”

“At the end of the day, I don’t choose to be Black. Police officers choose to become a police officer,” Lindsay added. “You face dangers, you take an oath to serve and protect … nobody is saying that your lives don’t matter. But by Garrett putting that message out there, you are missing the entire point.”

Lindsay also called out both Kufrin and Yrigoyen for failing to educate themselves on the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as the current protests against protest brutality and systemic racism toward the Black community.

“When your circle doesn’t have people of color in it, why would you step out to care about the injustices they’re facing, when it doesn’t affect you at all?” she said. “Garrett is a prime example of what is wrong in this society.”

Lindsay wasn’t the only person — or member of #BachelorNation, for that matter — to call Yrigoyen out on his original “Thin Blue Line” post.

“They will always be out there protecting us **white folks**, no matter what!” former “Bachelor” contestant Bekah Martinez commented on the photo.

“Law enforcement CHOOSES to put on a blue uniform. Black people don’t choose to be [Black.] Big difference,” she added in a second comment. “Also ‘the more brutality they face the more on edge they become’…….that’s scary as f***…so interesting that you stay silent about [Black] lives but just HAVE to speak out about cops. you’ve made your views known before and here’s a great reminder that not much has changed.”

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