Shawn Booth and Kaitlyn Bristowe: A Look Back at Their Relationship Journey
In a lighthearted TikTok video that sparked unexpected nostalgia, former Bachelorette winner Shawn Booth recently shared one of his biggest pet peeves: when pedestrians don’t acknowledge drivers who stop to let them cross the street. “Come on, all you gotta do is say, ‘Thank you. Appreciate it,'” Booth expressed in his December 30 post. What made this simple rant noteworthy was the comment it received from his ex-fiancée, Kaitlyn Bristowe, who chimed in with: “I actually remember this FIRING you up.” This brief interaction offered fans a small glimpse into their past relationship dynamics, reminding Bachelor Nation of the once-beloved couple whose romance captured hearts nearly a decade ago.
Their love story began in 2015 during season 11 of The Bachelorette, where Bristowe, who had previously appeared on season 19 of The Bachelor, chose Booth over finalist Nick Viall. The proposal that followed seemed to seal their fate as one of Bachelor Nation’s success stories. The couple settled in Nashville after the show and appeared to be taking a measured approach to their relationship. As Booth told Us Weekly in May 2018, they were “taking things stride by stride” and wanted to maintain normalcy in their relationship despite its very public beginning. “We’ve been normal and want to keep that normalcy,” Booth had explained, perhaps foreshadowing the challenges they faced balancing their relationship with public expectations.
Despite three years together, Bristowe and Booth announced their split in November 2018 with a joint statement that spoke of a “difficult decision” made after “thoughtful, respectful consideration.” They expressed commitment to remaining friends despite going in “different directions” as they evolved individually. The statement acknowledged the public nature of their relationship while requesting privacy as they navigated their separation. Like many Bachelor Nation couples before and after them, the transition from reality TV romance to real-world relationship proved challenging, despite their initial chemistry and connection that had resonated with viewers.
In the years following their breakup, both Bristowe and Booth have shared more candid perspectives about what went wrong. During a revealing April 2025 episode of her “Off the Vine” podcast, Bristowe expressed feeling “used” in the relationship, suggesting Booth was “hanging on to the relationship to open his gym” in Tennessee. “I did not feel loved,” she admitted, while clarifying she was speaking from her perspective rather than stating it as fact. Booth offered his own reflections in November 2021 on the “Austin AF” podcast, questioning whether their connection constituted “true, true love,” reasoning that “we’d still be together if it was.” These retrospective insights paint a picture of two people who shared a meaningful connection but ultimately couldn’t bridge their differences or meet each other’s needs.
Life has moved forward for both Booth and Bristowe since their split. Booth has found happiness with girlfriend Audrey “Dre” Joseph, with whom he welcomed a son named Locks in 2023. Bristowe had a significant relationship with fellow Bachelor Nation member Jason Tartick from 2019 to 2023 before that relationship also ended. Despite the initially painful breakup and some public back-and-forth about their relationship’s downfall, there appears to be healing between the former couple. The passage of time has allowed for perspective and growth, with Bristowe noting in April 2025 that she has moved from anger to compassion regarding her ex-fiancé.
Perhaps most touchingly, Bristowe has expressed genuine happiness for Booth’s current life chapter. “I feel like I’ve gotten really quiet with thoughts of anger that I used to have toward him, and now I actually have compassion instead of anger,” she shared on her podcast. “I’m so happy for him and where he’s at right now.” This evolution from engaged couple to exes with complicated feelings to two people who can appreciate each other’s current happiness represents a maturity not always seen in high-profile breakups. Their brief interaction over Booth’s pet peeve video demonstrates that while their romantic relationship didn’t endure, there remains a familiarity and understanding between them that only comes from having once shared a significant chapter of life together.
