Blake Horstmannfelt blindsided when his tryst withCaelynn Miller-Keyesbecame a plot point onBachelor in Paradise, a source claims to PEOPLE.
“Caelynn was the one who chose to publicize their intimate night together on national television,” the source says. “A week before filmingParadise,they both discussed that they didn’t want to make this a big deal and were very much on the same page, not wanting to bring any of this up if it didn’t have to be.”
Horstmann, 30,caught flakduring this week’s two-night premiere after Miller-Keyes revealed he’dhooked up with herone day after sleeping withKristina Schulmanat theStagecoachFestival in April. Miller-Keyes, 24, tearfully told cameras he’d called their night together a “mistake” and begged her to keep the tryst a secret. The audience was on her side, especially as Horstmann pursued two other women inParadise: Tayshia Adams and Hannah Godwin. Butas the episodes aired, Horstmann posted their text messages on his Instagram Story. Their conversation seemed todebunk her story, suggesting she sought him out for sex and was just as concerned about people finding out.
ABC/Craig Sjodin (2)
Horstmann has since deleted the screenshots, apologized for what went down at the music festival and said he was not trying to “attack” Miller-Keyes. Sheissued her own statementon Instagram, insisting “the 5 am text exchange that Blake chose to share is not an accurate representation of our past relationship” and that she “did not go on a show to ruin someone’s character.”
However, the source says Horstmann would never have released the texts “if it weren’t for Caelynn’s awful accusations on national television that Blake silenced her and ‘sweet-talked’ her into having sex and then ghosted her.”
“He was being accused of some terrible things that could have damaging repercussions, and this was the only way to disprove what she was saying,” the source adds. “Nobody would have believed him had he just disputed her claims publicly without proof. It would have been a he said/she said situation.”
The scandal hasdividedBachelorNation. Many franchise starssupported Horstmannon Instagram, but others defended Miller-Keyes.BiP‘sDean Unglert, who sources have said isdating Miller-Keyes,slammed him for“slut-shaming” her.
No matter what happens next, host and producerChris Harrisonhas promised this season of the dramaticBachelorspinoff delivers.
“It’s the best season,” hetold PEOPLErecently. “There’s so much to it. I can tell you this:Paradiseworks. There is love found inParadise.”
Bachelor in Paradiseairs Mondays and Tuesdays (8 p.m. ET) on ABC.
source: people.com
