Beloved Bachelor in Paradise alum Demi Burnett faced a torrent of biphobia for her relationship with Kristian Haggerty.
Though the two are now engaged, they are now facing scrutiny from fans who think that their relationship was just for show.
Have they broken up already? Demi is speaking out about these rumors.
Demi Burnett was at, of all things, a Dick’s Sporting Goods fashion show this week, where she spoke to Us Weekly.
And she specifically addressed the rumors that she and Kristian are spending so much time apart that they appear to have broken up.
“Every relationship is different,” Demi emphasizes.
“And it’s like — I mean in the most respectful way — it’s nobody’s business how our relationship works,” she correctly states.
Demi explains: “We both have so much going on right now.”
“She’s in Florida, I’m in New York,” Demi notes.
But being in separate states is just a reality for two busy professionals with their own lives.
“But,” she notes. “We do spend time together.”
“Just because we don’t broadcast it,” Demi states. “Doesn’t mean that we’re not together.”
That makes a world of sense. Relationships don’t need performative affection every single day for the benefit of fans.
They need real affection.
“We’re not too far apart,” Demi notes.
Florida may exist on another, chaotic plane of existence, but states on the east coast aren’t all that far apart. And they’re in the same time zone.
“I think it’s important to kind of have our space,” she expresses wisely.
Demi says that it’s important “just so, you know, we can develop a normal, very solid, steady relationship.”
Jumping into buying a house together can be a huge mistake.
Kristian and Demi are engaged, but she makes it clear that they have not taken the dive into wedding planning — not yet.
“If you just jump into it and just rush everything, for me personally, that’s not how I could have a successful relationship,” Demi states.
She made that clear in Paradise, and she’s absolutely right.
“I have to definitely take it at a steady pace,” she expresses.
She confirms that, despite their engagement: “We’re definitely just dating right now.”
“There’s so much going on for both of us,” Demi continues.
She says: “That it’s like, ‘Oh, planning a wedding right now just sounds so intense.’”
One of the most stressful human undertakings.
“So we’re definitely taking it slow,” Demi concludes. “And just enjoying our time together.”
That sounds both healthy and wise!
So why did they get engaged if they’re still getting a hang on dating each other?
Well … probably because ABC asked them to.
What we imagine is that producers called Demi to invite her to Paradise, and she was like “well, actually, I’m in a solid relationship with my girlfriend.”
And producers, maybe recognizing that their entire franchise is too overwhelmingly heterosexual, saw an opportunity.
They likely enticed Demi to appear on the show and invited Kristian, that way they could have some much-needed bi representation.
The proposal was sweet and we’re sure that it’s sincere, but the timing was likely decided by the network. Waiting is the smart thing to do.
