The Bachelorette contestant Garrett Yrigoyen apologizes for hateful Instagram likes
In a series of messages on his new Instagram page (remember, he deleted his old one), Garrett apologized for some of his actions, claiming that he was ignorant and unaware of the impact that some of his actions would have on others. See below (transcription via People):
“To those who I have hurt and offended: This is all new to me. I went on the Bachelorette for the adventure and possibility of falling in love, not fame.
“I did not know what to expect once the show aired. I am sorry to those who I offended, and I also take full responsibility for my ‘likes’ on Instagram that were hurtful and offensive … garret_yrigs12 was my former Instagram handle and I decided to take it down and start fresh because I have learned an extremely valuable lesson and am taking steps to grow, become more educated, and be a better version of myself. I am not perfect, and I will never be anywhere close, but now I will always be more informed and aware of what I am liking and supporting, not just on Instagram, but in life.
“I never realized the power behind a mindless double tap on Instagram and how it bears so much weight on people’s lives. I did not mean any harm by any of it. My Instagram ‘likes’ were not a true reflection of me and my morals.”
The one thing we will say about Garrett in the aftermath of all this is simply this: We do think he’s telling the truth about being unaware about his actions. Otherwise, why be so oblivious about the ramifications of social media? (For those who missed it, the posts Garrett liked were offensive, transphobic, and sexist in nature. It wasn’t about politics; instead, it was about hateful messaging.)
These comments coming one day after Becca Kufrin herself spoke in an interview about the controversy, saying that people should give him an opportunity before judging him based solely on one set of social-media actions.
What do you think about Garrett’s response to the Instagram controversy? Share right now in the comments!
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