Kelsey Poe’s Sister Defends The ‘Bachelor’ Hopeful: ‘Kelsey’s Story Is In Fact Amazing!’

In a Bachelor season full of drunk girls, virgins, widows and women who allegedly don’t shower, Kelsey Poe has proved to be a dramatic standout. On Monday’s episode, the writer and guidance counselor was seen gushing that her “story” was “amazing,” and then dramatically collapsing in a panic attack that required medical attention. Poe’s husband died suddenly in 2013 and since then she has worked to move on from the death.

But her characterization of her own misfortune came across as callous. Poe responded to the backlash after Monday’s Bachelor episode aired by posting on her official Facebook page. As quoted by People, Poe reminded readers of the difficult journey she has undertaken.

“Sander’s death was absolutely devastating, but finding a way to live through it and my strength to survive is amazing… Insinuating that I would dishonor my husband is ripping the scab off an unhealed wound. The pain is tortuous.”

As if anticipating that she would be poorly portrayed in Monday’s installment of The Bachelor, Poe linked to a post at CarterMatt on Sunday, praising the blogger for “reminding the audience about the power of TV editing.” The CarterMatt post, written before the episode aired, expressed sympathy for Poe.

“[T]here is a part of us that almost feels bad for Kelsey. This is obviously a manipulative edit job designed mostly to make her look as terrible as [possible], with juxtaposing a confident, almost cocky confession with her seemingly crying over what seems to be a medical crisis. Unless she is just faking the entire emergency for attention, this seems almost cruel to mock her if something is actually wrong.”

That “cocky” confession was likely what Kelsey said to the camera after she discussed her husband’s death with Chris Soules.

“Isn’t my story amazing? It’s tragic, but it’s amazing. I love my story… I know this is a show about [the ‘Bachelor’] Chris, but this is my love story too. This is the unfolding of somebody who has been through something so tragic and you get to watch her pick up the pieces and grow into another person and into another relationship…. And hell yes, I’m getting a rose tonight.”

Kelsey’s sister posted to Poe’s Facebook page on Tuesday to support her and her assessment of the value of her “story.” She also chided ABC for her portrayal.

“Kelsey’s story is in fact amazing! I am truly disappointed in the footage that ABC decided to air and the way it showed no sensitivity to Kelsey and Sanderson… The footage you saw where Kelsey said, ‘Isn’t my story amazing?’ was in regards to her story of how she overcame such horrific grief. In no… way was Sanderson’s death amazing. It is amazing that Kelsey found the strength to seize each day, travel the world by herself, meet new people and take on new hobbies. She chose to take on each day rather than stay in bed crying; that takes a strong person to do that.”

In an interview with TV Guide, Bachelor host Chris Harrison said he goes “both ways” in his opinion of Kelsey.

“When she was talking to the girls and explaining her husband, she was very cavalier and almost glib about it. Then, she went into Chris’ room and it was somber and it was sad and she was in tears. Those were two very different women speaking. She was so overconfident and when Chris let the cat out of the bag about their time together, it deflated her balloon. And when I said no cocktail party, she kind of freaked out and had the ‘panic attack.'”

Monday’s Bachelor episode ended with “to be continued.” The show airs on ABC.