I didn’t think the “Bachelor” franchise could shock me anymore.
Sure, I was a little surprised when contestant Ariel Frenkel was given the space to discuss her Jewish background a few seasons ago, and before that when Jason Alabaster mentioned his appreciation for therapy and inner child work. But, after a while you get desensitized when a show is constantly touting its pretty predictable storylines as the most dramatic or the most heartbreaking or the most yadda, yadda, yadda moment in the history of the franchise.
But, as of today, one former Bachelorette has colored me absolutely flabbergasted: Gabby Windey is queer and dating Jewish comic Robby Hoffman!!
To quote myself from a few moments ago when I first heard the news: “WHAAAAAAAAT.”
Today, on Tu B’Av, the Jewish day of love, no less, Gabby posted a carousel on Instagram with various photos of herself with Hoffman, captioned, “Told you I’m a girls girl!!”
The post was met with lots of love in the comments from fellow queer Jews like comedian Rachel Kaly who said, “Welcome gabby” and actor Hannah Einbinder who wrote, “mishpocha!!!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️”
This Instagram announcement was prefaced by Windey’s appearance on “The View” earlier today in which she came out.
“I always just want to live my truth, and my story,” Windey said on air, adding, “I think it was always a whisper in me that just got louder and louder, and I didn’t really know to pay attention to it.”
Host Sunny Hostin then tried to clarify Gabby’s sexuality, asking, “So is it girls now? That’s it, girls?”
“I think so,” Windey responded. “I think it’s just like, my girl. She’s the best.”
AWWWWWWW!
ICYMI, Robby Hoffman is a hilarious Jewish comedian who grew up in a Hasidic community in Brooklyn, New York. Despite no longer identifying as Hasidic, Robby is still very much Jewish. “I naturally feel Jewish and naturally do Jewish people things. I don’t have to do something because I’m Jewish. I like doing the things I do because I’m Jewish,” Robby told Hey Alma earlier this year.
Notably, this isn’t the first time Gabby has dated someone Jewish. On her season of “The Bachelorette,” Gabby dated Jewish contestant Jason Alabaster (who donned a mezuzah necklace throughout the season) before breaking up with him and getting engaged to Eric Schwer.
Mazel tov, Gabby and Robby! A very happy and gay Tu B’Av to us all!
