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Bachelor in Paradise star Raven Gates is reacting to a comment about her finances.
“This isn’t reality for most to be able to do who live paycheck to paycheck and have debt. Tips,” one user wrote in an Instagram Story Q&A on Saturday, June 27, seemingly referring to Gates’ income bracket.
“Going back to this topic for a second. I totally get that because that was ME!” Gates, 34, replied in an Instagram Story post. “I don’t want anyone to feel as though I am trying to make anyone feel less than. That was my story, too. But you don’t see that part, but I’m trying to show a bit more of the place I was in over 10 years ago & how I got out of it.”
Gates explained that she doesn’t feel like “people remember how broke, how in debt, how bad of credit, etc [she] had.”
“The high school I graduated from had free and reduced lunches for the whole school because of our poverty level. I can go into more but there’s so much to the story including a lot of chance and luck (ECCLESIASTES 9:11) but also a lot of grinding, failing and discipline,” she wrote. “I do believe there’s always a way for things to be better and if we lose sight of that, that’s when we can’t take the next steps, whatever that may look like.”
She continued, “I knew this topic would bring a lot of emotions from people so I’m not sure I should have even shared but I am trying to be more open and also sensitive to others. But all in all to encourage and say I KNOW how it feels & I believe in you and that your situation can get better.”
Gates also shared details about her income with husband Adam Gottschalk in a post that she has since appeared to have deleted but was reviewed by Us Weekly.
Gates met Gottschalk, 36, on the beaches of Bachelor in Paradise season 4 in 2017. The couple ultimately got engaged two years later but had to postpone their nuptials multiple times amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Gates and Gottschalk went on to tie the knot in 2021. The pair have since welcomed sons Gates and Max in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
The reality stars celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary in April, with Gottschalk sharing a sweet compilation of five photos through the years via Instagram. “Happy anniversary baby,” he wrote at the time. “5 years & 5 pics with you 🫶🏼.”
