Kaitlyn Bristowe Says Romance With Ex Jason Tartick ‘Could Be a Trauma Bond’

Bachelor Nation’s Kaitlyn Bristowe is reflecting on her past romances with ex-fiancés Shawn Booth and Jason Tartick.

“I was with him for three and a half years,” Bristowe, 40, explained of Booth, 38, during the Saturday, November 22, episode of Bobby Bones’ “Bobbycast” podcast. “In the contract for the Bachelorette, if you stay together longer than two years, you get to keep the ring. So I still have the ring from that, but we broke up.”

Bristowe and Booth initially crossed paths on The Bachelorette season, which aired in 2015. The pair were engaged from the season finale until announcing their split in 2018.

​​“I started dating another ‘Bachelor’ guy which was … in my head, it just felt … you know when you bond with people — I guess it could be a trauma bond and you just know what other people go through,” Bristowe recalled, referring to Tartick, 37. “So I was like, ‘Oh I’ll go for another Bachelor guy.’ Great.”

Months after Bristowe and Booth confirmed their split, the former Bachelorette revealed she had moved on with Tartick. The couple got engaged in 2021, but announced their separation two years later.

“After sharing the news with family and close friends first, and taking the time to properly process it ourselves, we are saddened with heavy hearts to share that we have decided to end our engagement,” the duo wrote in a joint Instagram post at the time. “We are thankful for all of you who gave us the time and space to process this life altering decision as there are many emotions and changes to navigate.”

In the years following their separation, Bristowe and Tartick have continued to make headlines for their comments about their relationship — and the messy aftermath. After Tartick adopted a dog named Teddy, Bristowe claimed in April that the moniker was her “dream baby name” while claiming that her ex knew as much before he chose the name for his dog.

“Navigating a world where sharing your story is risky, freeing and extremely hard. But I encourage everyone to think about ‘yes and.’ I do not wish ill on anyone. I’m choosing now to ‘let them,’ and I’m glad I gave some context,” Bristowe wrote via Facebook at the time. “I don’t like that I’m still talking about it but it felt good to stand up for myself. I of course have moved on, AND, it doesn’t mean I can’t speak my truth.”

She continued, “Do I have anxiety around my calculated response? Do I think he subtly shades me a lot? Yes. But I’m choosing light, and prayer. Moving forward. For everyone.”

Earlier this month, Bristowe and Tartick were spotted sitting near each other at a Dancing With the Stars live taping while watching the semi-finals.

Since her split from Tartick, Bristowe is rumored to be linked to Bachelor Nation’s Zac Clark. The twosome have yet to address their relationship status, and Bristowe has hinted at remaining tight-lipped about it.

“Privacy is so hot, like, I am turned on by being private. There’s something really special and sacred about it,” Bristowe exclusively told Us Weekly in August.

Tartick, meanwhile, was linked to influencer Kat Stickler before Us confirmed he is dating Wags & Walks Nashville founder Kathryn Hurley. While the duo have yet to address their romance, Tartick and Hurley were spotted looking cozy at the opening of Craig’s in Nashville earlier this month in a photo shared via X by hospitality guru Dante Deiana. Us Weekly reached out to Tartick’s rep and Hurley at the time.