‘Bachelorette’ Kaitlyn Bristowe Reveals How Jason Tartick Felt ‘Bad Guy’ Exploited Her Love
“Used and Betrayed”: Kaitlyn Bristowe Opens Up About the Pain Behind Her Broken Engagement
In a shocking and emotional confession, former Bachelorette star Kaitlyn Bristowe has finally peeled back the curtain on the heartbreak and betrayal she endured during her four-year relationship with ex-fiancé Jason Tartick.
Speaking openly on her podcast, Off the Vine, Kaitlyn revealed a side of the seemingly perfect couple that fans never saw—one filled with financial tension, emotional exhaustion, and a lingering sense that she was being taken advantage of by someone she once believed was her forever person.
“We made about the same,” Kaitlyn began, her voice tinged with disappointment. “But I was constantly having to ask him to split the bills. Every. Single. Month. It made me feel cheap… like I was being used.”
What stung the most wasn’t just the money—it was the meaning behind it. For Kaitlyn, love is about partnership, about showing up and pulling equal weight. But instead, she says, she was left footing the emotional and financial bill—month after month—while her partner benefited from the spotlight they shared.
Kaitlyn didn’t stop there. She admitted she had growing doubts about Jason’s intentions as their relationship progressed. While she still believes there was love between them, she couldn’t ignore the nagging suspicion that he may have been “riding her coattails.” As she described it, their romance started to feel more like a career move than a heartfelt connection.
“He did love me,” she said carefully. “But he also knew what being with me meant. The opportunities, the followers, the influence—it’s hard not to feel like I was a means to an end.”
Their love story, once celebrated by fans after they got engaged in 2021, slowly began to unravel behind the scenes. According to Kaitlyn, the cracks became visible when Jason left his traditional job to dive into the influencer world—a move she supported but also feared. Her concerns deepened when he launched a podcast of his own, despite her clearly expressed boundaries.
“It created this massive feeling of betrayal,” she admitted. “I felt like I was being blindsided. Something that should have brought us closer only drove us apart.”
By August 2023, the couple announced their split, publicly describing it as mutual and respectful—but now, Kaitlyn’s revelations hint at a much more painful story underneath the surface.
Since their breakup, Jason briefly dated another influencer, while Kaitlyn has been linked to Zac Clark, the former fiancé of fellow Bachelorette alum Tayshia Adams. But even as she moves forward, the emotional wounds of her past relationship remain raw.
What Kaitlyn has shared is more than gossip—it’s a powerful reminder that love, even in the spotlight, is vulnerable to imbalance, resentment, and the quiet erosion of trust. And sometimes, behind the smiling Instagram photos and polished red-carpet appearances, a very different reality is playing out.
One where even a former Bachelorette can feel like the one left behind.
