It started with a few whispers on a podcast and turned into one of the most talked-about moments in Bachelor Nation history. Kaitlyn Bristowe coming out wasn't some polished, PR-managed "Main Character" reveal with a rainbow-filtered photoshoot. No. It was messy. It was raw. It was very Kaitlyn.
For years, we’ve watched her navigate high-profile breakups with Shawn Booth and Jason Tartick. We saw the tears, the wine, and the incredibly vulnerable Instagram Stories. But behind the scenes of her 2023 split from Tartick, something deeper was shifting. She wasn't just grieving a fiancé; she was questioning her entire identity.
The Moment Kaitlyn Bristowe Coming Out Became Real
Honestly, the internet didn't see it coming until she sat down for a guest spot on the Out & About podcast. While most people were still obsessing over her rumored romance with Zac Clark (Tayshia Adams’ ex—yeah, it’s a lot), Kaitlyn dropped the bombshell. She’s bisexual.
She didn't make a huge "I have an announcement" post. Instead, she just said it. She admitted that she can be totally turned on by a woman, though she still sees her long-term future primarily with men. It’s that middle-ground reality that so many people in the LGBTQ+ community experience but rarely see represented by major reality stars.
Why the "Asexual" Rumors Started
Before the official "coming out" talk, things got kinda weird. Kaitlyn mentioned on her own podcast, Off the Vine, that she actually wondered if she was asexual toward the end of her relationship with Jason.
- The Stress Factor: She was on antidepressants and dealing with "wacky hormones."
- The Relationship Strain: When things aren't working, your libido often checks out first.
- The Confusion: She told guest Brandi Cyrus she was genuinely worried about herself because she felt like a "desert down there."
Some people—including her ex Nick Viall—poked fun at this. Nick even commented "Nothing asexual about this" on one of her photos. Kaitlyn, never one to stay silent, basically told the haters to shut up. She clarified that she wasn't labeling herself as asexual forever; she was describing a very real, very scary period of her life where she felt disconnected from her own body.
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The Complexity of Being Bisexual in Bachelor Nation
Let’s be real: Bachelor Nation isn't exactly known for its progressive handling of sexuality. We’ve seen Colton Underwood come out after his season, but for a female lead to openly discuss being bisexual while still dating men within the franchise "incestuous" circle? That’s new.
Kaitlyn’s journey is different. She’s 40 now. She’s spent a decade under the microscope. Coming out as bisexual wasn't about finding a new "brand"—it was about explaining why she felt so "other" during her late 30s. She’s been open about the fact that she finds it hard to meet anyone who actually makes her feel something.
"It is so hard out there to find somebody to actually make you feel something and be like, 'Okay, I'm interested. He's got my attention, I'm turned on.' Like, why is it so hard to find that?" — Kaitlyn Bristowe on Off the Vine
What People Get Wrong About the Zac Clark Situation
You can't talk about Kaitlyn Bristowe coming out without addressing the Tayshia Adams of it all. The timeline is basically a spiderweb. Kaitlyn and Tayshia co-hosted The Bachelorette together. They were coworkers, maybe not "besties," but definitely peers.
When Kaitlyn started seeing Zac Clark (Tayshia's ex-fiancé) in early 2024, the "girl code" sirens went off. Kaitlyn claimed she reached out to Tayshia to give her a "heads-up." According to Kaitlyn, the call didn't go well. Tayshia was allegedly upset, and the friendship—whatever was left of it—dissolved.
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The drama here is that while Kaitlyn was exploring this new side of herself and her sexuality, she was also falling back into the same Bachelor dating patterns that have caused her so much grief in the past. It’s a paradox. She’s moving forward in her identity but staying stuck in the same social circle.
Facts vs. Rumors: The 2026 Update
As we sit here in early 2026, where does she stand?
- Relationship Status: She’s been spotted cheering Zac Clark on at marathons and they seem to be a steady, if somewhat private, item.
- Career: She recently launched a "One Step to Love" campaign with Philosophy, leaning into her "searching for The One" persona.
- Music: Her song released for her 40th birthday in June 2025 was a ballad about being "burned out and broken," showing that even with a new partner and a clearer sense of self, the healing isn't linear.
How to Apply Kaitlyn’s Lessons to Your Own Life
Kaitlyn's story isn't just for people who watch reality TV while eating popcorn on a Tuesday night. It’s a blueprint for anyone hitting their 30s or 40s and realizing they don't actually know themselves as well as they thought.
Stop Lying to Yourself About "Fine"
Kaitlyn stayed in relationships where she felt "used" or "unseen" for too long. If you feel like your "pilot light" has gone out, don't just assume you're "broken." Look at your environment.
Labels are Tools, Not Prisons
You can be bisexual and still end up with a man. You can wonder if you're asexual during a depression and then find your spark again later. You don't have to pick a "team" and stay there forever.
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Protect Your Peace (Even if it Makes You the Villain)
Kaitlyn got a lot of heat for dating Zac. She got heat for coming out. She got heat for everything. Her response? She’s "protecting her peace" by being more selective about what she shares, even though her "truth" is always going to be a little bit loud.
Final Insights on Living Authentically
The biggest takeaway from the saga of Kaitlyn Bristowe coming out is that your 40s can be a beginning, not a "mid-life" anything. By being honest about her sexuality, her struggles with antidepressants, and her messy dating life, she’s actually becoming more relatable than she was when she was just "The Bachelorette."
If you’re feeling a bit lost in your own identity, do what Kaitlyn did: get quiet, get a therapist (or a podcast), and stop worrying if your truth makes other people uncomfortable. The people who matter will stay, and the ones who don't—well, they were probably just there for the rose ceremony anyway.
To follow this journey further, you should check out the latest episodes of Off the Vine where she discusses her 2025-2026 mindset shift, or look into local LGBTQ+ resources if you’re navigating your own late-in-life discovery.
Next Steps for You:
If you're looking to understand more about identity shifts in adulthood, research the "Late Discovery" community or listen to Kaitlyn’s Out & About interview for the full, unedited context of her revelation.