Jason Tartick, known for his appearance on The Bachelorette, subtly reacted to rumors surrounding his ex-girlfriend Kaitlyn Bristowe’s alleged relationship with fellow Bachelor Nation alum Zac Clark. Jason responded to a comment made by his cohost David Arduin on an Instagram post dated January 1, indicating that a fresh start in the new year was just what he needed. David wrote, “Let’s just pretend 2024 starts tomorrow. Kid deserves a true FRESH start to the year.” Jason, 35, replied with a supportive “ha.”
The interaction occurred following Kaitlyn’s New Year’s Eve party, where she was seen appearing cozy with Zac, 39. They were captured in the background of a video during the midnight countdown, with their arms wrapped around each other.
In 2021, Kaitlyn, 38, cohosted two seasons of The Bachelorette alongside Tayshia Adams, who was engaged to Zac at the time. Kaitlyn and Zac originally met on Tayshia’s season of The Bachelorette in 2020, but they ended their engagement in November 2021.
Meanwhile, Kaitlyn ended her engagement with Jason in August 2023. When the New Year’s Eve video surfaced, fans became curious about the timeline of Kaitlyn and Zac’s alleged relationship. Kaitlyn faced accusations of cheating on Jason with Zac, who is an addiction counselor.
Kaitlyn addressed the cheating rumors in an Instagram comment on January 1, stating, “Hi! Here to say that there was never an ounce of cheating happening, and I will not stand for this rumor. Y’all are NASTY in here. Anywho, swear on my dogs’ lives. No cheating went on. So we can just put that to rest. Thank you!!”
Additionally, Kaitlyn posted a lengthy statement on her Instagram story, expressing her frustration with the hateful messages she received from critics. She explained that the truth was not known and called for consequences for those spreading hate. She also expressed concern for the mental health of those sending such messages, emphasizing that it was not acceptable.
Kaitlyn and Jason began dating at the start of 2019, following Kaitlyn’s split from Shawn Booth, to whom she got engaged on season 11 of The Bachelorette in 2016. Jason had previously appeared as a contestant on Becca Kufrin’s season of The Bachelorette in 2018 and connected with Kaitlyn after being a guest on her podcast. Although Jason proposed in 2021, they eventually ended their engagement before walking down the aisle.
In a joint statement released on August 6, they announced the end of their engagement and expressed gratitude for the support they received during the decision-making process. They emphasized the importance of maintaining their friendship, stating that they would always care for and respect each other despite the heartbreak of saying goodbye.
