Rachel Lindsay appears to be thriving after finalizing her divorce from Bryan Abasolo.
On Saturday, Jan. 18, the 39-year-old Bachelorette alum made her first public appearance since the divorce was finalized on Jan. 7. She attended ESPN’s 11th Annual Allstate Party ahead of the college football national championship in Atlanta, Georgia.
Lindsay looked radiant and confident, posing for photos at the event in a stylish all-black outfit paired with a chic suede brown jacket.
Continuing her weekend activities, Lindsay also attended the college football championship game on Monday night between Notre Dame and Ohio State, with Ohio State securing a 34-23 victory.
She participated in the event through her ongoing partnership with the College Football Playoff Foundation’s Extra Yard for Teachers organization. After the game, she shared a photo from the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on her Instagram Stories, describing the weekend as “another successful…year” with the charitable initiative.
Rachel Lindsay and Bryan Abasolo’s Contentious Divorce
While Lindsay appeared to enjoy her weekend, it followed an emotional moment just days earlier when she addressed her divorce from Abasolo, 44, on the Jan. 10 episode of her podcast, Higher Learning. Reflecting on the year-long proceedings, she admitted that she had allowed others to dominate the narrative.
“There are so many things I want to address,” Lindsay shared. “I’ve let a lot of people do the talking over the last year. Certain things were said to play into the stereotype of me being a career woman. Those narratives were intentionally crafted to gain favor in the media.”
Rachel Lindsey and Bryan Abasolo Separation
Lindsay expressed frustration over the portrayal of her as prioritizing her career over her marriage and motherhood, calling the claims “false.” She further criticized her ex-husband for perpetuating damaging stereotypes.
“He said things that specifically played into the stereotype of me being an angry Black woman,” Lindsay said. “The idea that I placed my career over marriage or children couldn’t be further from the truth.”
The divorce, Lindsay revealed, has profoundly impacted her perspective on relationships. “This changed my whole perspective on everything,” she explained. “I can’t even fathom the idea of getting married again.”
The Struggles Behind Their Marriage
The dissolution of their marriage, which began after the couple met and got engaged during season 13 of The Bachelorette in 2017, highlighted ongoing disputes over finances and differing recollections of their relationship’s breakdown.
Throughout the divorce proceedings, Abasolo sought spousal support and alleged that Lindsay never showed interest in his career, claiming she wanted him “out of the way” and uninvolved in her Hollywood pursuits. He also accused Lindsay of verbal manipulation during their four-year marriage.
“I was the one stuck at home and stuck at work with a wife who never wanted to be around me,” Abasolo claimed in court filings.
Lindsay countered those claims in her June filing, stating that the couple rarely spent time together due to their busy schedules.
“Bryan often worked late into the night, and I traveled a lot for work,” she said. “We very rarely went out together, and in truth, we hardly saw each other or even lived together during our brief marriage.”
Moving Forward
Despite the challenges of the past year, Lindsay is focusing on her future, embracing new opportunities, and giving back through her charitable work. The former reality star’s recent appearances show her resilience and determination to move forward on her terms.
