The Truth About Bekah Martinez And Garrett Yrigoyen's Relationship
Most Bachelor fans associate Garrett Yrigoyen with Becca Kufrin, who he got engaged to during her season of The Bachelorette back in 2018. However, these days, he's been in the news with another "Becca" — well, technically a "Bekah." He and Bachelor alum Bekah Martinez have been at odds over their differing viewpoints on the Black Lives Matter movement.
On June 2, 2020, Garrett posted a black square in honor of #BlackOutTuesday, which the New York Times reported was an attempt to "pause business as usual" on social media to support the protestors who are fighting against racism and police brutality. Along with that black square, Garrett posted fist emojis with different skin tones.
Two days later, the Bachelorette winner posted another black square, but this one had a blue line through it. Garrett told his IG followers that he has "so many friends and family in law enforcement," explaining, "The Thin Blue Line represents each officer protecting protestors, properties, and businesses while being threatened, attacked, shot, shot at, hit with vehicles, and other forms of brutality."
Speaking of police officers, Garrett added, "They are suffering the consequences over an act they didn't commit. They continue to put in overtime away from their families, stay silent while being threatened, hated, and assaulted. We can't judge an entire group of people by the actions of a few."
That particular post sparked backlash from Bekah — but it wasn't the first time the two clashed. So, what's happened between these Bachelor Nation alums?
Bekah Martinez called out Garrett Yrigoyen on his own Instagram post
Along with his June 4, 2020 Instagram post of the black square with a blue line, Garrett Yrigoyen said, "We can't judge the peaceful protesters by the actions of the few violent protesters, and we sure can't judge all cops by the actions of a few bad ones." He told his followers, "Remember when they put on the badge they're still humans, with raw emotion, the more brutality they face the more on edge they become, they make mistakes, they have compassion, and no matter how terrible they are treated or whatever negative is said to them, they still show up for us when we need them!"
Garrett concluded, "Remember these men and women who hold this Thin Blue Line; strangers, friends, family, neighbors, or your enemies. They will always be out there protecting us, no matter what!"
In response to Garrett's post, Us Weekly reported that Bekah Martinez replied, "Law enforcement CHOOSES to put on a blue uniform." She continued, "Black people don't choose to be black. Big difference. Also 'the more brutality they face the more on edge they become' ... that's scary as f**k. Wow wow wow. So interesting that you stay silent about black lives but just HAVE to speak out about cops. You've made your views known before and here's a great reminder that not much has changed."
Their back-and-forth didn't end there, though.
Garrett Yrigoyen says Bekah Martinez is 'no longer invited over'
On June 5, 2020, Us Weekly reported on Garrett Yrigoyen's Instagram Story, which included a screenshot of Bekah Martinez's comment, along with some additional remarks. Garrett wrote, "I remember you saying how much you loved me to Becca [Kufrin] and you made a mistake for judging me in the past without knowing me... needless to say you never got to know me, still don't know me, and you're no longer invited over."
He also shared, "P.S. I was advised to not post my caption with my black square ...as I had written a message about peace, racism, and change ... because I believe BLM is important, I still got ridiculed. I'm also showing my love & support for others at this time as well, and still get ridiculed. Doesn't make me a racist nor does it take away from BLM. Try having conversations with people before judging and labeling. Love to all."
In another screenshot, Bekah told him, "Lmao definitely not my words. I said 'tell garrett I'm sorry I gave him so much s**t' and at the time I meant it because I thought you actually cared about changing." Garrett replied, "What is wrong with supporting Black Lives and Cops at the same time? " He said he's "become more educated in the past two years" and slammed Bekah for "jumping to conclusions." Ultimately, Bekah ended up donating $1,000 to the National Police Accountability Project in his name.
Bekah Martinez hopes issues with Garrett Yrigoyen don't strain her friendship with Becca Kufrin
Not long after that, Bekah Martinez dished on her feud with Becca Kufrin's fiancé Garrett Yrigoyen during a June 2020 appearance on The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast. According to Us Weekly, Bekah told Ben Higgins and Ashley Iaconetti, "What bothered me so much about this is the silence on Black lives."
Bekah explained, "It's almost better to not say anything at all, in my opinion, because when you're doing that I find it, personally, especially if you're going on to write a full-on dissertation about the police, you are sort of trying to absolve yourself of this responsibility." She categorized posting the black square as "a PR move," remarking, "I don't see how that's providing any actual solidarity."
The reality star said, "I love Becca and I have a lot of respect for her. And Garrett is Garrett." She remarked, "I don't particularly like Garrett and I'm not interested in having dinner with him." Bekah admitted that she hopes her disagreements with Garrett don't "affect [her] relationship with Becca." However, she also revealed that she and the former Bachelorette lead haven't been "super close" this past year.
Still, it's actually not the first time Bekah publicly disagreed with Garrett's views. In May 2018, People reported that Bekah criticized Garrett for liking posts on Instagram that depicted transgender people, a Parkland High School shooting survivor, immigrants, and others in a negative light.
Bekah Martinez called out Garrett Yrigoyen for his social media activity in the past
Although Bekah Martinez supported Becca Kufrin's quest for love on The Bachelorette, she had no issue calling out Garrett Yrigoyen once his questionable Instagram activity surfaced. In May 2018, Bekah declared, "he's cancelled," in response to a now-private tweet. Bekah also tweeted Garrett's cast photo and wrote, "most likely to say 'No Homo' when hugging a male friend: Garrett."
In another tweet about Garrett's IG activity, Bekah explained, "yooo you can say they're 'just memes' but they're just hateful, ignorant memes. the s**t you like/follow on the internet IS a reflection of your deeper beliefs and values. if he doesn't find truth in that ugly bulls**t, why would he like/follow those kind of accounts? don't @ me."
In a July 2018 recap for Bustle, Bekah wrote, "I think I've said it before, but I just don't understand Garrett. He's difficult to read, and I feel like I'm missing something that Becca's seeing. What I *can* see is Becca's affection for him." And it seemed like Bekah supported that "affection" her friend had for Garrett, in addition to believing him during the August 2018 finale when he said, "I'm just trying to grow as a person and be a better person on a daily basis," according to The Hollywood Reporter.
It's unclear if Becca and Bekah have talked about Garrett's most recent Instagram controversy, but it'll be interesting to see if Garrett's views change with time.