The Bachelorette star Rachel Lindsay and Bryan Abasolo seemed like a perfect match when they met on season 13 of the hit reality dating show in 2017.
Fans were captivated by their love story during the broadcast, which led to an on-screen engagement and a wedding in August 2019. However, their recent breakup revealed that their relationship was more complex than it appeared.
On January 2, after four years of marriage and following reports of the pair planning to start a family, Abasolo filed for divorce. The 44-year-old cited irreconcilable differences and listed their separation date as December 31, 2023. As the court filing became public, Abasolo confirmed their split in a now-deleted social media post.
Since then, the drama has escalated, with Lindsay and Abasolo battling it out in court and public opinion. In this article, xoNecole breaks down the key developments in the pair's divorce proceedings.
Rachel Lindsay Says She Learned About Bryan’s Divorce Filing Through Text
In June, five months after Abasolo filed for divorce, Lindsay responded with a declaration. Court documents obtained by People Magazine reveal that The Higher Learning host was notified about the divorce through text 30 minutes after Abasolo left their shared home.
The message read: "Hey ... I just wanted to let you know that I officially filed." Lindsay reportedly replied, "Wait, what?" and immediately turned off her shared location settings. The documents allege that both parties were aware of their dissolving marriage and had agreed to handle the divorce filing discreetly. However, this changed when Abasolo filed earlier this year and released a public statement on social media.
In her declaration, Lindsay also claimed that Abasolo refused to settle the matter quickly and amicably in court. Weeks later, Abasolo responded in new court documents, refuting claims that he blindsided her. The chiropractor shared text messages indicating he wanted to discuss legal matters with mediators due to communication issues between the pair.“
Rachel, walking in to the room because I didn’t reply to your text per your timeline then raise your voice for not getting the immediate answer you want is the kind of one-sided controlling aspects of our relationship which has brought us to this point. My inability to communicate, as you’ve called it, is to prevent these kinds of reactions. It often feels like you must have what you want without considering any state of mind I’m in," he wrote. "I’m sorry for not replying to your text but honestly, I don’t really want to be on the receiving end of your wordsmithing anymore. I don’t want to be here any longer than I have to. I want to regain some aspect of my self-respect back."
Abasolo concluded his message, stating: "Please, let’s keep future communications in writing (written down on paper, email, text) to prevent any additional friction as we move to the next step. We can speak in the future in the presence of a neutral party or something. Right now, I just can’t do it. I haven’t been able to for a while. Respectfully. Good night.”
Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images
Rachel And Bryan Didn’t Sign A Prenup
Amidst the turmoil of their split, Lindsay disclosed on the Hidden Gems podcast with Natasha Parker that she and Abasolo didn't have a prenuptial agreement. The 39-year-old explained that they opted against a prenup because the former couple was in a different financial situation when they got married.
“A lot of people are like, ‘You’re a lawyer. … Do you have a prenup?’ I don’t,” she said. “The reason I didn’t is because the place I’m in now … financially … is totally different than when I got married. We were more leveled, and I wasn’t in California.”
Later, Lindsay revealed that after meeting Abasolo on The Bachelorette and getting engaged, they discussed a prenup to protect their assets. However, the media personality decided not to pursue it further when she realized they weren't on the same page about the issue.
“I didn’t want it to be a bigger issue, so we didn’t have one,” she added. “Hindsight is 20/20. I would’ve done it.”
Bryan Is Asking For Over $16K In Spousal Support
In July, court documents obtained by TMZ revealed that Abasolo was requesting $16,275 a month in spousal support from Lindsay. While Lindsay initially offered $9,882 monthly, Abasolo claimed this amount was insufficient to maintain his lifestyle, even with his chiropractor business covering expenses such as car insurance, food, and entertainment.
At this time, it is unclear if Abasolo's request has been approved.
Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Fanatics
Rachel Lindsay On When She Knew It Was Time To Divorce
As news of Abasolo's spousal support request circulated online, Lindsay discussed the moment she realized her relationship with her ex was officially over in an interview with Scott Evans.
"I think I read this somewhere, I'm not sure, but by the time women decide they want a divorce, they're done [and] I was done," she said."Doesn't mean it wasn't hard or a re-adjustment. It's still a struggle daily, but emotionally, I felt I was very sure this was what I wanted to do."
In the same discussion, the attorney expressed that despite her divorce, she remains open to dating and embraces her journey as a single person.
"My dating life right now is for fun,” she stated. “I would have to be swept off my feet to really be like, ‘Oh, he's the one.' I'm trying to have fun and have a roster."
Lindsay described her ideal partner as loyal, adventurous, charming, ambitious, and understanding. The Real Love author also shared that therapy helped her recognize a pattern in her past relationships: she often dated men for their potential rather than their present reality. Lindsay expressed she is committed to changing this approach in future relationships.
Given the recent developments, Lindsay and Abasolo's divorce proceedings remain ongoing and unresolved.
Rachel Lindsay Is Ordered To Pay More Than $13K In Spousal Support
According to recent court documents, Rachel was ordered to pay Bryan $13,257 a month in temporary spousal support after he was requesting more than $16k a month. She also has to cover his legal fees, which are $15k. Their next court date is scheduled for September 23rd.
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Now, when you go to the hair store you are inundated with all kinds of hair textures, colors, and more. That’s why it was so upsetting to read the latest report about synthetic braiding hair.
Delmaine Donson/ Getty Images
A Feb 27 Consumer Reports article revealed that most popular synthetic hair brands that are used for braiding have dangerous chemicals such as carcinogens, lead and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The report stated that 10 of the brands were tested and all 10 had these chemicals. These brands included Shake-N-Go, Sassy Collection, and Sensationnel.
These chemicals include benzene, which is a carcinogen that has been linked to acute myeloid leukemia and unsafe levels of lead, which can cause kidney damage, brain damage, and cardiovascular problems in adults.
In children, it can cause brain and nervous system damage, learning disabilities, behavioral problems and even developmental delays.
James E. Rogers, PhD, director and head of product safety testing led the testing for synthetic braiding hair. “Our exposure and risk analysis found all nine products could expose a regular user of any of these products to a level of lead that could be concerning over time,” he said.
As shocking as this is, it also brought some clarity around why I’ve had issues with wearing braiding hair as of late.
Not only have I dealt with scalp irritation, I’ve even had breakouts on my back from the hair touching. Since then, I’ve started rinsing the hair with apple cider vinegar, and haven’t had that many issues. However, the report stated that ACV isn’t a “cure-all” and can potentially release harmful chemicals when rinsing the hair.
@javonford16 Replying to @Julianna Rebundle vid: @Javon Ford Beauty #blackhairstyles #braidinghair #blackgirlhairstyles @Consumer Reports
While the report sparked some outrage, chemist Javon Ford has a different view. In a TikTok video, he shared that the report was tested for oral exposure and not dermal exposure.
He showed a screenshot of an email he allegedly sent Consumer Reports questioning their decision to test this way. The email said, “the best model to use, in our view, is the ingestion model for the reasons given in the article.”
“While I understand they went with that model, I don’t agree with it because you’re not intentionally ingesting braids,” Javon said. The chemist also said that the amount of chemicals found in the brands is “conservative” compared to other types of products.
So what does this mean for us braid-wearers? If you still want to wear braids, but have some concerns, you can limit how often you wear them. Another option is wearing non-toxic braiding hair or plant-based hair. The only downside is that it's pricier than synthetic hair.
The Consumer Report also suggested checking for recalls, reading labels carefully, and reporting adverse effects. Hair isn’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, so it’s best to do your research when making purchases.
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