What Katie Thurston Has To Say About Those Bachelorette Rumors

Heavy weighs the crown of The Bachelorette! Even before Matt James eliminated Katie Thurston — rumor has it she does not make it through the rose ceremony on Monday, Feb. 8, 2021's episode — rumors have been swirling that The Bachelor contestant is slated to be the new Bachelorette. Does it feel too soon for you, too? 

The sex-positive star and self-described "cat lady" made quite a buzz (no pun intended) with her vibrator the first night, and has also been outspoken against the behind-the-scenes bullying claims. Fans applauded the rumors of Katie's new supposed Bachelorette title — hey, at least it didn't go to Queen Victoria! — but Katie's reaction to the news now has audiences puzzled. Keep scrolling to find out why no Bachelor fan can be certain who the next Bachelorette will be ahead of the official announcement, and why Seattle-based Katie is keeping her Instagram followers guessing until the end!

Ah, welcome back to the world of the Bachelor Nation rumor mill! Fan favorite gossip blogger Reality Steve claims that 30-year old Katie Thurston will lead Season 17 of The Bachelorette, as reported by Marie Claire. "At the 'Women Tell All' taping this past Thursday, Katie Thurston was announced as the next 'Bachelorette,'" Reality Steve tweeted on Feb. 7, 2021. "Katie gets eliminated on Monday's episode during her 1-on-1 with Matt." 

Trailers for the season have showed Katie both as a supporter of other women, and also at times, an antagonizer. While the response to the rumors of Katie being The Bachelorette have been overwhelmingly positive, some viewers cannot help but list other contestants who would be a better fit, namely Bri Springs and Serena Pitt, who have both already had one-on-one dates with Bachelor Matt James and are rumored to make it to the Top Four. 

Katie has shut down claims that she is the next Bachelorette. She posted on Instagram Stories following the Reality Steve news, "reading my texts this morning like...news to me," per Cosmopolitan. Fellow Season 25 contestant Mari Pepin, who similarly vied for Matt's heart alongside Katie, commented on Reality Steve's tweet, simply writing, "false." 

It looks like we will not know the truth until ABC and host Chris Harrison reveal the news. Maybe Katie will appear on Bachelor in Paradise instead. The only thing we are certain about is anything is possible in Bachelor Nation!